10/10/11….Thame come from behind to draw with Abingdon

LEAGUE GAME (away) – Saturday, October 8, Abingdon Town 1, Thame United 1. MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

THAME United returned with a point from Abingdon Town?s Culham Road Stadium on Saturday, having come back from behind to draw 1-1. It could have been so much worse as Abingdon created several good scoring chances in the first half, and if they had converted them would have been leading comfortably at half time.

James Keeble, recently signed from Chinnor, made his debut for Thame wearing the number nine shirt but playing in midfield.

Initial possession was fairly even but the home side were stronger in attack and hit the post after six minutes. In the early stages Thame were only playing with one striker, the hardworking Aaron Rogers, but as the game progressed he was joined up front by Dan West. Abingdon went close several times and the on-form Nick Bennion was kept far busier than the home keeper. Abingdon went ahead after 38 minutes when Phil Pykett was harshly judged to have handled the ball in the box, and a penalty was awarded. Striker Anacalet Odhiambo took the spot kick well, sending Bennion the wrong way.

Whatever was said at half time in the Thame dressing room worked, as they were far more effective in the second half. The first attack after the restart resulted in a good chance for West but his hurried shot was high. Then, three minutes later, United winger Matt Hall hit a powerful, quality, strike from 30-yards, which flew in off the underside of the crossbar. The roles were now reversed with Thame looking the more dangerous. Rogers was unlucky to see his shot tipped over by the home keeper. United were determined to get the winning goal and were unfortunate that the referee did not see two clear fouls in the box. Towards the end Alex MacDonald came on and United played with three strikers, but the score was still 1-1 when the final whistle blew.

The draw maintains United?s unbeaten away run and takes them up two places to 15th league position.

Thame United: Bennion, Little, P Pykett (MacDonald), Meredith, Steadman, Cowan, Connelly (Barr), West, Keeble, Rogers, Hall.

United have a series of home games coming up. They entertain Binfield on Saturday 16th, Kidlington on Tuesday 18th and Oxford City Nomads on Saturday 22nd.