Thame United Snatch The Draw In 88th Minute – Contributed

Thame United 2 Pegasus Juniors 2, 16/12 – Saturday. MATCH REPORT
With only two minutes remaining, Thame United looked to be heading for their fourth consecutive 2-1 defeat, this time against the well organised and resolute Herefordshire side, Pegasus Juniors. However, in the 88th minute, and having been on the field for only five minutes, substitute Paul Reading fired the ball home from the edge of the six yard box to give Thame United a well deserved draw.

The game had started brightly for Thame with their neat passing football creating plenty of space on an otherwise heavy pitch. Indeed, Thame forced a number of early corners with Graham Jackson and Nathan Jack both going close with shots from distance in the opening ten minutes. However, Pegasus started to build some momentum and their two lively forwards created problems for the Thame centre back pairing of Marc Bell and Matt Graves. Paul Searl in the Thame goal made a crucial save in the 12th minute but could do nothing five minutes later when centre back Paul Brown powerfully met a corner with a well placed header to give Pegasus the lead.

Thame United responded with a series of corners, but it was Pegasus who looked the more dangerous, with Searl doing well to deny Ben Price in the 21st minute, and Bobby Aldrich hitting a powerful shot just wide of the right hand post on 30 minutes. For the remainder of the first half Thame forced Pegasus on to the back foot and after efforts from Chris Watkins and Jack narrowly missed the target, Nik Gibson let fly on 44 minutes from fully 25 yards to beat the keeper high to his left and secure the equaliser for Thame. Jack then had a great chance to give Thame the lead before the interval, but saw his shot go over the bar.

The second half was a more scrappy affair with both teams feeling the pace on a heavy pitch. After chances at each end, it was Pegasus who took the lead on 80 minutes when a through ball was met by Ben Price who calmly placed his shot between the legs of Searl. At this stage, it looked as though the three points would be going to Herefordshire, until the intervention of Reading on 88 minutes ensured a share of the points.

Team: Searl, Tripp, Watkins, Bell, Graves, Kitson, Jackson, Da Silva (Reading), Gibson, Moore, Jack.
Subs not used: Collinge, Searl.

Thame United visit Rayners Lane on Saturday 23rd December (1:30pm kick off) in the Linaker Insurance Challenge Cup. On Boxing Day Thame are at home against their landlords, AFC Wallingford, in a 3:00pm kick off at the Hithercroft Stadium.

Thame United Reserves lost to top of the table Rayners Lane 2-0 in a battling display.