Entertainment not enough to win Thame’s last Home game

THAME United were defeated 1-2, at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening (08/04)  in their last home game of the season. The Gloucestershire based side, Brimscombe & Thrupp, were three league places lower than Thame, but had played five fewer games and, on the night, the teams were evenly matched.

It was an entertaining game, which either side could have won, with both teams playing fast, open passing football. The game was however marred by a referee who blew up for the slightest perceived infringement, and was far too quick to reach for his cards, which resulted in eight bookings and a sending off, in what was not a particularly physical game.

In the first few minutes, Ellis Hercules hit the post, whilst Dan West was narrowly wide with two, free kicks. The visitors went ahead on 12 minutes when, following a corner, Ian Pykett made a clearance on the line but the ball was deflected to Chris Greenough who reacted quickly to beat Lee Farrow with a strong 10-yard shot. United equalised 10 minutes later when a Ben Connolly cross was met by a defender who tried to find the right dead ball line, but instead found Niall Hodgkins who hit a low ball across the six yard box allowing Luke Ricketts to meet it at the far post and knock the ball home from close range. The remainder of the first half was entertaining end-to-end stuff although four players, two from each team, were shown yellow cards.

The second half was similar as both teams sought another goal but, although there were near misses at both ends, neither could break the deadlock. With five minutes remaining Ollie Lynch was shown a second yellow card, and United went down to 10 men. The winning goal came in the 90th minute when a cross from the left found substitute David Woodfield who beat his marker and finished well from 15 yards, giving Farrow no chance.

United have two away games to play. The last game of the season will be at nearby Ardley on Easter Monday, April 21.

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett Hall, Hercules, Johnston, Lynch, Connelly, West (Hurley), Kedzierski, Hodgkins, Ricketts.