08/04/11……Thame United ‘a joy to watch’

LEAGUE GAME: 07/04/11 Away – Abingdon Town 1, Thame United 2; MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

UNITED regained ninth league place on Thursday evening, when they visited Abingdon Town and came back with a 1-2 win. The game was a joy to watch. It saw two fairly evenly matched sides determined to play fast, attractive, open football in a game controlled by a referee who got most decisions right, allowed the game to flow, and kept his cards in his pocket. The game also saw a strong contender for United?s goal of the season.

The home side took the lead nine minutes in, when Lance Williams met an in swinging corner with a powerful, close range header. United equalised five minutes later. The on-form Connor Hunt played a long cross field ball to Aaron Rogers on the right. Rogers controlled it well and struck a quality 35-yard rocket taking the keeper, and everyone else, by surprise. The remainder of the half saw chances at both ends with James Faulkner twice forcing the home keeper into action. The half finished with the score even, but Thame just ?ahead on points?.

Ten minutes after the restart Rogers hit another long range shot which the home keeper did well to get fingertips to and push over. The resultant corner saw a defender clear a Thame header off the line. Milan Barisic was busy, but he commanded the Thame goal and confidently dealt with the Abingdon threat. On 70 minutes Faulkner ran on the right, beating two markers before squaring to Stuart Braun, whose hurried shot was wide. This proved to be a rehearsal of Thame?s second goal which came a few minutes later. This time Faulkner, central and just into the Abingdon half played the ball to Rogers, whose pace beat the offside trap before heading for the right by line and pulling the ball back for Braun to finish well from 10 yards.

Rogers, his job done was rested and was replaced by Sam Cowan in his first appearance since injury. The final minutes saw frantic defending but Thame held out to deservedly take the points.

Thame United: Barisic, Barr, Newell, Meredith, Saulsbury, Hayes, Hunt, Braun, Rogers (Cowan), Faulkner, Ricketts