Thatcham and Didcot both come into this Boxing Day fixture having registered 3-0
wins on Saturday, with all the goals scored in the second halves of both games.

As you would expect for a team in eleventh, Didcot’s results have been inconsistent
for much of the season, however Saturday’s win over Bideford follows four points
from difficult away games at Melksham and Bristol Manor Farm.

Thatcham remain next to bottom, but the league table looks more encouraging after
that fifth win of the season over Malvern, as all other teams at the bottom lost.

Connor Barrett is Didcot’s top league goalscorer with eight, followed by Jenson
Wright on six. Josh Davis, who made seven appearances for Thatcham in 2021/22
has also been amongst the goals. Unfortunately Sam Barder, who was a regular for
the Kingfishers during the 2019/20 season and has played close to 250 games for the
Railwaymen, looks set to miss out on today’s game with a hamstring injury.

The last fixtures between the sides here in Berkshire was on New Year’s Day 2014
when Yash Romeo scored both goals in a 2-0 home win. Didcot won the return fixture
4-0 as the Kingfishers slipped into the lower reaches of the Southern League D1
South & West - John Mills scored a hat-trick after Josh Dutton-Black’s early opener.

Thatcham travel to Shaftesbury on Saturday and then Bashley on New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile Didcot host Malvern on Saturday.

A printed programme will be available at the turnstile.

Wishing all supporters a safe journey to and from the Mettal Stadium, and a very merry Christmas!