Maximum League points for Thame United (Contributed)

LEAGUE GAME – 25/08/09 – Thame United 2, South Kilburn 0; MATCH REPORT – On paper, Thame United faced their toughest league opposition so far this season on Tuesday evening, when they entertained South Kilburn, who were also on maximum points.

Thame however won comfortably. As a result, they are now the only club in the league to have scored maximum points.

After a few minutes play, United started to win more possession, and both John Mitchell and Luke Rickets went close. United?s goalkeeper Paul Searl, was forced to make a good save in the seventh minute, but it proved to be the only time he was really tested all half. Thame?s first goal came in the 20th minute when, following a period of pressure, a visiting defender made a back pass to his goalkeeper. The alert Mark Jones did well to intercept the ball, turn and hit a strong 15-yard shot pass the keeper, from an acute angle.

The second goal came eight minutes later. Sam Cowan played a good ball to right-winger Ben Connelly who, under pressure from his marker, hit a cross that looked too deep. As the ball fell to the left by-line however, it was met by Jones, and quickly passed to the unmarked Adam Rhodes in the centre of the goal, who finished clinically from 8-yards. Thame continued to press for the remainder of the first half and one point, the visiting centre back was heard to shout out in frustration, ?its coming straight back at us?. The home side were faster to the ball and more creative than the visitor?s, who began to loose their composure and, as a result, received two bookings before the break.

The game was more even in the second half as the visitors fought for a goal. Searl was busy but apart from one superb save, he was not really tested. United however continued to press and, at one point, won five consecutive corners. As the game progressed, Kilburn?s frustration grew, as did the list of their names in the referee?s book. Scott Lewis was dismissed for a second offence, and David Ferguson received a straight red for an ?off the ball incident?. It is a tribute to Thame?s discipline that, although provoked, they did not receive any bookings. When the final whistle blew, therefore it was United?s eleven player?s verses the visitor?s nine.

Thame United: Searl, Cowan (G Way), Wakelin, N Rhodes, Hocking, El-Kassir, Connelly, A. Rhodes, Mitchell (Rogers), Jones, Ricketts (Hoskin).

Thame United are hoping to extend their F. A. Cup run next Saturday (29th) when Bedfordshire side, Wooton Blue Cross, from the United Counties League visit Hithercroft Stadium. The game kicks off at 3pm

PICTURE: Goal scorers, Sam Cowan and Adam Rhodes