Thame FC and Henley game marred by injury

LEAGUE GAME; March 18, Henley Town 2,Thame United 1 – MATCH REPORT

THAME United really should not have lost Tuesday evening?s game at Henley. They outplayed the home side for much of the game, and created more chances. Thame hit the Henley crossbar on four separate occasions and, had these efforts been a few inches lower, Thame would have won comfortably. It was however Henley who took the points and, as a result they now move into 9th league position, whilst Thame drop to 10th.

This fast and entertaining game was marred by an injury to Henley winger George Brewer 14 minutes into the second half. After jumping to head the ball, near the half way line, Brower fell awkwardly and sunk to the grass in agony. The game was stopped for almost half an hour whilst an ambulance arrived, and he was taken to hospital with a suspected fracture ankle.

The home side took the lead in the 2nd minute when, following a corner, the ball fell to midfielder Graham Toomey whose 8 yard shot found the back of the Thame net. Thame countered and after 10 minutes, Lee Thompson hit the crossbar from about 10 yards. After about 25 minutes play, Thame started to gain the upper hand and created some good chances. With about 10 minutes of the first half, remaining Nathan Jack was fouled in the area but the unsighted referee waved play on. Thame?s best chance was just before half time when Jack pounced of a pass from Adam Rhodes and hit a powerful shot from 8 yards which the home keeper did well to save.

Thame dominated the first part of the second half and drew level in the 50th minute when defender Chris Watkins took a throw in and found Jack near the left by-line. Jack turned quickly and hit a low ball across the goalmouth, which Richard Jewell met, at the far post, to confidently tap in. After the stoppage It took both sides a few minutes to settle down but Thame looked the more likely to score.

Matt Graves was unlucky when on 65 minutes he met a corner with a near post header, which hit the bar. Mike Higgs, in the Thame goal, made a good save a few minutes later to maintain parity. With about 15 minutes to play Jack played a superb ball from the half way line, to Luke Ricketts in space, but his 20-yard lob hit the crossbar. Shortly after, Paul Searle who still has an injured finger and had come on as a sub, hit a good cross from the right to Jack, whose strong shot was blocked by the Henley keeper and the ball fell to Adam Rhodes, but his shot was high. With about 5 minutes to play Jack hit a 30 yard blast which, (guess what) hit the crossbar.

The Henley winner came in the 87th minute when a ball from the right beat the Thame defence and winger Mills finished from a near impossible angle.

Thame United: Michael Higgs, Thompson, Watkins, Graves, Hocking, Cowan, Jewell (Hoskins), Rhodes, Leach (Searle), Jack, Ricketts,

Thame play at Wantage on Easter Saturday followed by a league game at nearby Chinnor on Easter Monday