Veteran Steve still has the knack

Claridge goal condemns Thatcham to defeat as they slip out of ther play-off spots

Gosport Borough 2 Thatcham Town 1

A COMBINATION of the youngest and oldest players on the field teamed up to condemn Thatcham to their eighth league game without a win and knocked them out of the top five in the Evo Stik League Southern's Division One South and West.

The youngest player was 17-year old Dan Woodward, who came in to set up the 81st minute winner for his fellow substitute.

That substitute was 45-year old Steve Claridge, who continues to fill his time-worn boots with goals. Returning from injury and in the hours between being a TV pundit, Claridge sat in the stand for an hour before coming on to score the decisive goal.

It showed Thatcham what they are missing. They had enjoyed most of the first half on a chilled surface that kept the ball bobbing and had Gosport goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore struggling to deal with any sort of bounce.

He failed to hold Tom Etheridge's first minute shot but Jemel Johnson could not turn in the rebound, and otherwise looked shaky behind a similarly wobbly back line, shored up by makeshift defenders and held together by Dean Arnold.

Thatcham's back line was rarely threatened in the first period, although Matt Bowler had to scramble to deny Justin Bennett, who also had a heading chance that he put over.

But for all their possession, Thatcham lacked a cutting edge and relied on Carl Self and Scot Rees to fire in efforts from distance. Gareth Thomas was not far off the mark from an early second half header before Claridge's arrival to five Borough's attack a cunning focal point, and it was somehow inevitable that the veteran would conjure up the game's memorable moment.

Woodward was put away out wide by George Way, and his near post cross found Claridge arriving perfectly at the near post to lash the ball home.

Carl Self was denied by Ashmore and Mark Hughes was closest to equalising when he headed over a Sam Flegg cross, but Thatcham never had the penalty box composure to match that of one wily old fox.

THATCHAM are back in action on Wednesday night when they have a re-arranged league game with Tiverton Town at Waterside Park, kick-off 7.45pm.