More heartache for Romeo

Thatcham Town’s disappointing start to the Isthmian League South Central season continued with a 2-1 defeat at the impressive Westfield on Saturday afternoon.

Yashwa Romeo had vowed to dip into the market for new recruits and secured the services of three new signings in the form of Aylesbury duo Tristan Nathaniel Noel and Kiye Trevon Martin as well as former Merstham midfielder Michael Hill.

Both Martin and Hill went straight into Romeo’s 11 but it was another recent recruit, goalkeeper Morgan Campbell, who was in the thick of the early action, getting down well to collect a Westfield cross that was flashed across the face of goal.

There’s not been much to shout about for the Kingfishers so far this term but Romeo’s side were celebrating the opening goal 15 minutes in when the lively Mo Ceesay rose highest to head home Cameron Rohart-Brown’s cross.

It was the first time Thatcham have scored first all season, but defensive mistakes have been an all too regular occurrence and so it proved once again in the 38th minute as no one cleared a ball into the box, allowing defender Jude Mason to arrive at the back post and fire beyond in the equaliser.

There was no sign that the Kingfishers had learned their lesson and the visitors were behind seven minutes later when another delivery was allowed to sail across goal and frontman Troy Walters produced a smart finish to hand Westfield the lead on the stroke of half time.

Thatcham seemed to have lost their composure and had Campbell to thank for keeping them in it 30 seconds later, producing a superb save after the visitors had given the ball away straight from kick off before the referee blew for the break.

Thatcham improved in the second half but proved unable to create a clear-cut chance that might’ve helped them back into the game, a cross from Ramarni Medford-Smith forcing Welling’s Sonny Wheeler into a decent save three minutes after the restart.

In-form Reading loanee David Nyarko felt he should’ve had a penalty with 20 minutes left on the clock after he went down inside the box but referee Fadi Mansour disagreed, waving away the appeals and booking the teenage frontman for simulation.

There was still time for one final opportunity for the Kingfishers but an 89th minute goalmouth scramble came to nothing, Thatcham left to rue eight minutes of defensive madness as the game finished 2-1 to the hosts.

Thatcham have just six points from their first 11 games this season, leaving them third from bottom and in a precarious position near the foot of the table.

It doesn’t look set to get much easier for the Kingfishers, who welcome third placed South Park to the Stacatruc this weekend before a trip to bottom-half Tooting and Mitcham in two Saturdays time.