09/04/10….Thame United are promoted!

THE Champaign corks popped on Thursday evening (08/04/10) when Thame united secured promotion to the Hellenic Premier League as a result of a 2-1 win at Eton Wick.

A jubilant Captain, Mark West, said: “It?s really nice to have achieved promotion with five games to go. We have established a good lead at the top but still need to be at our best to secure the championship which will be the icing on the cake.

“Our main aim this season was to try and gain promotion, especially with our new stadium underway, so Frank and I are delighted.?

Thame now go into their final games knowing that 10 points from their remaining fixtures will guarantee the title. “That?s on the basis that Wokingham win all of their remaining games which will be no mean feat in itself,” added Mark.

“We were really pleased that Ben Connelly came through 90 mins last night and Stuart Braun put in a good hour with both returning to the side after recent injuries.”

Thame travel to Newbury on Saturday with influential midfielde,r Adam Rhodes, also back in the squad after missing last night’s game due to work commitment.

MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

After a good start, United took the lead in the 7th minute when Adam Stallwood played a ball to Luke Rickets who ran on the left wing before hitting a good cross which Connelly met with a superb glancing header which finished in the bottom right hand corner on the goal. United had the majority of possession for the remainder of the half with both Ricketts and Stallwood going close and goalkeeper Lee Orkney largely untroubled.

Thame?s second came five minutes after the restart when Stallwood took the ball from a defender near the halfway line and ran at goal. When challenged, he passed to Connelly who made a run on the right before squaring the ball back to the unmarked Stallwood who finished confidently from 16-yards. Thame controlled the play and created several chances. Lawrence El Kassir was unlucky to see his goal bound shot blocked and substitute Tom Hoskin forced a good save from the Eton keeper. With the light fading and about five minutes remaining, the home team were awarded a free kick near their left corner. Matt Bell hit a hard ball into the box which hit a Thame player and was deflected into the goal, giving Orkney no chance. When the final Whistle blew United were sportingly congratulated by the Eton Players and left the field to the applause of the dozen or so Thame faithful who had made the journey.

With five matches remaining the focus moves to gaining the ten points needed to secure the league title. This assumes that Wokingham gain maximum points from their remaining fixtures, including a home tie with United on 17th April.

Thame United: Orkney, Newell (Wakelin), J. Way, Meredith, Cowan, EL-Kassir, Connelly, Rogers (c) Stallwood (G. Way), Braun (Hoskin), Ricketts.

United?s last home game of the season is at Wallingford on April 24th when they will again face Eton Wick.