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Southern League: Thatcham Town 4-3 Bideford A.F.C

Southern League: Thatcham Town 4-3 Bideford A.F.C

Daniel Lewis14 Sep 2019 - 16:00
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The Kingfishers continued an incredible unbeaten run after edging Bideford in a seven-goal thriller at The Stacatruc Stadium.

Kyle Tooze fired a double after Scott Rees’ sensational first-half strike while Felipe Barcelos’ goal rounded off the game for Thatcham. Bideford threatened in an action-packed second half but they couldn’t find a late equaliser.

Danny Robinson’s squad started the game positively when good linkup play between Tooze and George Jeacock allowed Joe Selman to creep in unmarked at the back-post, but the winger’s shot was deflected into the arms of Bideford goalkeeper Joe Moore.

And The Blues continued to press in the opening stages when Barcelos latched onto a lofted ball upfield. The striker chipped the ball over Moore but the ball ran out of play.

But in the 20th minute Town picked out a fine, crucial opener. Rees, who has found the net with spectacular style in recent games, scored a Goal of the Season contender when he delightfully chipped his marker and volleyed in from 25 yards.

Bideford’s response came within the first minute of the second half when Charlie Lawrence’s pinpoint cross was smashed home by an unmarked Craig Duff from the centre of the penalty area.

But the visitors’ goal seemingly sparked life into The Blues, who applied intense pressure from the kick-off in hope of restoring their advantage. And they almost did regain their lead when Tooze’s volley from a fine Samuel Barder cross forced a fingertip save from Moore.

Jordan Williams threatened when his deep cross evaded every player in the penalty area before hitting the underside of the crossbar. Many home fans in attendance believed that the ball had crossed the line to give Town a 2-1 lead but play was waved on by the referee.

Robinson’s side were rewarded for an abundance of hard work when Jeacock’s low strike was finished by Tooze from close-range in the 64th minute.

The Kingfishers then killed any hopes of a Bideford comeback two minutes later when Tooze struck a beautiful half-volley past Moore to deliver all three points to the home side.

Bideford refused to give up and got a goal back in the 74th minute when substitute Jack Rice-Lethaby capitalised on Barder’s defensive mistake and saw his low strike trickle past Paul Strudley at his near post.

Barcelos then produced a fine run through the heart of the defence before slotting into the bottom corner seal the victory.

But the scoring wasn’t over at The Stacatruc Stadium and the visitors made Robinson’s side panic for the remaining minutes when Rice-Lethaby added his second late on.

Bideford thought they had a late equaliser when two consecutive close-range headers bounced off of the crossbar before their third attempt was held well by Strudley.

Teams:

Thatcham Town: Strudley, Barder, Williams, Alexander, Angell, Day, Jeacock, Rees, Tooze, Barcelos, Selman.

Substitutes: Miller, Kelly, Westlake, Frank, Tennant.

Bideford A.F.C: Moore, Sampson, Waldy, Lawrence, Mayne, Down, Heeney, Taylor, Turner, Duff, Tucker.

Substitutes: Palmer, Reay, Squire, Reed.

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