Thame United wins close fought local derby (Contributed)

MATCH REPORT: League game 7/11/09 – Chinnor 0, Thame United 2.

THAME United won Saturday?s local derby at Chinnor in a closely fought match. There was little to choose between the two teams in the first half but Thame were the more inventive after the break and deserved their victory.

United had the better of the opening exchanges, but then the home side got into their stride and began to threaten the Thame goal with Lewis Craker heading over and Tim Rantle forcing a good save from Thame keeper, Lee Orkney. At the other end, Ben Connelly laid on a low cross from the right only to see the ball intercepted by Chinnor keeper Ben Taunton milliseconds before onrushing striker Mark Jones could knock it into the net. United?s best chance of the half came just before the break, when Aaron Rogers rose to meet a high cross from the left but just failed to connect. The game was goalless at half time.

Whatever manager Mark West said to his squad during the break seemed to work, as they were far more focused in the second half. Their first goal came in the 53rd minute when Jones pulled back a high ball from the left by-line into the path of onrushing midfielder Sam Cowan, who headed home confidently from 12-yards. Thame continued to press, and Stuart Barr was unlucky to see his strong 20-yard shot hit the side netting. At this stage it was one was traffic and Chinnor rarely threatened Orkney?s goal. With just over 20 minutes remaining Connelly made another of his trademark runs on the right and, finding his way blocked near the corner flag, sensibly laid the ball back to Steve Newell. The defender floated a good cross into the penalty area where 3 Thame players were waiting for it, but it was Rogers who met the ball and skillfully headed down into the corner of the home goal, giving Taunton no chance. A few minutes later Jones found the back of the home net but his effort was rightly ruled offside. Chinnor eventually ?woke up? and put together some good moves, at one point forcing 3 consecutive corners. The final few minutes were fairly even with both Rantle for Chinnor, and Thame substitute, Stuart Braun going close.

The win moves Thame into 4th league place.

Thame United: Orkney, Newell, Meredith, Higgs, Hocking (Braun), Cowan, Connelly, El-Kassir (Way) Jones (Goffe), Rogers, Barr.

United have a series of away league games coming up. They do however entertain Premier league club, Old Woodstock Town on Tuesday 18th November (7.45 pm) in the first round of the Oxford shire Senior Cup