Reports of Thame United’s last two matches

LEAGUE MATCH – Tuesday, 7/04/09 – Henley Town 1, Thame United 1.

THAME United extended their unbeaten run to seven games on Tuesday evening, April 7, when they drew 1-1 at Henley Town. Thame are currently 10th in the league whilst Henley are in 5th place. Nevertheless, the teams were evenly matched, which resulted in a fast, entertaining game which either side could have won.

Thame started brightly and opened the scoring in the 7th minute. Ben Connelly collected the ball just inside the Henley half and made one of his pacey runs on the right, beating his marker before hitting an accurate cross to Tom Hoskin who clinically beat the keeper from 6-yards. Henley countered and Thame goalkeeper, Paul Searl was forced to make some good saves. The home team however equalised in the 23rd minute with a fierce 25-yard shot from Darren Paiser that gave Searl no chance. Henley had Thame ?on the back foot? for a while and had chances to increase their lead but their finishing was weak and Searl was able to deal comfortably with the threat. Thame recovered, and it was only fair that the teams went in for the break with the scores level.

Although enjoyable, the second half was a goalless anticlimax. Possession, territory, and chances were 50/50 with both teams containing the opposition and neither goalkeeper seriously tested. With about 15 minutes to play, Thame?s talented left-winger Stuart Barr received a bad challenge and a foul was awarded. Although neither I, nor the Thame bench saw the incident, I am told that Barr reacted by lashing out at his aggressor. The referee reached for his red card and Barr was dismissed.

Unfortunately, several Thame players received injuries and may not be fit to play in all of the three games scheduled for the next six days.

Thame United: Searl, Meredith, Way, Thompson, Hocking (A Rhodes), Cowan, Connelly, Jones (El-kassir), Gough (Rickets), Hoskin Barr.

A BETTTER result came for Thame on Thursday, April 9, when they beat Prestwood five goals to one.

Such was United?s dominance of this game, that they rarely needed to get out of first gear and the only surprise was that they did not score more than five goals in a game where they had no fewer than 27 shots on goal. United had to wait until the 25th minute for the opening goal, having already created eight goal scoring opportunities up to this point. The goal was made by Pete Way who curled an inch perfect ball from just inside his own half through to Tom Hoskin who raced through the static Prestwood defence to confidently beat the Prestwood keeper low to his right. After Hoskin, Ben Connelly and Tom Goffe had all gone close, United extended their lead in the 37th minute when Luke Ricketts picked up a loose ball in the area and from the narrowest of angles smashed the ball inside the keepers near post.

United made it 3-0 three minutes after the break when, after some good work down the right flank, winger Ben Connelly crossed for Hoskin to finish confidently. Prestwood then scored what would only turn out to be a consolation goal in the 53rd minute, with a well placed header from a corner. The three goal cushion was maintained two minutes later when a Luke Ricketts corner was met by a powerful header from centre back Sam Cowan. With United in complete control it was only a matter of time before the fifth goal. This duly arrived in the 79th minute when Ricketts met a pin-point cross field ball from substitute Mark Jones and side-footed the ball beyond the Prestwood keeper. Both Ricketts and Hoskin had chances to complete their hatrick but, with the light fading, United had to settle for five goals and another three points.

The win extends the unbeaten run to eight, during which time United have collected 20 points from a possible 24 and are now well-placed in the top half of the league.

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

Photo: Goalscorer Luke Ricketts, Sam Cowan and Tom Hoskin