Thame United take three points at Wokingham (Submitted)

WOKINGHAM & EMMBROOK 1, THAME UNITED 2; Saturday, Janury 5, 2008, Match report:
THAME United were fortunate to come away from Wokingham with three points in a display that was far from their best and would have left their hosts wondering what they had to do to win a game.

United struggled from the start with their usual passing game hindered by the damp conditions underfoot, and with the Wokingham midfield and attack showing greater mobility in the final third of the pitch. Nevertheless, Thame caused the home defence problems with their pace out wide and forced a succession of corners in the first quarter of an hour. None of these resulted in a clear cut chance, and it was Paul Searl in the Thame goal who had to be alert on a number of occasions in the opening half to thwart the lively Wokingham strikers.

Just as it looked as though the game would go in to half time scoreless, an Adam Rhodes cross was met by the head of captain Dave Hocking who from a difficult angle beat the keeper. Although the ball was heading in to the goal, an attempted headed goal line clearance by the retreating defender only helped the ball over the line.

The second half opened in similar fashion to the first half, with Wokingham pushing forward and Thame seemingly content to hit their opponents on the break. Whilst Wokingham created a number of shooting opportunities, Searl was never really tested until the 79th minute when following a neat passing move from just inside their own half, the ball fell to substitute Shaun Watson, who confidently finished from eight yards.

The equaliser stirred Thame back in to the life and for the remainder of the match they enjoyed their best period of the game. The winning goal arrived five minutes from time when following their best passing move of the game, Ben Connelly played the ball through to Adam Rhodes who turned his marker just inside the penalty area and gave the keeper no chance from an acute angle. There was still time for Thame to create another opening as Nick Skiller raced on to through ball from Matt Higgs in the last minute only for a defender to block his goal bound shot. However, Thame were relieved when the referee blew the final whistle, and the win sees them consolidate their position in the top half of the table.

Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Watkins (Graves), Ansell (Higgs), Hocking, Catlin, Connelly, Rhodes, Skiller, Miah (West), Ricketts.

Thame United are without a game until Tuesday 22nd January when the face Henley Town away, with the next home fixture against Finchampstead on 26th January (3:00pm kick off at Hithercroft, Wallingford).

Thame United Reserves produced one of their most impressive performances of the season as the continued their push for promotion with an 8-1 demolition of Aylesbury United Reserves. Leading goalscorer, Matt Leach, scored a hat-trick to take his tally to 10 goals in 7 games, with the other goals coming from Tom Hoskin (2), Richard Jewell, Alex Jewell and Olly Gascoyne.