Thame face ‘outstanding’ goalkeeping at Rayners Lane

LEAGUE GAME: 19/04/08 – Rayners Lane 3, Thame United 1; Match Report:
THAME United visited Rayners Lane on Saturday having not played a competitive game for three weeks, and it showed. Although Thame had more than their fair share of possession, the home side were faster on the break and looked more dangerous. On the occasions when Thame threatened, they met a home keeper, Richard McCabe, who was in outstanding form.

Rayners Lane went ahead in the fifth minute with their first attack. Thame were awarded a corner and, as usual, their taller defenders went forward into the home penalty area. When the corner was quickly cleared, it fell to home striker Josh Hunt, who ran at the Thame goal from the halfway line. Thame keeper, Mike Higgs came to meet the threat and parried Hunt?s shot but as the Thame defence, recovered Hunt collected the ball and played it to Paul Mitchell who finished clinically from 10yards.

After about 20 minutes, the visitors started to take control and created several good chances with Paul Searle and Pete Way, in particular forcing excellent saves from McCabe. Thame were perhaps unlucky to go in for half time a goal down.

Two minutes into a more even second half, Way headed a goal-bound shot off the Thame goal line. A few minutes later, Thame found the back of the home net but, rather than playing advantage, the referee blew for a foul and awarded the visitors a free kick just outside the area. Thame?s equaliser came in the 63rd minute when Matt Leach met a ball from the left with a strong 10-yard shot that gave McCabe no chance.

The home team regained the lead Three minutes later when, following a defensive slip, Mitchell got his second with a 15-yard shot which went in off the underside of the Thame crossbar. Thame piled on the pressure and substitute Luke Ricketts forced another outstanding save from McCabe. The visitors forced three successive corners and, following the third, Lane mounted an attack but this time it was Thame keeper, Mike Higgs, who made an excellent save.

It was effectively ?game over? for Thame when, with six minutes remaining, home substitute Charlie Antwi met a cross with a glorious 15-yard header that gave Higgs no chance.

Thame United: Higgs, L. Thompson, Watkins (Ricketts), Ansell, Hocking (F. Thompson), Cowan, Connelly, Rhodes, Leach, Searle (West), Way

Thame United play their final game of the season at Wallingford next Saturday 26th when Henley Town are the visitors. Please note that kick off has been brought forward to 2.00pm.