Captain Steve Gentle scored an 89th-minute winner to earn fourth-placed Biggleswade Town three valuable points in their bid to secure a place in the end-of-season playoffs. It started well for the Waders when they took an early lead in the 12th minute through Paul Barnes. Defender Rob Why, however, stunned the home fans by scoring Thatcham’s equaliser 13 minutes later and during the second half it looked as if Biggleswade would pay for missing a series of decent chances. Then, dramatically, Gentle headed home the winner with time running out to send the Waders fans home happy and relieved. The Carlsberg Stadium is a relatively new venue opened in 2008 to replace Town’s old ground that was situated on the northern outskirts of the town.
Biggleswade Town 2 Thatcham Town 1
Evo-Stik Southern Division One Central
At: Carlsberg Stadium, Langford Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £8; Programme: £1 (44 pages)
Weather: rain
Full report to follow…
Biggleswade Town (green and white stripes / green / green): 1. Michael McEntergrat, 2. Max York, 3. Matt Clifford, 4. Peter Gatti, 5. Steve Gentle (capt), 6. Lee Allinson, 7. Craig Daniel, 8. Luke Knight, 19. Brett Donnelly, 10. Paul Barnes, 11. Jon Woolf. Subs: 12. Leon Osei (not used), 14. Joe Reynolds (for Woolf, 59), 15. Joel Mason (for Knight, 59), 16. Ricky Case (not used), 17. Alex O’Brien (for Barnes, 90+3). Manager: Chris Nunn.
Thatcham Town (blue and white stripes / blue / blue): 1. Aaron Bufton, 2. Rob Why, 3. Alex Charlick, 4. Kieren Maylen, 5. Ben McCready, 6. Dave Asker, 7. Callum Willmoth (capt), 8. Peter Raines, 9. Josh Coventry, 10. Denilson Vicente, 11. Sam Hamilton. Subs: 12. Lee Hamilton (for Asker, 73), 14. Gareth Brown (not used), 16. Chase Jewel (for Vicente, 84), GK. Ashley West (not used).
Referee: W. Norcott.
Assistants: D. Lawson and P. Perkins.
Attendance: 123
Duration (45): first-half: 46:45; second-half: 49:55
Goals:
1-0 Paul Barnes (12)
1-1 Rob Why (25)
2-1 Steve Gentle (89)
Cards:
Biggleswade: Jon Woolf (YC, 56), Paul Barnes (YC, 60)
Thatcham: Sam Hamilton (YC, 37)
