Curtis Angell, Thatcham’s most capped player this season, started his second consecutive game in goal following Calum Ward’s recent injury. The natural full-back impressed in his side’s last 3-0 away victory against AFC Totton.

The Kingfishers started well and had an early opportunity to go ahead when Jordan Williams’ lofted corner found the head of Gareth Thomas before going just wide of the far corner.

And Williams was at the heart of another attacking chance for the hosts in the tenth minute when his low-driven pass evaded the Slimbridge defence and almost nestled into the bottom corner.

But the away side fought back went close to taking the lead moments later when Mark Magee’s strike cannoned off the crossbar.

Slimbridge did manage to get themselves in front midway through the half. Thatcham failed to clear a low cross and Turner was on hand to smash home the opener.

And the Swans came close to doubling their advantage in the 35th minute when William Hawes’ strike went just inches wide of the Angell’s far post.

But the Blues nearly levelled shortly afterwards. George Jeacock led a charging counter-attack up the pitch before laying the ball of to Shane Cooper-Clark. The forward’s effort was blocked well by Lewis Adams in the Slimbridge goal before the ‘keeper parried Zidan Akers’ follow-up.

The Kingfishers started the second period brightly and nearly found their equaliser in the 55th minute. Akers’ bursting run down the left broke the Slimbridge defence before the forward played the ball across to Cooper-Clark. The striker turned before putting his shot past Adams but the Swans defence managed to clear his effort off the line.

The away side threatened shortly after when Jamie Martin’s well-timed cross found the head of Magee before trickling wide.

Thatcham tried to make their mark on the score and decided to substitute Cooper-Clark for in-form striker Kyle Tooze midway through the second half.

Callum Beasley applied pressure to his opponent down the right before swinging a timely delivery to Akers on the edge of the six-yard box. Unfortunately for the Blues, the attacker blazed his effort over the bar from close.

Good linkup play between Michael Miller and Jack Stanley allowed the latter a chance to net for the hosts, but the latter’s effort was blocked well by the Slimbridge defence.

Despite a dominant second-half display by Danny Robinson’s side, they were unable to find the net as the Swans clung on to victory at Waterside Park.

Teams:

Thatcham Town: Angell, Miller, Williams, Melledew (C), Thomas, Cattell, Jeacock, Alexander, Cooper-Clark, Rees, Akers.

Substitutes: Stanley, Helmore, Tooze, Tennant, Beasley.

Slimbridge AFC: Adams, Brennan, Noakes, C.Turner, Jackson, M.Turner, D.Turner (C), King, Magee, Hawes, Martin.

Substitutes: Mendes, Waddington, Dumbar, Smith.

Referee: Roger Smith.

Assistants: Samuel Reed & Graham Pearce.

(Photo credit: Thatcham Photographic Club)