Town delivered an early Christmas present for their supporters with an emphatic win over Chipstead. In doing so they scored more than twice in a game for the first time this season, and kept a first clean sheet since the beginning of September.

Cam Philbey’s side suffered a blow before kick-off when Kyle Tooze had to pull out of the game, leaving just three outfield players on the bench, and Archie Goode filling in up front. However Goode went on to make a man-of-the-match performance, with a hand in four of the goals.

Chipstead contributed to their own downfall, as player-coach Peter Wedgeworth was sent off after just four minutes. Wedgeworth committed a late challenge on Archie Denton on half-way, with the referee considering it dangerous enough to warrant a straight red card.

Thatcham immediately looked to take advantage, forcing several corners and free-kicks in dangerous positions. Mackenzie Creech glanced a header wide from a Callum Winchcombe delivery, but the breakthrough came on 19 minutes.

Goode dropped to pick the ball up from Callum Willmoth and threaded a pass through to Creech who rolled the ball past the outcoming keeper.

Ten minutes later, Goode was tripped outside the box, and Winchcombe’s inswinging free-kick was headed home by Curtis Angell.

Almost immediately it was three, as a Winchcombe corner was cleared as far as Willmoth whose firm drive was parried by the keeper, and Denton was on hand to convert the rebound.

And then on 36 minutes, from another Winchcombe delivery Archie Goode’s header was tipped on to post with Dan Smith on hand to nod the ball over the line, giving Town an unlikely luxury of a four-goal half-time lead.

The Chips, missing their prolific forward Carl Oblitey, rallied a little in the second half and Thatcham stopper Maciej Wieczorek had to make a flying save to tip over a flicked header from Tajani Eshilokun.

But with the extra man Thatcham always looked dangerous on the break, with Town captain Willmoth seeing a low free-kick saved, and then firing just off-target after collecting a return pass from Goode.

With the game starting to peter out, Town added a fifth as a corner was cleared to Harrison Armitage who fired home from 20 yards, giving the youngster a debut goal within minutes of entering the pitch.

And then on 80 minutes Goode exploited space down the right and centred for Luke Polding to convert from in front of goal.

In the closing stages Wieczorek batted away a fierce drive from Theo Crawford as Town ended a run of 21 games without a clean sheet.

The win moves Thatcham above Balham and out of the bottom two, ahead of a trip to the bottom team Guildford City next weekend.

The game was preceded by a minute’s applause for former Football Secretary and committee member Alan Lovegrove who sadly passed away last week.

TEAM: Maciek Wieczorek, Curtis Angell, Callum Winchcombe, Callum Willmoth (c), Archie Denton, Luke Polding, Fin Tombs, Mackenzie Creech, Archie Goode, Dan Smith, Tyrese Georcelin. SUBS ON : Rowan Clark, Harrison Armitage, Dan Parry, SUB UNUSED : Hugh Scott (GK)