Comfortable win for Thame away to Launton Sports (Contributed)

HELLENIC League Supplementary Cup – 28.11.09 – MATCH REPORT – Launton Sports 0, Thame United 4

THAME United visited nearby Launton Sports last Saturday, where they comfortably defeated the home side scoring two goals in each half. Launton are currently struggling at the foot of division one west so did not prove to be particularly strong opposition, but nevertheless Thame played well and but for an in form Launton goalkeeper, they would have scored more.

Thame manager, Mark West, was unable to attend as his son Dan, who is a trainee with Oxford United, was on the Oxford bench for their F A Cup encounter with Barrow.

Thame started strongly and created several chances. After about 18 minutes, Ben Connelly made a run on the right, played a 1-2 with Stuart Braun and hit a strong low cross which Aaron Rogers got a foot to, but the ball skidded wide. A minute later Connelly made a similar run, playing the ball to Braun but before it could be returned, Braun was flattened from behind. The referee rightly pointed to the penalty spot. Adam Rhodes took the penalty kick, and calmly placed the ball in the bottom left corner of the home goal. Thame almost increased their lead a few minutes later when Launton Keeper Nick Lacey parried a shot from Rogers, who then collected the rebound and hit another strong goal bound shot only to see Lacey make a superb fingertip deflection. The ball was initially cleared from the resultant corner but was than played back in where Nik Rhodes collected it and hit a first time shot. Lacey again parried but this time Nik confidently hit the rebound pass him. It was Rhodes brothers (and Thame) 2, Launton 0 at half time.

United continued to control the game after the break and increased their lead in the 58th minute when, following good work on the left, Luke Rickets found Braun who flicked the ball to Rogers then saw him hit a shot pass Lacey from 15-yards. Thame?s fourth goal came around the 70-minute mark when substitute Mark Jones picked up the ball just inside the halfway line and ran at goal before unleashing a 20-yard shot, giving Lacey no chance.

Thame are currently playing attractive football to feet, rather than the? hit and hope? tactics so prevalent at this level. If they can maintain this form this could be a season to remember.

Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Newell, N. Rhodes, Boult (Jones), El-Kassir, Connelly, A. Rhodes, Braun, Rogers (Collinge), Ricketts.

United are away next Saturday (5th) to Chalfont Wasps. The next home game is on the 12th December when Thame entertain Newbury.