Dominant victory at home to Thatcham Town
We secured another three points with our third successive home league win, stretching our unbeaten league run to four games. The 3-1 victory lifted us back up to third in the table, just one point behind new leaders Sutton Common Rovers.
We started brightly, keeping plenty of possession and putting the Thatcham defence under real pressure. Chances came from both flanks—Charlie Postance delivering from the right and TJ Taylor from the left—but efforts were either blocked or found the side netting. Thatcham had one opening after ten minutes, but William Edwards’ shot was saved. Just three minutes later, after neat interplay in the box, the ball found its way to Charlie Postance. His cross back into the danger area forced a Thatcham defender to turn the ball into his own net, giving us the lead.
On 19 minutes, Sam Bartlett carried the ball out from defence and surged 50 yards forward before being brought down by last man Callum Willmoth, already on a booking. The referee showed a second yellow followed by a red. From the resulting free kick, around 30 yards out, Sam stepped up and curled a brilliant strike over the wall and past keeper Maciej Wieczorek into the top corner to double our lead.
We kept pushing. Bartlett forced another save before linking up with Postance, whose header was turned away for a corner. Despite the pressure, no further goals came before half time and we went into the break 2-0 ahead.
We came out after the restart just as strongly, Postance having an effort cleared off the line inside the opening minute. With Thatcham struggling to break us down, Callum Winchcombe tried his luck from 40 yards, his lob sailing over everyone and into the net to make it 2-1. The game then became scrappy, with much of the play stuck in midfield, until the closing stages when the visitors’ ten men began to tire.
We finally made the breakthrough in stoppage time. Hadif Darwysh found Postance, whose shot was blocked by the keeper. Ryan Griffiths picked up the loose ball but was brought down before he could shoot. The referee pointed to the spot. Postance stepped up and smashed home from the penalty spot, sealing the 3-1 win deep into added time. We managed the final moments well and claimed another deserved victory.
Fleet Town
- Sam Gray
- Tom Drinkwater
- Liam Avery
- TJ Taylor
- Sean Swift
- Brad manning
- Lewis Hillary
- George Sellick
- Charlie Postance
- Hadif Darwysh
- Sam Bartlett
Subs
- Ryan Griffiths (on for Bartlett)
- Reyon Dillon (on for Sellick)
- Theo White
- Rodney Dos Santos
- Ollie Burke
Fleet Town are back in action on Tuesday night (16th) in the Combined Counties Premier League Cup Second Round away to Camberley Town, before a crucial league game next Saturday (20th) away to second place Redhill, with some clubs in FA Vase action on the day, the winners of this match at Redhill could go top of the table.
Fleet Town Women have an important match on Sunday 21st in the Womens FA Cup Second Qualifying Round at home to Farnham Town, on the same day Fleet Town Womens Reserves have a league match away to Guildford Saints.
