First win of the year for Thame United (Contributed)

MATCH REPORT: Saturday, January 31 – League march: Thame United 3, Englefield Green Rovers 1.

Thame United secured their first win of 2009 last Saturday at ?home? to Surrey based, Englefield Green Rovers. The win moves United up two places to 13th in the league.

The first half was a strange affair in that it was a ?half of two halves?. Thame dominated the first 25 minutes whilst the visitors controlled the remaining 20. United took the lead in the seventh minute when Adam Rhodes passed to Ben Connelly who made a piercing run on the right before hitting a low ball across the face of the visitor?s goal which eluded two Thame forwards before being met by Stuart Barr, on the left, who coolly shot home from eight yards.

It was one-way traffic as Thame mounted attack after attack, with Connelly particularly dangerous, and a comfortable win looked a strong possibility. The tide turned in the 26th minute. Thame goalkeeper Paul Searl, who until then had been a spectator, was forced to make a good save from a long-range shot. Encouraged by this the ?visitors stepped up a gear? and Thame were force to defend. Rovers equalised in the 36th minute when a ball from the right found Enrico Rossini in space and he finished well from 10 yards.

Thame started to regain control after the break and retook the lead in the 54th minute. Connelly was again the provider, hitting a low cross from the right which both Lawrence El-Kassir and the Rovers keeper met at the near post, causing the ball to run free. Connelly nipped in to collect it and pass across the face of goal to Barr who again finished confidently. A few minutes later Searl was again on form as he got fingertips to a shot which grazed the top on the crossbar.

With about 15 minutes to play, there was a bizarre incident. Visiting midfielder, Arran Laflen, was harshly tackled by El-Kassir and referee Mr Bird reached for a card. He must however have seen something that I and other spectators did not as, rather than cautioning the Thame player, Laflen was shown a red card and sent off. Visiting players besieged the referee and he must have heard something obscene as during the protests, another visiting midfielder, Richard Sandford, was also dismissed.

Down to nine men, Rovers were no match for the home side and, with about eight minutes to play, Thame increased their lead when hardworking striker Mark Jones finished well from 10 yards. In the last few minutes, Thame had more scoring opportunities but the visiting goalkeeper made some good saves to keep the score to 3-1.

Thame United; Searl, Newell (Meredith), J Way, Thompson, Hocking, Cowan (Hoskin), Connelly, Rhodes, Jones, Barr, El-Kassir.

Thame United visit Bisley Sports next Saturday, February 7 and are at home on Tuesday February 10, when Wokingham & Emmbrook are the visitors (Kick off 7.45.