10/10/12…’Miraculous’ win for Thame Utd

AFTER an impressive first half performance by their opponents, Thame United were losing 0-2 at the break to Witney Town at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening (09/10), and a heavy defeat looked likely. Incredibly the home side fought back, and exceeded the expectations of their most optimistic fans, to score three goals after the restart. Witney are joint favourites to take the league title and United?s gutsy win was nothing short of miraculous.

Thame?s opponents opened the scoring after 2 minutes when striker Mark Janes converted a half chance with a strong 20-yard shot. Witney looked sharper and, although Niall Hodgkins and Dan West went close for Thame, the visitors controlled much of the first half. Their second goal came from a right cross which was headed home by the unmarked Adam Morris. The intensity of attacks on the Thame goal increased as the half progressed and goalkeeper, Lee Farrow was forced to make some remarkable saves. It was largely due to Farrow that the score was only 0-2 at the break, but a second half thrashing for Thame seemed probable.

Thame had other ideas and pulled a goal back 10 minutes after the restart. During a scramble in the Witney penalty area the referee bewildered spectators by awarding Thame an indirect free kick about 15-yards from goal. Referee McMillan said after the game that he had given it for a ?high foot? i.e. dangerous play. With all eleven visiting players between the goal and the ball it was knocked a few inches to Dan West who struck a thunderbolt around the wall, easily beating the goalkeeper. Encouraged by this United applied some pressure of their own and got the equaliser ten minutes later. Stuart Barr and the visitor?s keeper went for a high cross from the right near the far post but Barr managed to head the ball back across goal where Hodgkins beat his marker to knock it home. Witney countered but were not allowed to reassert their first half dominance. United?s winner came 4 minutes from time when they were awarded a free kick in the ?D?, just outside the penalty area. West struck another thunderbolt which the keeper got a fingertip to but could not stop. United could have increased their lead moments later, when a ?ball over the top? created a 1-on-1 with the Witney keeper for substitute Ben Gray but the keeper saved well. An agonising 5 minutes of additional time were played but United clung onto their lead to record a memorable victory.

Thame United: Farrow, P Pykett (Jewell), Hall, Hercules, N Rhodes, Rogers (Gray), Connelly, West, Hodgkins, Barr, Ricketts.

Next Saturday (13th) United meet Fairford Town in an FA Vase match. The FA have chosen the day as their Non-League Day and to mark the occasion Thame United will be having a Family Fun Day with free entry to the match for all under 16?s together with a barbeque, a bouncy castle, and a half time shoot out from Thame Boys Under 6?s. All are welcome.

SOURCE: Contributed