Southern League: Thatcham Town 1-0 Sholing

Thatcham maintained their fine start to the 2019/20 campaign after Felipe Barcelos’ second-half penalty sealed a 1-0 victory over Sholing.

The Kingfishers remain unbeaten in their first three league fixtures, winning all their home games so far whilst the visitors picked up their second loss of the season.

Fantastic passing play through the middle of the pitch almost saw Thatcham take an early lead. Kyle Tooze was found between the defence before running past Ryan Gosney in the Sholing goal and striking the post with his tight-angled effort.

And Tooze was the dominant figure throughout the early stages of the game, causing the most problems for the Sholing back four.

Barcelos’ clever flick gave possession to Tooze on the edge of the penalty area, which the forward controlled before forcing a fine fingertip save from Gosney to deny the hosts.

Moments later and the game took an unfortunate twist when the Sholing ‘keeper clashed with James Tennant following a lofted ball upfield. Both players required treatment but Tennant was substituted for Joe Selman after picking up a nasty cut to the head.

And The Kingfishers were forced into a second substitution inside the first 25 minutes when Jack Stanley was withdrawn for Michael Miller after going down injured.

The Blues continued to build possession and Barcelos’ curling effort on the edge of the box was deflected just wide.

A growing partnership between Barcelos and Tooze has become evident in recent games and the pair linked up just outside the box before the latter’s low effort trickled wide of the far post.

But it was defended Miller who came closest to giving Thatcham a first-half lead when forcing a fine, close-range save from Gosney.

Tooze’s clever trickery left Sholing’s Dean Faithfull behind before dragging his attempt wide on the stroke of half-time.

Sholing threatened in the opening stages of the second half when brothers Daniel and Byron Mason linked up before the latter fired his effort over the bar. Daniel Mason then had the ball in the back of the net moments later but his strike was ruled offside by the linesman.

The Boatmen came close to scoring in the 60th minute when Jake Hoole’s through ball found Daniel Mason one-on-one against Strudley, who made a magnificent save to deny the visitors.

Thatcham struggled to maintain possession and Terry Cuthbertson’s curling cross found the head of unmarked Hoole before being held by Blues stopper Strudley.

But it was The Kingfishers who gained the advantage on their opponents when Adam Kelly’s shot was blocked by an arm. Barcelos stepped up for the spot-kick and sent Gosney the wrong way to put Thatcham 1-0 up in the 70th minute.

The hosts continued to apply pressure thereafter whilst frustrating the visitors in their defensive duties to hold out for the full three points.

Teams:

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

Substitutes: Selman, Jeacock, Rees, Barder, Miller

Sholing: Gosney, Cuthbertson, McLean, Faithfull, Miller, Roundell, Sawyer, B. Mason, D. Mason, Targett, Hoole.

Substitutes: M.Mason, Falodi, Okubote, Royl, Lauder.