09/12/11……Thame United 2, Ascot United 2

LEAGE match: 6/12/11; It was a close thing, but Thame United extended their unbeaten run to seven games at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening when they drew 2-2 with Ascot United. With both teams on the same points tally, but Thame ahead on goal difference, the teams were evenly matched. Nevertheless they were forced to defend for long periods and gained the draw through inspired defending and outstanding goalkeeping.

After an even first 15 minutes Thame started to press and pounced on an error to go ahead in the 26th minute. A visiting defender made a back pass to his goalkeeper whose poor clearance was intercepted by an alert Aaron Rogers and the ball fell to Alex Stewart. Thame?s leading goal scorer then calmly hit a 25 yard shot pass the keeper into the corner of the net. Ascot equalised five minutes later when a long ball split Thame?s defence, and Jon Bennett hit a powerful shot pass Thame keeper Nick Bennion from 8-yards. The score was 1-1 at half time, which was a fair reflection of the play.

The visitors pressed hard after the restart and went into the lead on 53 minutes when the imposing Bennett beat Bennion with a 30-yard shot. Thame countered, and the hard working Rogers was replaced by new signing Lewis Cordice. The impressive newcomer made his mark a few minutes after coming on when he picked up a long ball and hit a lobbed shot over the advancing keeper to restore parity. The game ebbed and flowed without score for the remainder of the game and, with 5 minutes remaining, Ascot hit the crossbar with a long shot. The on-form Bennion made some quality saves, particularly in the dying minutes to earn the draw.

Thame United: Bennion, Cowan, Hall, Meredith, Steedman, Keeble, Barr, D West, Stewart, Rogers (Cordice), Ricketts.

The next first team home game at the ASM Stadium in on Tuesday 13th at 7.45 when Abingdon Town are the visitors.

SOURCE: Contributed