12/11/12……Another draw for depleted Thame United

LEAGUE MATCH – 10/11/12 – Newbury 0, Thame United 0 – MATCH REPORT – Contributed by Bob Dixon:

THAME United drew their second consecutive league match at Newbury on Saturday (10/11) when both sides failed to score. It was also the second consecutive occasion in which United have had a man sent from the pitch, with about 15 minutes to play. Once again, Thame were unable to field their strongest side due to injury and non-availability, although Matt Hall, who has been out injured for several weeks, did come on as a substitute during the second half.

It was a game in which the few chances that were created were either squandered, or saved by the goalkeepers, both of whom had good games.

Thame started brightly and controlled the opening exchanges but they were brought back to earth after 10 minutes, when the hosts hit the post from their first serious attack. United however continued to have the bulk of possession for most of the half. Thame?s best chance in the first 45 minutes came when Ben Connelly won the ball in midfield and ran at goal before passing to Niall Hodgkins, whose blistering 25-yard shot was just tipped onto the crossbar by the home keeper.

Although possession was 50/50 in the second half, the stalemate continued, with neither team able to penetrate. Hall came on and within a few minutes had the best chance of the game when he met a cross from the right with a header which was agonisingly off target. With 15 minutes remaining, Newbury cleared a Thame corner, but a home player went down injured after a clash with Connelly, and the game was halted. The referee, who, like me, had not seen an infringement, went to talk to his linesman and, as a result, Connelly was shown a Yellow card. Ben however appeared to challenge the decision and, after a brief period, he was shown a second yellow (presumably for dissent), quickly followed by a red card.

Hodgkins played deep for the remainder of the game and Thame Keeper, Lee Farrow, made some good saves. In the last five minutes the hard-working Ben Gray forced a decent save from the Newbury keeper, and the home side missed another chance.

Thame United: Farrow, Barr, Way, Hercules, Rhodes, Hayes, Connelly, West, Hodgkins, Gray, Rogers (Hall).