01/11/10……Thame narrowly beaten in ‘high velocity’ game

MATCH REPORT – Wednesday, October 27 – OLD WOODSTOCK TOWN 3, Vs THAME UNITED 2.

IN a game played at high velocity for most of the ninety minutes, United will rue two pieces of misfortune and several missed opportunities as they fell to their second successive defeat in the league at Old Woodstock Town.

Played at Eynsham Park, the home of North Leigh FC, United played down the pronounced slope in the first half and immediately had the visitors on the back foot. Indeed, they had a great opportunity to open the scoring after only 3 minutes when striker Alex Stewart put in a teasing cross along the six yard line that Ben Connelly met at the far post, only to see his effort come back off the upright. Whilst Old Woodstock Town were dangerous on the break, Thame only had to wait another ten minutes to break the deadlock with what for many will already consider to be goal of the season. United worked the ball well down the left, where a cross came in to Stewart on the edge of the box, he headed the ball back to Adam Rhodes who, from 25 yards, unleashed an unstoppable volley in to the top left hand corner of the goal.

Although United had the opportunity to go 2-0 up five minutes later, as Connelly just failed to connect with a cross to the far post, Old Woodstock Town gradually got back in to the game and equalised after 27 minutes. A speculative shot from 25 yards crashed against the underside of the crossbar and hit the back of Thame goalkeeper, Paul Searl, before crossing over the line. By this stage, Old Woodstock Town were in the ascendancy and a second goal was scored three minutes from the break as a well placed shot beat Searl from 15 yards.

United started the second half brightly and Aaron Rogers had a good opportunity after 48 minutes, skewing his shot wide whilst, five minutes later, a cross from Connelly on the right appeared to be handled by the retreating defender but the referee waved play on. United were made to pay ten minutes later as, following a corner, an Old Woodstock Town shot again hit the underside of the bar and again went in off the back of the hapless Searl. On 75 minutes Thame scored their second as a well taken Rhodes free kick was volleyed home from 8 yards by Sam Cowan. Thame then pressed for the equaliser, with Nik Rhodes going closest from a header in the final minutes.

Thame United: Searl, Cowan, Newell, Saulsbury, N. Rhodes, Braun (Hunt), A.Rhodes, Barr (Meredith), Rogers, Stewart (Jones), Connelly.

CONTRIBUTED by Jake Collinge