Defeat could have led to relegation being confirmed for the Kingfishers, though as it happened Larkhall Athletic, who could have sealed Thatcham's fate, had their game in Cornwall postponed. Instead, another home win means Thatcham are looking upwards at the fourth relegation spot, 19th place, where a reprieve could be possible.

It was the fourth attempt to play this fixture, with Storm Bert, road traffic delays, then the floodlight fire causing it to be postponed previously. Even this game kicked off late following the delayed arrival of some of the visiting players.

But once it did, Thatcham made a positive start. Matthews headed Callum Willmoth’s corner into the keeper’s arms, before Mo Ceesay put Town in front on 20 minutes. Willmoth’s cross-field ball found Kyle Daniel-Spray in space down the left, and his centre was met by Ceesay’s thumping header.

Christian Johnson was denied by Mike Searle, then rolled one wide when put through. Dan Smith’s header was pushed behind, while Ceesay blasted one narrowly over as Town dominated. At the other end Matt Pullinger had to be alert to palm away Farren Simons’s drive.

However the game changed immediately following the restart, as full-back Finn Roberts latched on to the ball in an advanced position and fired a low shot across goal to equalise. The visitors then looked the more threatening side, eager to pick something up from their long midweek journey.

But Town retook the lead on 76 minutes through Football In Berkshire’s 'Young Player of the Year' nominee Jadyn Dundas. Not long after seeing a shot cleared off the line from the left, he picked up the ball in a similar position, cut inside and drilled the ball into the far bottom corner.

The Robins levelled again on 83 minutes when Thatcham failed to clear a corner and Ollie Gardner stretched at the far post to poke the ball home.

However Matthews intervened two minutes from time with a goal of the season contender. Still high up the pitch following a corner, Tinashe Gwavava picked up possession and teed up Matthews for a first time hit into the top corner.

The Kingfishers are now two points behind 19th placed Helston Athletic with three games remaining, starting with the visit of Bishops Cleeve on Saturday afternoon.

TEAM : Matt Pullinger, Ben Portbury, Kyle Daniel-Spray, Callum Willmoth, Tinashe Gwavava, Andy Matthews, Mo Ceesay, Dan Smith, Christian Johnson, Jadyn Dundas, Jamie Davies.

SUBS ON : Shamar Moore, Harvey Flippance, Jenson Mansel, Oli Bourne. SUB UNUSED : Jon O’Sullivan (GK).