Thame ‘squandered opportunities’ to lose against Alresford

FOR sixty minutes on Saturday (Nov 22), United dominated the match, squandered numerous opportunities, and were ultimately made to pay as the home side scored from each of their three shots on goal.

Luke Ricketts, who scored Thame’s only goal against Alresford on Saturday

United could not have got off to a better start as, inside sixty seconds, some trickery from Marcus Mealing on the right saw the ball played across goal for Luke Ricketts to beat his marker and place the ball wide of the home keeper. Five minutes later and it was nearly two as Mealing struck his effort wide from 20 yards. The home side then made a rare foray in to the Thame half with an effort from close range that was skewed wide. On 12 minutes a Ricketts flick put Ben Gray through on goal, but his effort went just wide, before a last ditch tackle on Mealing stopped the striker from extending the lead. And still United pressed, with Ben Gray failing to get his shot away when through on goal on 20 minutes, and captain Adam Morris unable to connect when well-placed on the edge of the box on 22 minutes. Gray then had the ball in the back of the net but was adjudged to be off-side before Mealing again went close. Ricketts then put the ball in the back of the net following a reverse pass from Mealing but, for a second time, was adjudged to be off-side. And as United pressed still, the home side were unable to trouble Cockerill in the Thame goal.

However, with only a 1-0 lead at half time to show for their dominance there was always the prospect that United may rue those missed chances. That said, as the second half opened United maintained their dominance and forced a series of corners without any meaningful result. Then, on 68 minutes, the home side found an unlikely equaliser when trickery on the right resulted in a cross that evaded everyone and found its way in to the bottom corner of the goal. Whatever the goal did, it changed the balance of the game as the home team grew in confidence and the second goal arrived on 76 minutes when a series of defensive lapses saw Jack Hoey presented with the ball six yards from goal, with Hoey confidently beating Cockerill.

It was game over on 87 minutes when a free kick in to the box was forced home, to leave United wondering just how they had manage to lose from a position of such dominance.

Final score in this FA VASE: SECOND ROUND PROPER game, Alresford Town 3 Thame United 1

United:
Cockerill, Evans, Jones, Hercules, Coverley, Lynch (Kedzierski), Connelly (Hodgkins), Morris, Gray, Mealing (Hazell), Ricketts.