Worst performance of the season for Thame United?

SATURDAY, 5th December 2009 – Chalfont Wasps 3, Thame United 2 – MATCH REPORT (Contributed)
Although United can rightly look to some bizarre officiating that ultimately led to two Chalfont goals, they will know that the performance was probably their worst of the season and came when victory would have put them joint top of the league.

Played on a very damp, muddy pitch United were forced to make a number of changes to the team due to injuries and player unavailability. As a result, the 4-4-2 formation was sacrificed for a 3-5-2 line-up, and it was evident in the early stages that it would take United a while to settle in to the new formation. Adapting better to the conditions, Chalfont put Thame on the back foot from the start and it took a good ten minutes for United to force play in to their opponents half. However, it was no surprise when Chalfont took the lead on 25 minutes, Heffernan taking advantage of a mistimed header in the Thame defence to beat Orkney down low to his right. After the goal Thame began to assert themselves and after they hit the bar and had an Adam Rhodes effort tipped over the bar, United equalized on 41 minutes when Jones, with the help of a deflection, finished powerfully from 12 yards.

With the scores level at the break, United made a number of changes and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. Despite the more familiar line-up, the opening 20 minutes of the half remained even. On 70 minutes Chalfont went back in front. The ball was played down the middle where, with the Chalfont forward clearly backing in to central defender Sam Cowan, Cowan?s headed clearance did not have sufficient distance and Trip collected the ball and raced through, placing his effort beyond Orkney. Braun then went close for Thame with a header before United again hit the bar. 10 minutes from time and Chalfont scored a third. With his normal composure Cowan confidently collected a through ball on the edge of the box but, inexplicably and to the amusement of the Chalfont bench, the referee awarded the home side a free kick. The first effort came back off the Thame wall but Moakes followed up to powerfully finish in to the bottom left hand corner giving keeper Orkney no chance.

United pushed forward to get back in to the game and were rewarded 3 minutes later when Lawrence El-Kassir finished from close range. Despite manager Mark West coming on United were unable to force and equalizer and it was Chalfont who left with all three points.

United will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday (12th December) when they face Newbury at home (AFC Wallingford, 3:00pm kick off). They then follow this with an Oxfordshire Senior Cup tie against Premier League side Ardley United on Tuesday 15th December, again at home (7:45pm kick off).

Thame United: Orkney, Newell, Wakelin (Barnett), Cowan, P.Way (Goffe), El-Kassir, Rhodes, Braun (West), Jones, Connelly, Rogers.

Thame United Reserves drew 1-1 at home to leaders Eton Wick Reserves. Goalscorer for Thame was Ryan Daly. The win takes the reserves up to second place in the league, 3 points behind Eton Wick.