Thame Unbeaten In Three Games (Contributed)

MATCH REPORT – Thame United 1, Almondsbury Town 1; Saturday, September 16.
THAME extended their unbeaten run to three games last Saturday against third placed, Almondsbury Town (who are based near Bristol), in a close match which either team could have won.
The first half was fairly even with both sides going close. Thame?s best first half chance came after 20 minutes when Nathan Jack made a lightening fast run on the left and hit a powerful shot which Andy King, the Almondsbury keeper, did well to turn round for a corner. A few minutes later Thame goalkeeper, Paul Searl, made a good save from visiting striker Justin Bishop.

The second half was only five minutes old when Thame were reduced to 10 men. The normally placid Simon Rodgers retaliated after a bad tackle and referee O?Hare had no option but to reach for his red card. Almondsbury went ahead in the 55th minute. The ball was crossed high from Thame?s left and Searl unwisely chose to meet it but only succeeded in deflecting it into the path of the visitor?s left-winger, Adam Cole. His timid shot was deflected by Paul Fowler through the legs of a Thame defender into the goal. Two minutes later Thame?s Dave Hocking made a brilliant, on the line, clearance from a strong shot.

Thame countered and equalised 10 minutes later with a well-worked goal. Jack collected the ball just outside the area and, finding his way to goal blocked, fed it left to Joe Da Silva, who hit a quality 15-yard shot from an acute angle giving King no chance.

The final few minutes saw the visitors hit the woodwork and test Searl further but United?s 10 men held on to collect a valuable point.

Thame United: Searl (Capt.), Smith, Watkins, Kitson, Hocking, Jackson, Gibson, N.Rhodes (Connelly) Rodgers, Jack, De Silva.

NB Thame United entertain Highworth Town on Tuesday 19th Sept. Next Saturday they visit nearby Bicester Town in a recently rearranged fixture