The Kingfishers began brightly, with Mackenzie Creech’s cross almost forcing an own goal from a sliced clearance by Tremayne Woolliscroft, then Archie Denton’s header at goal from a free-kick was saved.

Town then created their best chance as Junior Da Cruz linked up with Callum Winchcombe down the left, and the defender’s cross was met by the head of Dan Smith but the keeper made a flying save.

But Thatcham failed to push on, and the hosts created chances of their own. Firstly George Burgess-Allen fired one just wide, then Joel Oppiong was played through but shot straight at Maciek Wiezcorek.

There was no pace to the game, with long pauses as the ball frequently bounced off the pitch and around the athletics track. The heavy pitch also seemed to put Town off their stride.

Just before the break Oppiong weaved past a few defenders but before he was able to pull the trigger Winchcombe got back to make a vital block.

But moments later the hosts were awarded a controversial corner, after a shot at goal clearly rebounded behind off a Guildford player. Thatcham protested the decision and were left to rue it, as Alex McLean rose unchallenged to nod home at the far post.

In the second half Town again struggled to impose themselves, and it was Guildford who stretched their lead when Wiezcorek was adjudged to have brought down Darnell Jon-Peter. After the referee waved away Wiezcorek’s lengthy protests, the Thatcham stopper made amends by blocking Kai Zini’s penalty with his legs, but Zini was first to the rebound and smashed the ball home.

Substitute Oscar McClure delivered some good crosses into the box, and Town forced scrambles from a handful of corners and free-kicks but the ball just failed to drop in Town’s favour.

Kye Williams saw a cross diverted onto the post, and Archie Goode created space for a shot but blazed over. But Guildford were never under sustained pressure and looked threatening on the break.

In the dying seconds Williams’s volley from Kenny Antony’s cross whistled narrowly wide, signifying Town’s last chance and a bad day at the office.

TEAM : Maciej Wiezcorek, Curtis Angell, Callum Winchcombe, Callum Willmoth, Archie Denton, Luke Polding, Fin Tombs, Mackenzie Creech, Archie Goode, Dan Smith, Junior Da Cruz. Subs on : Oscar McClure, Kye Williams, Kenny Antony. Subs unused : Rowan Clark, Will Stantiford