Thatcham Town Football Club

This was a good workout for The Kingfishers against a young and determined Aldershot Town side. Thatcham went close early on in the game when an attack down the right hand side saw a Shane Kingston cross headed just over by James Clark. At the other end a corner for Aldershot came across but found keeper Paul Strudley on form as he came out to claim ahead of the forward. Aldershot ha free kick in a good position about 20 yards from goal but the taker failed to take advantage of this, blazing his shot high over the cross bar. Thatcham went close back down the other end when a Mark Hughes throw to Tom Melledew who crossed the ball into the box found Gareth Thomas but his header fell beyond the cross bar. Aldershot went very close when an attack down their right hand side saw a cross come into the box falling to their forward's feet, he turned but hit his shot just over the cross bar. Just before the break Thatcham went close, a Mark Hughes cross bounces in the are with Gareth Thomas getting a head to it but the Aldershot keeper did well tipping the ball onto the cross bar with the defender then clearing the danger. Thatcham started brightly in the second half, going close again. A corner was only headed away to the edge of the area where Scott Rees hit a dipping volley which flew only just over the cross bar. Aldershot looked to attack with the ball at the feet of their number 8 in midfield, he found the space to get in a shot but his effort was dragged wide of the post. In the 70th minute Thatcham found the breakthrough. A Paul Taplin cross from the left was knocked down by Shane Kingston to James Clark, his shot was stopped by Matt Pedder deceiving the defence and the keeper leaving him to fire the ball beyonf the keeper and into the corner of the net for 1-0. Thatcham went close again this time from a corner, the ball came across and Gareth Thomas rose to head goalwards only to see his effort cleared off the line. Two minutes from time Thatcham wrapped up the victory when James Clark was fouled as he raced into the area, James Clark stepped up to take the kick himself firing to the keepers left to make it 2-0 and a deserved victory.

FT: Thatcham Town 2-0 Aldershot Town
Matt Pedder 70, James Clark (pen) 88