17/11/10…Goalkeeper isThame’s Man-of-the-match

GAME: November 16, 2010 – Thame United 4 Vs Clanfield85 0 – MATCH REPORT By Jake Collinge

WHILST the score line appears comfortable on paper, the fact that the man-of-the-match for Thame was goalkeeper Milan Barisic, suggests a slightly closer game. That said, by the time Barisic was called on to make a number of fine saves, Thame were already ahead in the game and generally in control.

From the off Thame pushed their West Oxfordshire opponents back in to their own half, and former Thame goalkeeper Chris Brain was forced in to a number of saves. The deadlock was finally broken after 16 minutes. United won a free kick on the right hand edge of the penalty area and with everyone, including Brain, anticipating a cross in to the box, Stuart Barr instead saw a gap at the keeper?s near post and expertly curled the ball around the Clanfield wall and in to the bottom corner. Five minutes later and United could have made it two as top scorer Alex Stewart found himself in space six yards from goal, only to see his goal bound effort well saved by Brain. At this stage Clanfield?s attacks were sporadic but they had a great chance to equalize five minutes from the break when Mark Odom found himself in space five yards from goal, only to see Barisic expertly push the ball wide with his outstretched leg.

The second half was only four minutes old when Thame extended their lead. As a free kick from the Thame left was cleared the ball was put back in to the area where Martin Brown collected the ball and clipped a cross back across the goal with Stewart side footing in from close range. Stewart scored his second, and United?s third ten minutes later when fellow striker Stuart Braun initially failed to get his shot away before winning the ball back and feeding Stewart who, from the edge of the area, hit a powerful drive in the bottom corner of the net. Before the fourth and final goal arrived, Barisic was called on to make at least four fine saves as Clanfield searched desperately to get back in to the game. As it was, it was Thame who scored on a break away in the 82nd minute. Stuart Barr played a fine ball down the line to Stuart Braun who cut inside and crossed to the far post where Aaron Rogers confidently beat Brain. With the game over, manager Mark West made a welcome return to the field of play for the first time this season.

In the next round United will face an away trip to the winners of the all Hellenic Premier Division tie between Kidlington and Ardley United.

Thame United: Barisic, N.Rhodes, Newell (Hunt), Saulsbury, Brown (Way), Barr, Rogers (West), Cowan, Braun, Stewart, Meredith