Four wins a row for Thame United (Contributed)

THAME United 2, Woodley Town 0 – 22/08/09; League game match report:

PLAYED four, won four. That’s United’s tally after Saturday’s game against league newcomers, Woodley Town. Both of Thame’s goals showed real quality, and although the visitors had their fair share of possession, they were unable to penetrate the well-drilled home defence.

Woodley had the better of the opening exchanges and, perhaps their best chance of the match, came in the second minute when home keeper Lee Orkney did well to deflect a goal-bound shot over the crossbar. Their advantage was however short-lived as Thame scored three minutes later. The tricky Luke Ricketts picked up the ball on the left wing, just in the visitor?s half, beat his marker, and ran at the Woodley goal beating another defender, before cutting in and unleashing a powerful 15-Yard shot pass the advancing keeper. Woodley came back and their was some entertaining end?to-end football.

Thame?s second, which came after 20 minutes, was a beautifully executed opportunist?s goal. The ball was played from midfield to Mark Jones in space, about 40 yards from goal. Jones hit a superb lob which flew over the keeper?s head and bounced, just over the goal line, before hitting the back of the net. Both teams created good chances, and Orkney made another fine save before the break.

Woodley came out fired up for the second half and controlled the first few minutes. Thame came back, and through good work from wingers Connelly and Ricketts, created some half chances, which kept the visiting keeper busy. Ricketts went close and substitute John Mitchell forced a particularly good save from a header. Although the visitors continued to look dangerous, Orkney was the quieter of the two goalkeepers. In the final few minutes, Woodley looked a spent force and Thame were in control when the final whistle blew.

Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Newell (Wakelin), N Rhodes, Hocking, El-Kassir, Connelly (Rogers), A. Rhodes, Hoskin (Mitchell), Jones, Ricketts,

Thame United are hoping to extend their F. A. Cup run next Saturday (29th) when Wooton Blue Cross, from the United Counties League visit Hithercroft Stadium. The game kicks off at 3.00.