Double win for Thame against Oxford Nomads

HAVING defeated Oxford City Nomads 3-2 in September, Thame United completed the double at Court Place Farm Stadium on Saturday (23/11) when they beat them 1-2. Like the September match, it was a close game which either side could have won. United fielded the same starting eleven as last week and ex Thame keeper, Milan Barisic, was in goal for Nomads. The win strengthens Thame’s seventh league place.

Ian Pykett

The opening exchanges were fairly even but in the eighth minute Phil Pykett played a long ball to Lewis Cordice which put him through of goal. Barisic came out to meet the threat and dived at Cordice’s feet. The challenge looked fair but the referee saw something amiss and a penalty was awarded. Niall Hodgkins took the spot kick, which Barisic got a hand to but Hodgkins followed up to knock the ball home. The game ebbed and flowed but United had better chances and Cordice was unlucky to see his shot hit the crossbar. Nomads equalised on 27 minutes when Adam Morris hit a 25-yard free kick into the bottom left corner of Thame’s goal. Both teams had further chances but it was 1-1 at the break.

The game continued much the same after the break with some entertaining end to end football. The breakthrough came with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, with a quality goal rarely seen at this level. Defender Ian Pykett collected the ball on Thame’s right, near the halfway line, and ran at goal, dribbling past at least three defenders before, just inside the penalty area, he hit a low ball to Luke Ricketts who calmly fired it in near the left post. It was a quite brilliant run by Pykett who had an excellent game. United were on the back foot for the final few minutes and Nomads had a penalty appeal turned down, but helped by some good goalkeeping by Lee Farrow, United held out to claim their victory.

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

The reserve team is at home to Chalfont Wasps at the ASM Stadium next Saturday (30th), whilst the first team visit Headington Amateur’s in the League Cup. The next first team home fixture is on Saturday 7th December when Abingdon Town are the visitors.

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon