Turning Point For Thame United

THAME United rounded of a good Bank Holiday weekend, which will probably be seen as a turning point in their fortunes, when they scored another four goals to add to the five they scored on Saturday (26) REPORT BELOW.
It must be said that neither Prestwood nor Saturday?s opponents, Eton Wick, were particularly strong sides, but nevertheless Thame are beginning to get into the habit of convincingly winning their games. After the problems of the last two seasons, long may this continue!
The first 20 minutes were fairly even but then Thame started to pressurise the Prestwood goal and, following a corner, Dave Hocking was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar. Thame squandered several good chances but, just before half time Stuart Braun met a cross from the right with a well placed strike to finish confidently from 10 yards.
Prestwood had no answer and Thame dominated the second half, with goalkeeper, Paul Searl, rarely troubled. The second goal came in the 75th minute when Nigel Swafford hit a beauty from 15 yards which struck the far post before nestling in the back of the Prestwood net. Eight minutes later Swafford crossed to the tenacious Stuart Barr who, beat his marker, and finished well from eight yards. Thame?s final goal was created by a spectacular run by Ben Connelly who picked the ball up just over the half way line and beat several defenders before reaching the left by-line when he passed back to Swafford who hit a strong shot to score from 18 Yards.

Overall, it was a very satisfying performance from the young Thame team; however the real test will come when they meet the teams at the top of the table.

Thame United: Searl, Way, Graves, Boult (Higgs), Hocking, Ansell, Barr, Braun (West), Stafford, Reading (Cowan), Connelly.

NB In a recently rearranged fixture, Thame are at home next Saturday, September 1, when Holyport are the visitors. (K.O.3.00)

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MATCH REPORT – Eton Wick 1, Thame United 5 – League March 25/8/07

IN Thame United?s second game in five days, on what must have been the hottest day of the season, they came up against Eton Wick, Third from bottom of the League, the game being played under the magnificent backdrop of Windsor Castle.
Having been around since 1881, Eton Wick have an even longer history than Thame United.

Thame made a good start with Ben Connelly driving the ball into the Wick net from a Stewart Barr cross after just 8 minutes. The game then settled down with both sides fairly even until, three minutes before the break, Ben Connelly made another of his magnificent runs and crossed the ball into the goal mouth where a scramble ensued until Adam Rhodes drove the ball into the net. With Thame now fired up, Paul Reading went on to hit the bar before scoring Thame?s third goal seconds before half time. Thame went in for the break three goals up.

The second half showed a different story with Eton Wick starting strongly and after 15 minutes their Stuart Johnson scored a superb ?Beckham? type goal from a free kick thirty yards out. With 15 minutes remaining, Paul Reading worked well to get the ball into the Wick goal mouth for Matt Leach to score from close range. Wick battled bravely to pull back the deficit but four minutes later a collision left the Wick goalkeeper and Adam Rhodes writhing on the ground with the ball running free. Paul Redding quickly assessed the situation and coolly punted the ball into the net during the confusion, scoring his second and Thame?s fifth goal.

Thame United: Searl, Way (Cowan), Watkins (West), Boult, Ansell, Graves (Captain), Connelly, Rhodes, Bloomfield (Leach), Redding, Barr