Report by A.Miller
Thatcham travelled to Wallingford looking to make it 3 wins on the bounce with Wallingford being boosted by having a few first team players in theirs this week due to no fixture for their 1sts.

Thatcham missing a few from previous weeks due to injury and illness had a new CB partnership of Liam Parry and Jerome Pringle and they saw plenty of the ball in the earlier exchanges stroking it around the back. The first real chance of the game fell Thatcham’s way and debutant Will Frank burst through into the box but his touch was a tad heavy and the Wallingford keeper was quick off his line to gather.

An nasty elbow on Tom Browne led to him having to be replaced with a eye injury and he was replaced by Journey Waters. Thatcham continued to knock the ball around and found plenty of joy down the flanks particularly down the left with Jordan Goater causing havoc with his crosses, the other only chance of note in the first half fell to Niall Aspell but he couldn’t get enough power on his header.

After a few much needed words at HT Thatcham started on the front foot again with the pacey Cameron Griffiths having a couple of half chances. Frank was growing into the game seeing plenty of the ball with the disciplined Carrington and Tom Jordan starting to press higher up the pitch. Josh Montero made way for Jamie Barker as Thatcham searched for the opener and he almost made and immediate impact by releasing Griffiths but the Wallingford defender sniffed of the danger. Wallingford with a very rare attack almost took the lead as a deflected cross was almost turned in on the goal like but a combination of Aspell and Liam Harris kept the score at 0-0.

Pringle then a glorious chance from a Goater corner but couldn’t keep his header down. Griffiths then made way for Miller as Thatcham opted for a more physical presence up top and he straight away made an impact flicking the ball on to Frank who tried to chip the keeper but it went just wide. Carrington and Goater then linked up well to release Miller but the linesman’s flag was controversially raised. Miller then teed up Goater to shit was blocked and from the resulted corner Pringle powered another header agonising over the ball.

The fulltime whistle blew to give Thatcham their first clean sheet of the season and move them in double figures for points on the ball but it was clearly a case of two points dropped rather than a point gained.

Their next game is at home against Faringdon Town on Wednesday 3rd October.