Seven-goal match win for Thame

THREE goals from Dan West and a Marcus Mealing strike were enough for United to edge a seven goal thriller at the ASM Stadium.

Dan West (Right)

The early exchanges saw United open the stronger of the two sides and they were unlucky not to take the lead on five minutes when a Dan Jones corner was headed goal-wards by West only for the ball to be cleared off the line. Two minutes later and Luke Ricketts collected the ball in his own half before going on a powerful run that saw him through on goal, with the keeper saving the initial effort before the ricochet fell to Ricketts again whose shot this time hit the post before being cleared. West then saw an effort from 20 yards go just wide, whilst a Mealing header cleared the bar.

The opening goal eventually arrived on 26 minutes when Dan West forced an error as Shrivenham tried to play the ball out of defence, with Adam Morris calmly sliding the ball through to Mealing who slotted home from 20 yards. However, within five minutes Shrivenham had taken the lead. Firstly, Liam Edmondson found himself in space to fire home, before Steve Robertson scored from close range at the back post following a corner.

At this point United were struggling to re-capture their initial dominance and looked to be heading in to half time with a deficit until, following a corner in the 45th minute, Luke Ricketts floated the ball in to the box for Dan West to get the slightest of touches to steer the ball home.

West then scored his second on 49 minutes chasing a long through ball and running in to the area to calmly finish wide of Moody in the Shrivenham goal. Five minutes later and West had completed his hat-trick, receiving a ball cut back from the bye-line by Luke Ricketts and finishing first time in to the far corner. Ricketts then almost added to the score line, only for the keeper to save his goal bound effort.

Shrivenham then pulled a goal back on 66 minutes when a ball in to the box saw keeper Cockerill come off his line and the ball fell kindly to Josh Fowler who drove home from 20 yards. Any nerves were almost dispelled on 73 minutes when, following good work from Mealing down the Thame right, the ball was pulled back to Ricketts whose effort went over the bar.

The remaining 15 minutes of the game saw Shrivenham dominate possession, but rarely threaten Cockerill in the Thame goal, as United held our for three points and a win that moves them up to seventh.

UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION – Thame United 4 Shrivenham 3

United: Cockerill, Evans, Jones, Hercules, Hall, Lynch, Hazell (Gledhill), Morris, Mealing, West, Ricketts.