10/04/12….Defeat for Thame in last match of the season

LEAGUE Match (contributed by Bob Dixon) 09/04/12: Thame United 1, Ardley United 4

A crowd of 265 saw Thame United defeated 1-4 by Ardley United, in the last home match of the season, on Easter Monday. The score suggests a thrashing, but in fact possession was 50/50 and there was little to choose between the sides. The home side were however punished for defensive errors by clinical finishing from Ardley striker Ryan Brooks, who is the league?s top scorer.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges but, after a few minutes, Thame settled and Ben Connolly was unlucky to see his shot go wide. On 13 minutes Ian Pykett was wrongly judged to have fouled in the box and Ardley were awarded a penalty. Brooks scored from the spot sending Thame keeper, Mike Higgs the wrong way. Thame countered and Luke Ricketts met a free kick with a powerful header which brought an outstanding save from the visiting keeper. The home side equalised in the 36th minute when Ben Gray chased a high ball from defence and knocked it pass the onrushing keeper into the path of Dan West who finished well from close range. It was 1-1 at half time which was a fair reflection of the play.

Seven minutes after the restart the visiting keeper collected a corner and quickly hit a long ball over the Thame defence which Brookes chased and somehow managed to slide between Pykett and Higgs to claim Ardley?s second. Brooks claimed his hat-trick a few minutes later after a defensive mix up gave him the opportunity to knock the ball in from 10 yards. The home side fought back with Ricketts forcing another good save from the keeper, whilst Grey and Adam Rhodes both went close. Thame?s misery was complete in injury time when Pykett misjudged a clearance and knocked the ball into his own net.

Thame United: M Higgs, I Pykett, Hall, Chalmers, N Rhodes (Hocking), Hayes, Connelly, A Rhodes (P Pykett), Gray, West (Hunt), Ricketts

PHOTO: Thame’s goal scorer, Dan West