Another Win For Thame United (Contributed)

Thame United 2, Shrivenham 1
Match Report – League Match Saturday, September 9

THAME United recorded their second successive win last Saturday in a ?home? match played at Wallingford. A week ago United were at the foot of the table but these results have lifted them FOUR places.

Thame got off to a good start and scored in the fourth minute. Graham Jackson played a good pass to Nick Gibson who travelled 20 yards before unleashing a strong shot from 12 yards, easily beating Shrivenham keeper Daryl Simms. Three minutes later, left-winger Joe Da Silva received the ball on the edge of the area, beat his man, and hit a well-placed shot just inside the left post from 18 yards. So after seven minutes play, Simms had picked the ball up from the back of his goal twice.

It looked like Thame could be in for an easy, high scoring win but Shrivenham recovered well and began to pressurise the Thame goal. The visitors pulled a goal back in the 19th minute when Stuart Bellinger beat two men before hitting a shot from 12 yards. Thame goalkeeper Paul Searl had the shot covered but it took a deflection off a Thame defender and finished up in the corner to the net. Both sides had further first half chances, but the sides went in for half time with Thame leading 2-1.

The second half was an anticlimax. Shrivenham looked sharper and Searl was kept busy, particularly in the first 25 minutes. The final 20 minutes were more even and, with 5 minutes to go, Thame created a good chance to put the result beyond doubt. The ball was played to substitute Dave Miller who, eight yards out with only Jackson to beat, scuffed his shot. Thame held out and just about deserved their win.

Thame United: Searl, Smith, Watkins, Kitson, Tregurtha (Hocking), Jackson, Gibson, Raja (Miller), Rodgers, Jack, De Silva.