Fourth win in a row for Thame United

MATCH REPORT – Saturday, March 28 – Englefield Green Rovers – 1 versus Thame United 3

UNITED made it four straight wins on Saturday but the scoreline does not tell the full story. United struggled from start to finish on a difficult surface and it was only the quality of their finishing that made the difference.

Englefield started the stronger of the two sides, forcing Thame on to the back foot with their long ball game and tricky wing play. However, United opened the scoring from their first chance on nine minutes when Englefield were unable to clear a Pete Way corner and the ball fell invitingly to centre back, Dave Hocking on the penalty spot and his powerful drive gave the keeper no chance.

Despite United taking the lead, Englefield continued to control the majority of the possession without any real penetration, and the next half chance fell to Thame after 30 minutes with Lawrence El-Kassir flicking on a Mark Jones cross but Stuart Barr was unable to connect at the far post.

The lead was extended 10 minutes later. Mark Jones, on the left hand edge of the box, did well to flick the ball over his shoulder to fellow striker Aaron Rogers, who crossed to the far post where Ben Connelly headed the ball back towards the penalty spot. By this time Jones had continued his run in to the area and he volleyed the ball home with an unstoppable shot that left the keeper grasping at thin air. Three minutes later and the game was effectively won for Thame. Connelly made a good run in to the box but was tackled as he was about to shoot. The ball then came back to Adam Rhodes who made room for himself before calmly curling the ball in to the bottom left hand corner of the goal from the edge of the box.

With Thame still wondering how they were 3-0 up at half time, Englefield came out of the blocks strongly at the start of the second half and had a good opportunity five minutes in to the half, but were unable to find the target. There then followed a controversial incident as Mark Jones was upended by a crude tackle inside the box. Whilst the referee blew up for a foul, he gave a free kick outside the box. Rhodes placed the subsequent free kick just over the bar. United then conspired to nearly give Englefield a way back in to the game as a mix up between keeper, Paul Searl, and skipper Lee Thompson, saw the Englefield striker place his shot just wide of the goal. Englefield did, however, pull a consolation goal back on 82 minutes. United were caught sleeping at a short corner and the goal bound header was well blocked on the line by Pete Way, but the follow up was tapped in to the back of the net by the Englefield sriker.

That was the end of the action and, whilst Thame have played better this season and lost, Searl was rarely threatened in goal and it was another three points and Thame continue to move up the table.

Thame United ? Searl, Meredith, Way, Hocking, Thompson, El-Kassir, Rhodes (Cowan), Connelly, Rogers (Hoskin), Jones, Barr.

Photo: Dave Hocking