Romeo rages at set-piece struggles

Thatcham Town boss Yashwa Romeo was so frustrated with his side’s first half performance in their 3-3 draw with Ashford that he refused to go into the dressing room at half time.

The Kingfishers were 2-1 down at the break after again struggling to defend set pieces and Romeo instructed his assistant Shaun Allaway to make three changes in his stead at half time, bringing on Dan Smith, Mo Ceesay and Ashley Howell.

The Kingfishers responded well after the break and Weekes scored twice, completing his hat-trick as the visitors moved into a 3-2 lead.

However, the Kingfishers were unable to hold onto all three points as Dan Brown headed home an equaliser in the 92nd minute before substitute Ceesay was sent off in an off-the-ball incident.

“It was a disappointing day and I didn’t take it too well,” Romeo said.

“I expected us to win and we should’ve won, but we didn’t.

“Our Achilles heel reared its head again and we conceded from a free-kick.

“I was so upset that I couldn’t even go into the changing room.

“To be fair the lads came out with a much better attitude, but that was how they should have started, it was frustrating."

Romeo had made public his desire to bring in at least two attackers in the summer but insists resurgent frontman Simeon Weekes is also in his plans ahead of next term.

Weekes has scored six in his last five but hadn’t scored since September prior to his recent run and Romeo wants him to improve his consistency in front of goal if he’s to nail down a place in his first choice 11.

He said: “Sim’s in my plans, but he’s got to give me his best form from the off.

“He’s an honest, hardworking player who is in great form but he can’t have another run where he doesn’t score in 20.”

While Thatcham are languishing in 13th and with little left to play for, Saturday’s visitors Walton and Hersham have it all on the line on the final day of the season.

The visitors are unbeaten in 18 and top of the Isthmian League South Central table but are level on points with Baskingstoke and know a slip-up could hand the title to their rivals.

And Romeo is desperate to give his friend and Basingstoke manager Dan Brownlie a helping hand but knows he’ll have to do it without the suspended Ceesay and goalkeeper Toby Fisher, who was recalled from his loan spell by Aldershot.

“As if it wasn’t hard enough,” he said.

"We're gutted to lose Toby, he's been excellent for us.

“I don’t want anyone celebrating on our pitch and I’d love to give Brownlie a hand, he’s done me a few favours so I’d like to do one for him.

“Can we do it? 100 per cent we can.”