31/10/12…..Thame United ‘on a roll’

ON Tuesday evening (30/10) Thame Utd recorded their sixth consecutive league game without defeat when they travelled to Kidlington and won 0-2. The depth of talent at the club was evident when Thame?s line up included three players who are reserve team regulars. Jordan Rogers, Richard Jewell, and Ben Gray are all learning fast, and have the potential to become first team regulars.

It was an entertaining game, played at a fast pace, with some attractive end-to-end football. Possession was fairly even but United were able to create more chances whilst maintaining a rock-solid defence. Thame?s first goal came after 11 minutes. Jewell took a free kick, hitting a high ball onto the penalty area which Ellis Hercules met with a goal-bound header before Nik Rhodes got the final touch, deflecting it beyond the keeper?s reach. Thame piled on the pressure and Luke Ricketts, Jewell, Hercules and Gray all went close.

The hosts played better after the break and Thame?s on-form goalkeeper Lee Farrow was busy. With about 55 minutes played he pulled off a particularly brave save, diving at the feet of a forward to prevent him from forcing the ball home. Ben Connelly provided a regular supply of quality crosses from the right and one lead to a blatant hand ball, in the area, when a defender punched a high cross from a Thame head, but unfortunately the referee was unsighted.

United?s second goal came with about 20 minutes to play. Jewell again hit a free kick into the danger zone and it looks as if it had been cleared but somehow the ball was reclaimed and driven in low where Rhodes met it at the near post. It looked as if the keeper had pulled off a save but the linesman had no hesitation in signalling that the ball had crossed the line. Minutes later, Gray created a 1 on 1 chance for Ricketts but the keeper saved well with his legs.

Overall it was a good performance from a team who are currently high in confidence. Long may it last.

Thame United: Farrow, Willett, P Pykett, Rhodes, Hercules, Rogers, Connelly (Evans), Jewell, Hoskins, Gray (Bonham), Ricketts.

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon