Thame United tackle higher league opposition

MATCH: Sunday, September 6 – HIGHWORTH TOWN 3, versus THAME UNITED, 0.
Thame faced higher league opposition in the form of Hellenic Premier Division Highworth Town in the Preliminary Round of the FA Vase last Saturday and, despite the scoreline, were unlucky to be on the receiving end of a 3-0 scoreline.

Played on a heavy pitch and with Thame forced to play a re-shuffled back four due to the absence through injury of centre backs Matt Graves and Dave Hocking, United started well forcing their opponents on to the back foot. Despite the pressure, United were unable to create any significant attempts on the Highworth goal and it was against the run of play that the hosts opened the scoring in the 10th minute. A ball from the wide left was met at the far post by Phil Corcoran who slid in and placed the ball between the legs of Searl in the Thame goal.

Despite the disappointment, Thame dug in and for the remainder of the half had the upper hand, with the central midfield pairing of Adam Rhodes and Laurence El-Kassir winning the battle with their counterparts, and Sam Cowan and Lee Thompson controlling the back four. The best effort for Thame came 10 minutes before the break, when an Adam Rhodes free kick from 25 yards narrowly missed the target. However, just as it looked as though Thame would go in to the break a goal down, Highworth doubled their advantage when a through ball somehow evaded the Thame defence and Gary Hill had time to place the ball beyond Searl.

The opening exchanges in the second half were evenly contested, but it was Highworth who had the chance to extend their lead in the 61st minute when Thame right back Greg Stocker was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. For the second time in succession, however, Searl got down to his right to easily save the spot kick. Thame then made a number of substitutions in an attempt to get back in to the game and this time it was a free kick from Nik Rhodes that was as close as Thame got to pulling a goal back. In the final minute Highworth sealed the victory when a shot from Phil Corcoran, which was heading wide of the Thame goal, ricocheted off Nik Rhodes and beyond the hapless Searl.

Thame United have only their second home league game this Saturday (13th September ? 3:00pm kick off at AFC Wallingford) against Rayners Lane.

Thame United: Searl, Newell (West), Stocker (N.Rhodes), Thompson, Cowan, El-Kassir, A.Rhodes, Connelly, Miller, Hoskin (Green), Ricketts.

Photo: Thame Man of the Match: Sam Cowan