When the Football Association announced the league constitutions for the 2024/25 season, a sense of confusion spread across the non-league community as a staple of the Isthmian League South Central Division One over the past three seasons were subject to a lateral move into the Southern League Division One South.
Thatcham Town knew that a significant increase in travel, commitment, and financial cost would mean a rebuild during pre-season thanks to a turnover in personnel.
The period leading up to the season has therefore been somewhat turbulent for The Kingfishers, as results throughout their pre-season schedule left much to be desired from those looking in on The Mettal Stadium. A score draw against neighbours Hungerford Town in their final pre-season fixture however would have instilled some positivity to the Thatcham faithful.
Nevertheless, manager Yashwa Romeo has built a squad of players who look ready to compete once again at Step 4 and continues to steer the club in the right direction.
Thatcham had failed to qualify in the previous four seasons from their FA Cup opening games – two in Preliminary Round fixtures, and two in the Extra Preliminary Round. Going into the season opener against Step 5 opposition in the form of Christchurch FC of the Wessex League, Thatcham knew that a victory would raise confidence and bring in some additional funding to supplement the increase in league travel.
The West Berkshire side started well but it was their Dorset counterparts who looked the more threatening in the early stages. A lobbed effort fell just wide of the Thatcham goal early on, which drove the hosts into another gear as they responded with chances of their own throughout the first 45, the best of those coming from Kyle Tooze and Mo Ceesay who saw their respective efforts saved well by the Christchurch number one.
Despite being on the front foot for much of the first half, Thatcham fell behind on the 38 minutes after Chipangura was felled in the box by Ceesay. The first of four match penalties was spotted by Chipangura and slotted home, past the Reading FC loanee James Sharlott in goal for Thatcham to put the Step 5 side ahead at half time.
Supporters inside The Mettal Stadium didn’t have to wait long for an equaliser, when just three minutes into the second half the referee awarded his second penalty of the afternoon. Thatcham’s Shamar Moore broke menacingly into the box before being felled to give Tooze a chance to get his team back on level terms from twelve yards. Tooze fired low to the goalkeeper’s left and into the back of the net.
Two more spot kicks were to follow. On 68 minutes a blocked shot from a resulting corner fell to Kyle Daniel-Spray who was tripped in the box and the referee again pointed to the penalty spot. After converting his first, Tooze stepped up and slotted home again, to put Thatcham into the lead. The visitors threw everything at an equaliser but when Tooze released Hamblin down the right, the young winger caused the Christchurch defence all sorts of problems and was eventually felled inside the area.
Again, the referee pointed to the spot, awarding his fourth penalty of the afternoon. Tooze completed his hat-trick from twelve yards and Thatcham had broken a four year curse in the Emirates FA Cup.
More pictures from Thatcham’s FA Cup win here.
West Berkshire FA Cup headlines
Tadley Calleva welcomed FA Cup debutants Millbrook (Hampshire) to Barlows Park with an air of confidence after some impressive pre-season performances. However, what transpired will have frustrated The Romans as three first-half goals for their visitors from Southampton gave them a mountain to climb in order to keep their FA Cup dreams alive. Tadley pulled one back through Kieron Farmer in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the first half but went in at the break with a two-goal deficit. A stark contrast in performance in the second half saw the Barlows Park side on the front foot, and doing all they could to find a way back. A saved penalty was slotted home by debutant George Armstrong at the second attempt to bring them within one of a level game but time ran out and their visitors went back down the M3 with their name in the hat.
Wallingford & Crowmarsh travelled to Bristol to face Brislington FC of the Western Premier League in just their second season competing in the FA Cup. A header from Brad Walton on the half-hour mark gave the visitors a one-nil lead at half-time before Aiden Higgs secured their victory early on in the second half. Wallingford & Crowmarsh will now host Slimbridge AFC in the preliminary round on August 17th.
Away from the FA Cup, AFC Aldermaston opened their Wessex League division one campaign on the road in Hampshire. Their hosts, Alresford Town finished last season fourth as their pursuit for promotion back to Step 5 was thwarted at the play-off stages. Despite finishing in the bottom three last season, The Atom Men were handed a reprieve and look to have built a squad over the summer that will hopefully elevate them throughout the season. Despite going three goals down, Aldermaston conducted a fightback in the closing stages of the league opener, narrowly being defeated 3-2.
A full list of all the weekend’s FA Cup results, plus scores from the Combined Counties League Division One opening day are here.
