Penalty secures draw for Thame at Brackley

BRACKLEY SPORTS 2, THAME UNITED 2; Match Report – Saturday, July 25, 2009.
United returned from Northamptonshire both relieved and disappointed at the same time ? relieved that a Greg Stocker penalty three minutes from time secured a draw, but disappointed that they were unable to make their chances pay when the opportunities arose.

The first of these came in only the second minute when, in the same move, Cowan, Jones and Barr all failed to force the ball home when well placed. 10 minutes later and United hit the post, before captain Dave Hocking had a good opportunity from a Barr corner. United continued to press with both Mark Jones and Pete Way going close. United did have the ball in the back of the net after 23 minutes following a well worked free kick, only for the referee to bring the game back for the free kick to be taken again. The first real opportunity for Brackley did not arrive until the 35th minute when a shot from fully 25 yards flew just over the bar and a minute later Matt Pay did well in the Thame goal to gather a shot at his near post.

The second half started in a similar vein, but 10 minutes in to the half United opened the scoring. A through ball from Gavin Way glanced off the head of an opposing defender in to the path of striker Mark Jones who calmly rounded the keeper to score from close range. However. The lead only lasted two minutes as good work down the Brackley right resulted in a cross along the six yard line that found an unmarked Brackley forward who calmly placed the ball wide of Pay. United nearly took the lead again two minutes later when a Greg Stocker shot went just wide of the post following a good passing move. However, it was Brackley who went in front ten minutes later when good work down the left resulted in a similar cross along the six yard line that was met by the on-rushing Brackley forward in front of the Thame defenders and placed wide of Pay. United nearly equalized shortly afterwards when Jones hit the crossbar, and they eventually got their reward three minutes from time when Manager Mark West was fouled in the box and Stocker stepped up to comfortably beat the Brackley keeper from the spot.

United face a trip to Shrivenham on Wednesday evening (7:45pm kick off) before facing landlords AFC Wallingford on Saturday 1st August, 2:30pm kick off.

Thame United Squad: Pay, Newell, P.Way, Hocking, Gacoyne, Jones, Cowan, El-Kassir, Smail, Barr, Gibbs, G.Way, Stocker, West.