Back in action after two blank Saturdays, some of Thatcham’s relegation rivals had kept the pressure on by picking up points, but Thatcham responded in the best possible way with three of their own.

Thatcham were without Andy Matthews and Kye Williams, but handed a second debut to Levi Heholt who rejoined the club having played for Binfield earlier in the season. Manager Cam Philbey also had to sit the game out through suspension.

Thatcham had marginally the better of the first-half, though Stefan Aiwone had an early chance for Epsom but shot wide having found the ball at his feet ten yards from goal.

The visitors then had a huge let off, a Knight shuffled the ball between his feet and slammed a shot against the underside of the crossbar. Archie Denton got his head to the bouncing ball, but Aiwone cleared off the line, again via the underside of the bar.

Epsom then played a quick free-kick into the box which led to Aiwone scuffing a shot wide when well-placed.

But Thatcham made the breakthrough on 32 minutes when Luke Polding won the ball in a midfield tussle, and sent the ball into the right channel where Curtis Angell rifled a first-time shot across goal and into the top corner.

Knight and Angell were both off-target with shots as Town reached the interval with a 1-0 lead.

The visitors started to press in the second half and Levi Heholt made a potentially goal-saving tackle when Luke Miller burst into the Thacham box. But minutes later Epsom & Ewell were level when Luis Oliveira slipped a shot home from a tight angle on the right.

Maciej Wieczorek kept out a header from Ezekial Coker, while at the other end Knight walloped the ball home from 25 yards only for the effort to be ruled out for off-side.

The 90 minutes were up as Angell volleyed over having been teed up by Callum Willmoth, and it seemed as though the game was petering out.

However a long period of added time was played, during which the Kingfishers grabbed a late winner. Tyrese Georcelin’s throw into the box was cleared and the visitors looked like they were going to counter-attack. However Willmoth won possession, advanced into space down the left and centred. Knight took the ball expertly on his chest and shot into the corner to send the Mettal Stadium into raptures.

Next for Thatcham are away trips to Redhill on Tuesday, then runaway leader Cobham next Saturday.

TEAM : Maciej Wieczorek, Fin Tombs, Tyrese Georcelin, Callum Willmoth, Archie Denton, Levi Heholt, Curtis Angell, Luke Polding, Charlie Knight, Dan Smith, Callum Winchcombe. Sub on : Mackenzie Creech. Subs unused : Finlay Meikle, Rowan Clark, Charlie Gmiterek