Third successive win for Thame United (Contributed)

LEAGUE MATCH 24/03/09 – Thame United 1, Henley Town 0

THAME United recorded their third successive win on Tuesday evening at home, against Henley Town. It was a close game that either club could have won. Henley were six league places above Thame but the home side matched them and their was little to chose between the two teams. This led to a fast, entertaining game in which every ball was vigorously contested.

Thame started brightly and after a few minutes, Ben Connelly met a cross from the left and beat the visiting goalkeeper, but the linesman?s flag was already raised for an earlier offside and the ?goal? was disallowed. The best chance of the half fell to visiting striker, Mark Bartley, who found a gap in the Thame defence and ran at goal. But with only Thame keeper, Paul Searl to beat, he finished poorly and Searl comfortably collected his weak shot. The half finished goalless, with Thame having slightly more possession but the visitors creating more chances.

Henley started the second half strongly and Thame were ?on the back foot? for a while. In the 52nd minute visiting captain, Danny Longwood, beat Searl to a cross and headed in, only to have his effort disallowed for a foul on Thame?s keeper. A few minutes later, a visiting striker met a long throw-in with a strong header which grazed the top of the crossbar. The home side fought back and the deadlock was broken in the 76th minute. Thame were awarded a free kick on the left which Stuart Barr took and, as Thame players were running to meet the ball, one was fouled and went down. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Adam Rhodes took the spot kick well placing the ball in the right hand corner.

The remainder of the game was tense but the home side held out and, as a result, Thame have gained three league places.

Thame United: Searle, Newell, Way, Thompson, Hocking, El-Kassir Connelly, Rhodes, Rogers (Cowan), Jones (Hoskin), Barr (Meredith)

Thame are away to Englefield Green Rovers next Saturday 28th. Their next home game is on Tuesday 31st when local rivals Chinnor are the visitors