08/02/11…..Fair result for Thame United despite the wind

MATCH – February 5, 2011; THAME UNITED 0 Vs Wantage Town 0; MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

IN front of over 180 spectators, United came away with a creditable draw against high-flying Wantage Town on Saturday afternoon.

As with the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the quality of the game was significantly affected by the windy weather conditions and, whilst it was the same for both sides, neither Thame nor Wantage could master the conditions to their advantage. Nevertheless, that did not detract from an attractive, attacking game of football where a draw was a fair result.

Thame opened the game brightly, with wingers Luke Ricketts and Ben Connelly causing the visiting defence problems down the left and right respectively. However, neither were able to create a goal scoring opportunity for lone striker, Alex Stewart, who was playing at the front of a new 4-5-1 formation. That said, the best opportunity fell to Stewart on 15 mins, who did well to initially control a cross from Connelly but was unlucky not to get his shot away before Stuart Cattell, the Wantage centre back, got a foot to the ball. Wantage themselves were not without their goalscoring opportunities with Barisic in the Thame goal saving well from Adam Bruce. As the first half drew to a close, both sides survived penalty appeals.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Wantage were expected to press the Thame defence heavily and the early moments of the half suggested this would be the case with both Richie Claydon and Ellis Langford going close. However, the home side were also looking more dangerous and after 57 minutes Ricketts was unfortunate not to connect with a header from a Connelly cross. Five minutes later and the same combination saw Ricketts control a cross on the edge of the six yard box, only to see his powerful drive parried for a corner by Gareth Tucker in the Wantage goal. With the game drawing to a close, Wantage had the best opportunity to take the points when Claydon forced a fine save from Barisic and the follow-up shot from Tom Butler clipped the woodwork and went wide.

As it was, a draw was a fair result, as Thame achieved their fourth clean sheet in their last five league outings. Next visitors to the ASM Stadium are Binfield this coming Saturday (3pm kick off).

Thame United: Barisic, Barr, N.Rhodes, Saulsbury, Brown (Newell), Braun (Meredith), Cowan, Hayes, Ricketts, Stewart, Connelly