Thame take the double over rivals Holyport

THAME  United travelled to Holyport‘s, Maidenhead based ground on Saturday, (02/11/13) where they secured the double over their opponents by winning 1-4.

 The game was played in a strong wind which assisted the home side in the first half and Thame after the break. Shannon Jesson, who has recently signed from Ascot, was in Thame’s starting line up. Sadly the game was marred by a referee who blew his whistle at the least provocation and did not allow the game to flow.

After an even start, Thame found themselves on the back foot and were penned into their own half for a while. Holyport’s only goal came on 15 minutes when Thame failed to clear a ball ‘over the top’ and striker Jamie West headed home. The visitors were on level terms again five minutes later when Ian Pykett made a run on the right and hit a cross slightly behind Louis Cordice who, with his back to goal, met it with a spectacular scissors kick giving the home keeper no chance. It was the goal of the game and probably United’s best of the season so far.

The home side went down to 10 men a few minutes later when Ben Connolly was unfairly brought down by Dan Sharp. After the referee awarded a free kick, Sharp stupidly kicked the ball at Connelly whilst he was down, and the referee dismissed him from the pitch. United’s second goal came on 30 minutes when Cordice took a free kick, hitting a 30-yard shot which the keeper stopped, but spilled, allowing Luke Ricketts to react quickly and fire home from five yards.

It was 1-3 a few minutes after the restart when Connolly fed a forward ball to Niall Hodgkins whose clever shot, went over the keepers head. It was Holyport’s turn to be penned into their own half and Thame had several more chances. United’s final goal came with about 10 minutes remaining when Ollie Lynch played a telling ball to substitute Martin Griggs who confidently hit a well placed 20-yard shot pass the home keeper. Game over!

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, lynch, Connelly (Hurley), Jesson, Hodgkins (Sykes), Cordice (Griggs), Ricketts.

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon