Last gasp Thatcham snatch late point from Marlow
Yashwa Romeo’s Thatcham Town kicked off their new Isthmian League South Central season with two draws from their opening two games.
A late Nathan Jones equaliser rescued a point in a 1-1 draw with Marlow on Tuesday evening while the Kingfishers drew 0-0 in an opening day stalemate with Guernsey at the weekend.
Wet and foggy conditions provided a stark contrast to the weekend's sunshine as Marlow arrived at the Stacatruc Stadium for some midweek football with both sides looking to build on solid starts.
It was the visitors who drew first blood on the stroke of half time when Junaid Bell, who was on trial at Hungerford Town this summer, slid in Curtis Chapple whose low shot cannoned off the post and in to put Marlow 1-0 up.
In the second half, Thatcham's Jack Hopwood made two fantastic saves to keep the Kingfishers in it – first he denied substitute Steven Sylvester one-on-one and then saved a low Bell shot with his feet to keep the score at 1-0.
Thatcham's equaliser came four minutes into stoppage time when the ball deflected off a Marlow defender and into the path of Nathan Jones who slotted calmly past Aaron Watkins.
Controversy abounded as the linesman appeared to flag for offside only for referee Shawn Barclay to overrule his assistant and send the 100 or so Thatcham supporters wild.
The game featured an impressive debut for midfielder Ben Cook, who signed on a one month loan from Bracknell Town.
“He’s a ball playing midfielder, which I think we need, he’ll help us control the game, I think he’s a very good signing,” Romeo said.
That followed a goalless draw in the Kingfishers’ curtain raiser against Guernsey – it was the first time the Green Lions have failed to score on the opening day of a domestic campaign since their foundation in 2011.
Kick-off, which had been moved to 2pm, was delayed by 15 minutes after the visitors’ coach driver went to the wrong hotel at Gatwick and then took a wrong turn into traffic, but some of the football suggested both sides are heading in the right direction.
Thatcham’s Javin Dougan had the best chance of the opening exchanges, capitalising on a defensive mistake and forcing a fine save from Guernsey debutant Jason Martin.
The Kingfishers then had Hopwood to thank for keeping the scores level as the stopper produced sharp saves from Guernsey’s Jacob Fallaize and Ross Allen while Thatcham substitute Ashley Howell went close before full time.
“I think it was a fair result, we didn’t have many clear cut chances,” Romeo said.
“I was pleased, we let in eight goals in our last two competitive games, so it was important to keep a clean sheet, we bounced back well.”
Thatcham will be looking to find the winning touch when they welcome Leatherhead, who are yet to pick up a point this season, to the Stacatruc on August 27.