Thame United Blame Loss Of Ground For Relegation (Contributed)

Thame United 0, Bromsgrove Rovers 4
AS a result of Tuesday’s match it is now mathematically impossible for Thame United to finish the season in any other position than bottom of the Southern League West. Thame will therefore, almost certainly, play their football in a lower league next season although, as the league structure is currently being overhauled, they will not know which league for several weeks.

Tuesday’s game saw the welcome return from injury of Gavin Lane, which was just as well as both Robbie Easton and Dave Tregurtha were unavailable. It was an entertaining match, played at a fast pace, and was not as one sided as the score suggests. For long periods of the game possession was 50/50. The difference was that Bromsgrove took their chances whereas Thame were ineffective when they got the ball in, or near, their opponent?s penalty area.

Bromsgrove?s first came the 23rd minute when Wayne Dyer made a good run on the right before squaring for Paul Moore to finish from eight yards. It was 10 minutes into the second half before Bromsgrove added to their tally with a superb individual goal. Wing back, Matt Johnson collected the ball just inside the Thame half and ran at goal beating two defenders along the way, before chipping the ball over the advancing Thame goalkeeper, Paul Searl. The third came on 77 minutes when substitute, Exodus Geoghan, lobbed Searl from 30 yards. The final goal, and Dyer?s second, came with five minutes to play when he fired a strong shot from the edge of the penalty area.

The game saw the debut of 16-year-old George Harman who, despite being harshly booked, looks a promising player. Thame?s young side, once again, gave their all and fought to the final whistle. There were some good individual performances and the team ?grows? with each game.

Thame?s relegation is, of course, a direct result of the loss of Windmill Stadium. Over 80% of the clubs funds came from the bar and function room hire, hence the club was forced to slash its playing budget to the smallest in the league by far. To quote joint manager Alan Thorne: “the youngsters have been great and have showed amazing spirit and skill even when we were getting slaughtered. I believe we can come back at the first attempt.”
Report By Bob Dixon.

Thame United: Searl, Hocking, N. Rhodes, Bradley, Lane (Harman), Hopkins (Way), Connelly, A. Rhodes, Moore, Hamilton, Groves.

Thame entertain Willenhall Town next Saturday, 8th April. On Wednesday 12th, fellow strugglers Dunstable town visit Buckingham Road Stadium (7.45).