24/10/12….Thame’s unbeaten run ends at Highworth Town

MATCH REPORT: Hellenic League Floodlit Cup – Highworth Town 3, Thame United 1 – 23/10/12

Thame?s recent unbeaten mini run was ended at Highworth (near Swindon) on Tuesday evening (23/10) when they were beaten 3-1 by Highworth Town in the Floodlit Cup. Player availability is often a problem for mid-week away games, particularly for minor cup matches, and as a result United ?s line up contained five players who are inexperienced at this level.

Thame started brightly but then the home side recovered and went ahead on 15 minutes with a good finish from Aaron Maximem. United were giving their opponents too much space and, despite Dan West being brought on to strengthen the side, Thame conceded their second goal in the 38th minute when the unmarked Talif Hamza fired home. In the last minute of the half Thame Striker Niall Hodgkins thundered a long shot against the post and Calvin Evans reacted quickly, met the rebound and hit a low shot from an acute angle, pulling a goal back for the visitors.

It was a more even game in the second half, with chances at both ends. Both goalkeepers were busy and Lee Farrow was in particularly good form for Thame making some outstanding saves. Highworth scored the final goal when, with 20 minutes remaining, when Maximem met a low ball across the 6-yard box to tap home. United fought to the final whistle and substitute Aaron Bonham went close with a good header, but it is Highworth who will play in the next round.

Thame United: Farrow, Barr, Way (West), Rhodes, Johnson, Rogers, Connelly, P Pykett, Hodgkins (Hercules), Gray (Bonham), Evans.