Thame lose to Kidlington at Meadow View Park

THAME United were defeated by Kidlington 1-3 at the ASM Stadium on Saturday (28/03). Going into the game, United were in sixth league place and the visitors were seventh, but they had played three fewer games. Whilst possession was fairly even, Thame struggled to penetrate the visitors’ defence and Kidlington just did enough to earn their points.

The visitors started brightly but it was Thame who scored first. In the 13th minute Dan West beat his marker on the right and was running at goal when he was tripped from behind, just inside the penalty area. The referee had no hesitation in awarding Thame a penalty. Marcus Mealing took the spot kick and beat the keeper comfortably with a strong shot to his right. Kidlington equalised on 20 minutes when Lee Farrow was not able to hold a well hit 30-yard free kick and the ball ran to visiting captain, Tommy Castle who netted from close range.

A few minutes later Luke Ricketts met a cross from Niall Hodgkins with his chest, but the ball hit the post. Kidlington increased their lead on 32 minutes when Ellis Hercules, under pressure from a striker, tried to head a cross from the right out for a corner but instead found his own net.

Mealing moved up front at the start of the second half with West falling back into midfield. Thame looked more dangerous for a while but on 56 minutes kidlington added another goal. A passing move created the space for Lewis Coyle to hit a well placed shot from the edge of the box into the right corner, giving Farrow no chance. Thame tried desperately to claw a goal back but their efforts were either wide, or comfortably saved by the visiting keeper.

Thame United: Farrow, P Pykett, Hall (I Pykett), Hercules, Rhodes, Lynch (Johnstone), Mealing, West, Hodgkins, Kedzierski (Davis), Ricketts.

United are at home again next Saturday (5th) when 13th placed Wootton Bassett Town are the visitors.