Thame draw against Holyport

IN a game where both sides missed penalties, the one-all, drawn match on Tuesday (09/09) between Thame Utd and Holyport was a fair result as neither side created quite enough in the final third to take the three points.

Dan West, who scored Thame’s goal against Holyport, on Tuesday

The first half, however, belonged to United as they put their hosts on the back foot from the start. With Adam Morris dominating the midfield, the first chance came after only three minutes when an Ellis Hercules header from a corner came back off the post and the ball was scrambled clear. Whilst United were dominating possession, they were somewhat surprised to see a penalty awarded against Matt Hall in the 15th minute for hand ball. However, keeper Josh Cockerill did well to save the spot kick from Jamie West.

Three minutes later and United were in front when Dan West did well to turn in the box before firing in to the top corner. Luke Ricketts nearly doubled the lead with a drive from 20 yards three minutes later, before a sublime cross from Dan Jones in the 29th minute was met by the head of Ben Connelly, only for the header to go narrowly wide of the post. Two minutes later and Jordan Davis headed over from an Adam Morris cross. Despite the goal attempts, Holyport equalised five minutes before the break when Jamie West struck a powerful effort from 20 yards that swerved beyond Cockerill.

Holyport came out fired-up for the second half and, for the first twenty minutes, United struggled to find the rhythm that had served them so well in the first half, with the best opportunity again falling to Jamie West, with Cockerill saving well. Ellis Hercules also went close with a header before United were given the chance to take all three points when Dan West was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty area. However, the penalty from Dan Jones was saved – the last meaningful action of the match.

Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division – Holyport 1 – Thame United 1

United: Cockerill, Johnson, Jones, Hercules, Hall, Lynch, Connelly (Evans), Morris, Davis (Burrows), West, Ricketts.

SOURCE: Contributed