AFC Slimbridge 1 Thatcham Town 0

By Benjamin Schiffer-Harte

The Kingfishers were unlucky not to have come away with at least a point in a tight game against a well organised side. The first half was very much all Thatcham with plenty of shots being registered by Shane Cooper-Clark , Josh Helmore, Scott Rees, George Jeacock, Adam Kelly, Curtis Angell and Tom Moran (after coming on for injured Rees).
At the other end of the pitch there was some fine defending by Mike Miller, Jack Alexander, Jack Stanley, Stuart Cattell and Angell with Chris Rackley complementing the team in goal.

The closest Slimbridge came to scoring in the 1st Half was in the final minutes but Stanley’s head twice came to the rescue.

With the 2nd half getting underway, Slimbridge stepped up a gear - something that after speaking to their supporters, usually is the other way round - and had a lot more possession and shooting chances. No2 Danny King and No7 Captain Dean Turner, No10 Will Hawes and sub No12 Joe Noakes all having chances.

Eko Elliott came on for Cooper-Clark in the final 15minutes and Conor Lynch for Kelly. The latter getting himself into great positions with crosses but the chances were smothered and cleared by the tight defending by the home side.

On the 85th minute a strike by Will Hawes just outside the box made the difference to the score and it stayed 1-0 despite Thatcham Town going close with a header towards the end. With 3minutes of added time it was not to be long enough for a fight back and Thatcham lost their first game since November.

The unbeaten run has certainly helped the club to pull away from the bottom 2 and are 19points clear with a game in hand. Next up is Winchester City at home and the Kingfishers will be wanting to avenge the 3-2 loss very early on in the season. Melksham Town then visit on the 15th and then it’s Barnstaple away on the 19th.