Thame lose to nine-man Highmoor in last kick

REDUCED to nine men, Highmoor Ibis snatched victory with the last kick of the game at the ASM stadium on Tuesday evening, when they defeated Thame United 3-4. The visitors are second in the league, whilst Thame are currently seventh, so a close match was both anticipated and delivered.

Mark West

Thame started brightly with both Luke Ricketts and Marcus Mealing going close. It was the visitors however who scored first when, following a run on the left, the ball was passed to the unmarked Michael Parker whose strong 10-yard shot was met by Lee Farrow, but somehow the ball ricocheted off him into the goal. The remainder of the first half saw 50-50 possession but few chances at either end.

The visitors increased their lead two minutes after the break when a long ball ‘over the top’ found the impressive Parker who ran at goal and beat Farrow with a strong low shot. Thame struggled to penetrate the well organised Highmoor defence and chances were few. With 25 minutes remaining, Dan West was dangerously tackled by Kasier Chowdhary, and almost retaliated before other players joined in to keep them apart. The referee took ages consulting his linesmen before dismissing Chowdhary, and showing yellow cards to West and a visiting player.

United’s first goal came with 15 minutes remaining when Ellis Hercules met a ‘West’ corner to head the ball home from close range at the far post. The visitors’ increased their lead three minutes later when Calum Gallimore met a corner with a near post header.

 So, it was 1-3 with about 12 minutes of normal time remaining. With five minutes left, a free kick on the right was deflected to Ricketts, near the far post, and he fired the ball home. United’s equalising goal came with two minutes remaining when Hercules again met a West Corner but the ball fell to Nik Rhodes who scrambled it over the line. Thame was laying siege to the visitors’ goal when Highmoor lost a second player. Kashif Chowdhary was dismissed for an unknown offence and joined his brother in the dressing room.

As United battled for the winner they left themselves vulnerable in defence and in the final seconds another high long ball found Parker who completed his hat-trick from 15 yards.

Thame United: Farrow, P Pykett, Hall, Hercules, Rhodes, Jesson, Connelly, West, Cordice, Mealing (Hodgkins), Ricketts

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon