Thame keep Reading to a draw at Meadow View Park

THAME United drew 2-2 with Reading Town in a close game at the ASM stadium on Saturday (01/03).

The visitors came into the match in sixth league place whilst Thame were seventh. The game saw the home debut of the impressive ex Marlow striker Marcus Mealing. The first half was uninspiring, but it was a different matter after the break with both sides playing attractive, open football.

United, who were playing 4-5-1, controlled the first 15 minutes, winning six corners, but not really testing the visiting keeper. Then Reading settled and Thame were ‘on the back foot’ for a while. The visitors went ahead in the 43rd minute when a Thame clearance was deflected across the six yard box, falling to visiting striker Taylor Mitchinson, whose shot ricocheted off a defender to beat Lee Farrow. United equalised two minutes later when bizarrely a Shannon Jesson in swinging corner was caught by the visiting goalkeeper but the well placed linesman signalled that the ball had crossed the line.

Louis Cordice came on a few minutes after the break, allowing United to adopt a 4-4-2 formation, and almost immediately, they looked more dangerous. In The 53rd minute Cordice picked up a ball just outside the box, ran to the left dead ball line, and was about to cross when he was scythed down from behind. Referee Evans rightly awarded a penalty. Mealing scored from the spot, sending Reading’s keeper the wrong way. There were chances at both ends before, with 25 minutes remaining, James Knight scored the visitor’s second goal with a powerful 20-yard shot, giving Farrow no chance. Thame played some good football as they sought the winner and Cordice, Mealing, and Matt Hall all brought saves from the keeper. It was however 2-2 when the final whistle blew and the points were shared.

Thame United: Farrow, P Pykett, Hall, Hercules, Rhodes, Jesson (I Pykett), Connelly, West, Kedzierski (Cordice), Mealing, Rickets.

United are without a game next Saturday (8th). The reserves however face Berinsfield in the semi-final of the Oxfordshire Intermediate Cup at the ASM Stadium (KO 3.00).

SOURCE: Contributed – By Jake Collinge