Victory At Last For Thame United (Contributed)

LEAGUE MATCH REPORT By Bob Dixon – Hounslow Borough 2 Thame United 3 – September 5th
The much-improved Thame United team recorded their first win of the season on Tuesday evening. Hounslow, like Thame, do not have their own ground so the fixture took place at ?The Manor?: the home of Ruislip Manor F.C.

Thame conceded a ?soft? goal in the second minute when they failed to deal with a simple ball to the unmarked striker Gary Taylor, who slotted the ball past the advancing Thame keeper, Paul Searl, from 15 yards. The visitors quickly recovered and equalised in the 14th minute. Nick Gibson made a good run on the left wing and crossed to Patrick Johnson who finished well from eight yards. Hounslow however regained their lead five minutes later with a superb goal. It came from a corner, which seemingly Dave Tregurtha headed clear. Unfortunately for Thame, the ball fell to Phil Merritt who hit a powerful shot from 35 yards high into the left hand corner, giving Searl no chance.
Thame again countered and levelled the score in the 29th minute with an excellent move. A Beckham like, cross-field ball from Sion Kitson found Nick Gibson on the left wing. His cross fell to Nathan Jack who beat his defender well and fired home low into the right corner from 10 yards. Hounslow counted and forced four corners in succession but the sides went in for half time with the score 2-2.

The second half was 25 minutes old when Thame took the lead and followed a period of Thame pressure, during which a Graham Jackson shot hit the bar. A good ball from Simon Rogers found Nathan Jack unmarked. Before he could be closed down, Jack unleashed a thunderbolt from 30 yards, which found the left top corner of the Hounslow net. The visitors were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty a few minutes later when substitute Dave Miller was tackled from behind, but the referee waved play on. The final few minutes saw Hounslow pressurising the Thame goal but the visitors held out for a much-deserved victory.

Thame United: Searl (capt.) Gomme (Couch), Watkins, Kitson, Tregurtha, Jackson (Miller), Smith, Johnson (Raja), Jack, Rogers, Gibson