26/11/12…’Enthralling’ match at Thame Utd despite weather

LEAGUE MATCH – 24/11/12 – Thame United 2, Highworth Town 2. MATCH REPORT – Contributed: After several days of rain, Thame United?s home game against Highworth Town last Saturday was one of only two Hellenic Premier League games to go ahead.

More heavy rain fell during the match making the ball greasy, the pitch slippery and attractive football difficult. Nevertheless, despite the conditions, it was an enthralling contest between two evenly matched sides which resulted in a 2-2 draw. Thame were without Alex Stewart who damaged his knee again last Saturday and could be absent for several months.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges but United soon settled and both Dan West and Niall Hodgkins worked the visiting Keeper. After about 15 minutes United started to gain the upper hand and went ahead on 25 minutes when a West free kick was headed onto Ellis Hercules who forced the ball home from close range. Thame controlled the remainder of the half and, although Ben Connelly made some good runs, they struggled to create any real chances.

A few minutes after the restart, Thame keeper, Lee Farrow made an outstanding save to maintain their lead. United?s second goal came on 53 minutes; following a pass from Connelly, Mitchell Meredith ran to the right by-line and hit a low cross which the keeper parried into the path of Hodgkins who reacted quickly to fire home from 8 yards. A united win looked likely, but Highworth had other ideas and began to win more of the ball. Their first goal came in the 68th minute from a ball in from the right which Steven Robinson took on his chest before turning and beating both his marker, and Farrow from 12-yards.

Thame switched formation, shoring up the defence by pulling Stuart Barr back to protect their goal and leaving Hodgkins as the lone striker. This seemed to intensify the visitor?s resolve to press for another goal, which came 2 minutes from the end of normal time, when substitute Aaron Maximen met a ball from the left to head home the equaliser.

Thame United: Farrow, Meredith, Hall, Hercules, Rhodes, Hayes, Connelly, West, Hodgkins (Gray), Barr, Ricketts.

United are away next two Saturdays. Their next home game at the ASM Stadium is on Saturday 15th December when they Shrivenham are the visitors.