Kingfishers downed despite Nyarko strike
Late goal sinks Thatcham as Sutton Common Rovers nick three points
THATCHAM Town’s recent resurgence was dealt a blow on Saturday as they lost 2-1 at home to Sutton Common Rovers.
The Kingfishers kicked off having picked up four points from their last two games, lifting them out of the Isthmian League South Central Division relegation zone.
And manager Yashwa Romeo was once again busy strengthening his squad in the week, welcoming Ramarni Medford-Smith and Levi Heholt to the Stacatruc.
Left-back Medford-Smith signed for the Kingfishers on an initial one-month loan deal from Bracknell.
The 23-year-old is a product of Reading’s academy and has more than 50 Premier League 2 appearances to his name, as well as National League experience with Torquay United.
Heholt meanwhile is a familiar face in West Berkshire, having spent time at both Hungerford and Newbury.
Medford-Smith went straight into Romeo’s side, but failed to make an immediate impression on the Kingfishers’ leaky defence as Sutton Common went ahead
just three minutes in, the last touch coming from Thatcham’s unfortunate Joshua Adjei.
Thatcham rallied and went close on a couple of occasions before the half-hour mark.
First, the in-form David Nyarko saw his header comfortably saved by Sutton’s Endurance Johnson before the marauding Cameron Rohart-Brown shot wide.
Into the second half and Sutton went close to doubling
their lead in the 50th minute, Bertie Lloyd’s header glancing off the post and wide.
The Kingfishers responded and were level with 22 minutes remaining when Nyarko pounced on a bizarre miskick from Hampton and Richmond loanee Johnson and rolled the ball into an empty net.
That goal was Nyarko’s sixth in three games since signing on loan from Reading, and one of the easiest the teenager will ever score.
Romeo said before the game that he’d have taken a point, but that was snatched from him with less than 10 minutes left when Kyron Richards struck to earn the visitors all three points.
Thatcham travel to league leaders Northwood on Saturday.
The Kingfishers might take comfort from the fact that the Woods have lost two of their last four, but it promises to be a stern test for Romeo’s side.