Kyle Tooze, starting upfront for the Blues, almost found himself alone against Willand goalkeeper Mike Searle in the opening moments but the stopper rushed out well to prevent any danger.

The hosts built on their early possession and found their opener after 15 minutes. Good linkup play between Jack Stanley and Tooze resulted in the former whipping in a deep cross for Zak Westlake to head home.

Willand found their first taste of Southern League football frustrating during the first half. Rob Norrish attempted to deliver the visitor’s first ever goal in the division but his effort from range dragged well wide of the post.

And frustrations grew for the away side when The Kingfishers doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Curtis Angell, Thatcham’s most capped player last season, tackled midway into the Rovers half before producing a scintillating finish into the top corner from 25 yards out.

Rovers tried to force an opening at the start of the second half and were almost rewarded when Russell Jee found himself beyond Stanley. The winger, substituted on in the first half for Ben Mammola, attempted to curl his effort but Thatcham’s Paul Strudley produced a fine finger-tip save.

Thatcham applied pressure in an attempt to kill the game but Adam Kelly’s left-footed strike struck the side-netting on the hour mark.

Willand then had saw a flurry of shots saved and blocked on the line a few minutes afterwards as the Blues defence held stern.

Stanley, who impressed in his defensive and attacking duties throughout the game, almost added a goal to his assist when his strike from outside of the box was parried away by Mike Searle.

Teams:

Thatcham Town: Strudley, Stanley, Angell, Alexander, Westlake, Day, Kelly, Willmoth, Tooze, Barcelos, Tennant.

Substitutes: Selman, Jeacock, Williams, Rees, Barder.

Willand Rovers: M. Searle, J. Searle, Guppy, GHill, Mammola, Norrish, Mortimore, Curtis, Stamp, Veal, Richards.

Substitutes: Worbey, Steele, Moyle, Bickle, Jee.