Thatcham won at Cribbs 1-0 in the FA Trophy earlier this season thanks to Shamar
Moore’s first goal for the club. In the closing stages Sonny Harnett-Balkwill had a
potential equaliser disallowed for off-side, then Will Edwards was fouled in the box
giving Town a very late penalty, but Sam Tanner’s spot-kick was saved.

Home wins over Evesham and Bristol Manor Farm mean the Kingfishers have won
two of their last four. Thatcham remain next to bottom in the table, but no need to
panic - there are still 30 games left to play!

Cribbs are one point better off than Town, having played an extra game. They have
picked up wins at Cinderford and Bideford, and at home to Shaftesbury and
Bashley. Today’s clash sees the division’s two lowest scoring teams face off.

However Cribbs have lost their last three home games, starting with a 3-1 home
defeat to the bottom team Cinderford in an early return fixture. Subsequent 2-1
home defeats to Helston Athletic and Larkhall Athletic followed, leading to manager
Ashley Bennett stepping down.

All this is a far cry from their 2023-24 campaign when they lost just six league
games all season. A crowd of 837 saw them defeated by local rivals Bristol Manor
Farm in the play-off semi. After today’s game, Cribbs face home games against
Falmouth and Bemerton Heath as they aim to get their season back on track.

In his programme notes, manager Yashwa Romeo said,

“It was great to get three points last weekend, especially against a good team like Bristol
Manor Farm, and after falling a goal behind so early. We didn’t start well, taking a risk
which led to us losing out in a 50:50 and conceding a goal in just the third minute. But
then we worked hard, had more of the ball particularly out wide, though struggled to
deliver any quality into the box.

I don’t think they created especially much but James had to make a great save. Then I
thought their aggression and maybe a bit of arrogance crept in and cost them with their
red cards. However against nine men we didn’t utilise the ball well, lost a lot of first and
second balls, which led to them continuing to attack us. It didn’t look like it was going
to happen, but ironically we found the winner after we ourselves were reduced to ten.

So that’s two wins from four games, and we have a lot of games coming up against
teams around us in the table. I’ve told the players that these are important games with
valuable points at stake, and we usually go on a bit of a run at this stage of the season.
I don’t think we are too far off, and two wins will put us in mid-table.
We have already beaten Cribbs this season but any advantage that gives us may be
wiped out by their recent change in manager. That usually leads to higher expectations
and better performances, and possibly a change in shape, so what we face today is a
bit of an unknown.

In goal we have extended James Sharlott’s short team deal from Reading. Callum Smart
had been recalled by Gosport but they have now signed another goalkeeper which means Callum is likely to be back with us very soon. Up front we should also have Shamar back plus a new face as we look to spread the goals around the team.

Enjoy the game and thanks for your support, YASH"