Halloween nightmare for Thame United – (Contributed)

MATCH REPORT – Thame United 1, Milton United 2; October 31st, 2009.

UNITED created their very own Halloween nightmare as they lost their unbeaten league record to a Milton United side who fully deserved to take the three points.

Not only was the result disappointing, the manner of the performance will have left the Thame manager, Mark West, deeply frustrated as United failed to impose their normal high pace on the game. With the United midfield starved of possession in the opening exchanges it was Milton who started the brighter of the sides, although United could have taken the lead in the 4th minute when Jones was caught in two minds on the edge to the box, choosing to dummy the ball when a shot looked the better option. However, it was United who took the lead in the 14th minute. Luke Ricketts delivered a free kick close to the bye-line in to the box that was cleared by the Milton defence up towards the halfway line. Left back Mitchell Meredith headed the ball back in to the danger area where captain Dave Hocking flicked the ball in to the path of Thame man of the match Aaron Rogers, who from the edge of the box fired the ball in to the bottom corner of the goal giving the keeper no chance. For the remainder of the half it was Milton who were the stronger of the two sides, with experienced striker Anthony Alleyne going close on a couple of occasions.

The second half opened with Milton again on top but United had the chance to increase their lead on 60 minutes when Jones was unlucky to steer a header just wide from 8 yards. The Milton pressure finally paid five minutes later when they won a free kick on the right hand edge of the box that Ryan Williams hit powerfully in to the six yard box and, with Searl unsighted in a congested area, the ball found its way straight in to the back of the net. Milton then missed a chance to take the lead 10 minutes later when they somehow managed to place the ball over the bar from two yards. In the 89th minute, and just as United thought they were going to maintain their unbeaten record, Milton scored the winner. A ball was played to the edge of the Thame area that two defenders went for. They failed to clear the ball, which was then played in to the box where the unmarked Williams gave Searl no chance from eight yards.

In the end, it was a disappointing way to lose an unbeaten record, although United remain well placed in the league. They will have a chance to secure some revenge over Milton on 14th November. Before that, there is the small matter of a big local derby against Chinnor on Saturday 7th November.

Both teams will be fielding players who have at one time played for the opposition which will give the game an added edge if, indeed, one was needed.
Kick off is at 2:15pm at Station Road, Chinnor.

Thame United: Searl, Barnett, Meredith, Hocking (El-Kassir), Higgs, Cowan, Rhodes, Connelly, Jones (Braun), Rogers, Ricketts (Barr)