Thatcham Tn 1 (Rae 65)

North Leigh 2 (Hope 60, Helby 72)

North Leigh notched up their fourth successive Division 1 South & West victory at play-off hopefuls Thatcham.

Liam Hope saw a goalbound effort well saved by Thatcham keeper Paul Strudley on 20 minutes, and then Chris Allen beat Thatcham defender Jamie Leacock before setting up Ben Reardon, whose low shot from ten yards was tipped around a post.

The breakthrough came on the hour when striker Hope latched onto a through ball, drew the keeper, and hit a fierce shot into the top corner from 15 yards.

With the rain lashing down, the home side upped their tempo, and a speculative ball from defence brought about their equaliser as Sam Rae slammed home an unstoppable shot from 12 yards.

Shortly afterwards, a mazy run by Reardon saw him beat three defenders, only to see his goalbound shot scambled off the line.

The winning goal came 18 minutes from time.

A free-kick was awarded just outside the box for a foul on Joe Burnell, and Andrew Helby stepped up and fired home a shot around the wall into the top corner of the net.

North Leigh then defended stoutly in the dying minutes for a deserved victory.

North Leigh: Farrow, Sadler, Helby, Parker, Huxley, Dodds, Reardon (Collins 85), Burnell, Hope, McCabe, Allen. Subs not used: Butler, Merriman.

Attendance: 105.