Tough test for Thame puts them 12 points clear

HELLENIC League Division One East – Tuesday, 30/03/10 -Penn & Tylers Green 1 vs Thame United 2; MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

UNITED travelled to basement club, Penn & Tylers Green on Tuesday evening knowing that their nearest rivals Wokingham & Emmbrook?s match the same evening had been postponed, and victory would put Thame 12 points clear at the top of the league.

As it was, United were grateful to come away from the match with a victory against a side who belied their position at the foot of the table and gave Thame their toughest test for a number of weeks. Played on a damp pitch, Thame chose to play down the slope in the first half and despite plenty of possession in the opening few minutes failed to seriously test the home keeper. Penn, on the other hand, were causing problems for the away defence, particularly through ex-Thame United player Ricci Putnam, although efforts on goal were generally from distance. However, United nearly opened the scoring in the 24th minute when a corner from Luke Ricketts was headed goalwards, only to be cleared off the line, before Lawrence El-Kassir skewed the ball wide from 8 yards. Thame continued to press, but the elusive goal did not arrive and the first half ended goalless.

United pushed forward in the opening few minutes of the second half and striker Mark Jones had the best chance when he was unable to connect with a pinpoint cross from the Thame right. Penn again responded and were rewarded 10 minutes in to the half with the opening goal. A corner from the right was delivered to the near post and volleyed towards goal where it deflected off both Sam Cowan and Stuart Barr before looping over Lee Orkney in to the far corner of the net. With the light fading, United knew they had to dig deep to maintain their winning streak. And dig deep they did. Only two minutes after going a goal down they were on level terms. United won a free kick 25 yards from goal that Luke Ricketts drove towards the top corner of the goal, only for Matt Bryan in the home goal to make a good save. The ball, however, only ricocheted to Mark Jones who was quickest to react and headed the ball in to the far corner.

The game then became end-to-end as both sides searched for the winner. It was United, however, who secured the winning goal three minutes from time. Penn initially cleared a Thame corner before Mitchell Meredith returned the ball in to the area where, with the defence having pushed forward, captain Nik Rhodes found himself in space and calmly placed his shot low to the left of the keeper. With Thame celebrating, Penn remonstrated with the officials, claiming off-side but the goal stood and United were able to hold on to secure three hard fought points.

United now face Kintbury Rangers at AFC Wallingford this coming Saturday, 3:00pm kick off.

United: Orkney, Way, (Meredith), Nik Rhodes, Cowan, El-Kassir, Adam Rhodes, Barr (Hoskin), Jones (Stallwood), Rogers, Ricketts.