Diddy fall to ruthless Rovers

Didcot Town fell to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Barton Rovers on Saturday afternoon after Nathan Tshikuna scored a superb first half brace to put Didcot firmly on the back foot before Charlie Smith sealed the win with 10 minutes remaining.

Preparations for this game literally couldn't have gone worse for Jamie and his management team, already without key midfield trio Lewis Hayden, George Nash and Seth Humphries, Mark Bell reported sick meaning he also missed out while Liam Talboys was injured in the pre-game warm ups meaning Didcot had to make a change to their starting XI just minutes before kick off for the 2nd home game in a row. It meant a change in system for the Railwaymen and first starts of the season for Kieran Collins and Tom Stanley.

Barton in decent form started the game the better of the sides in wet and difficult conditions forcing Leigh Bedwell into a good low save to his right inside the first 5 minutes of the game. Didcot to their young teams credit battled back into the contest and nearly took the lead as Joe Green reacted to a Luke Carnell knock down in the box and although he clipped the ball beyond Kyle Forster in the away goal his finish didn't have enough purchase on it and Barton hacked it off the line.

Collins who had started the game well in midfield then combined with Ollie Thomas to open up a chance for himself on the right hand side of the penalty area but instead of shooting he crossed low across the 6 yard box but a sliding Mark Francis couldn't get on the end of it and the chance disappeared.

Almost typically of Didcot's season having not taken advantage of the time they were on top of the game it was then snatched from their grasp in a matter of moments. Tshikuna picking the ball up on the edge of the Didcot box and seemingly having all the time in the world to pick his spot and superbly pick out the top right hand corner of the Didcot goal to put Barton ahead on 34 minutes. 5 minutes later the contest was as good as over as again Tshikuna got the ball with his back to goal before shifting the ball onto his left foot and dispatching a second fine finish into the same corner of the net from closer range this time and it was 0-2.

Right on half time Green had a second headed chance from a corner but again his effort lacked real conviction and it went harmlessly wide as Barton got to half time with their 2 goal lead intact.

As we went into the second half again Didcot tried to rally but found no way through a stubborn Barton defence, Didcot lack of firepower evident yet again as they failed to muster a single attempt on target for the rest of the game. The closest Didcot came was an effort from Thomas that went miles over the bar from a difficult chance at the back post following good work from George Reid.

The game was meandering along to it's conclusion when Smith on as a substitute for the visitors reacted first to a bouncing ball on the edge of the Didcot box before volleying home Barton's game clinching 3rd goal. Didcot made late subs with a notable debut for 16 year old Taylor-Jay Bedwell but they still failed to test Forster and fell to a convincing 2nd home loss on the bounce.

Didcot travel to Chesham Utd on Tuesday night in the Southern League Cup before being on their travels again on Saturday as they travel to Coleshill Town. Most importantly for Didcot is the return to fitness of their key injured players and manager Jamie Heapy will be hoping it's sooner rather than later.

Didcot Team

L Bedwell
Thomas
McNeill
Gilmore (TJ Bedwell)
Carnell
Green
Isaac
Collins
Francis (Mattimore)
Stanley (Dark)
Reid

Subs not used; Heapy