30/11/11….Thame Utd draw against league favourites, Shortwood

LEAGUE MATCH – 29/11/11 – Thame United 2, Shortwood United 2; MATCH REPORT (Contributed by Bob Dixon)

THAME United recorded their fifth league game without defeat on Tuesday evening at the ASM Stadium, when they drew 2-2 with Gloucestershire-based Shortwood United. This was a good result for Thame as the visitors are seen by ?those in the know? as favourites to win the league championship. It was a hugely entertaining game, played on a cold evening, with both teams playing fast, attractive attacking football.

After an even start the visitors scored the first goal on nine minutes when a Thame pass was intercepted in midfield and, after good move, striker Kevin Slack knocked the ball home from a seemingly impossibly acute angle. Their lead did no last long, as Thame equalised two minutes later when Dan West took a corner and Sam Cowan headed in from eight yards. It was end-to-end stuff for a while but in the 18th minute visiting left winger Tim Haddock scored an impressive individual goal. He picked the ball up on the halfway line and dribbled his way to goal, beating several Thame players, before slipping the ball pass Thame keeper Nick Bennion.

A few minutes later Thame again equalised when Luke Ricketts picked up a ball near the left touchline and made a pacey 40-yard run before hitting a superb cross. Aaron Rogers met the cross with a first time shot which the visiting keeper parried but Alex Stewart then knocked home. With 25 minutes gone it was 2-2 with more goals in prospect but, although both teams went close, the scoring was over. Just before half time a visiting defender blatantly handled the ball in the penalty area but it seems that the officials were alone in not seeing the incident.

The second half was an anticlimax. Thame had the better of the first half hour with Rogers Ricketts and James Keeble all going close for Thame and another valid penalty appeal for hand-ball turned down. Shortwood pressed for the final 15 minutes, and the on-form Bennion was busy, but the game ended 2-2. Despite being sent off in the final minutes for dissent, Jon Steedman was chosen as Thame?s man of the match. It must be said however that the referee made some poor decisions and was far too quick to reach for his cards.

Thame United: Bennion, Cowan, Hall, Meredith, Steedman, Keeble, Barr (I Pykett, N Rhodes), West, Stewart, Rogers, Ricketts.

United are at home this coming Saturday (3rd) when Witney Town are the visitors.