Biggest win of the season so far for Thame United (Contributed)

Thame United 6, Launton Sports 1 – MATCH REPORT – THAME UNITED secured their second successive win on Saturday (11/10), with a convincing performance against bottom of the league, Launton Sports. Whilst the visitors will not be the strongest opposition Thame play this year, the Thame team nevertheless took their chances and played with a flair and confidence rarely seen this season.
Right-winger, Ben Connelly, had an outstanding game with four of Thame?s goals coming directly from his crosses.
The win takes Thame from 17th to 14th league position.

The first 10 minutes gave no clue to the outcome of the game as Launton Sports were the stronger of the two sides. However, Thame then began to gain the upper hand and created some good chances. On 20 minutes a Nik Rhodes header from a Matt Miller cross forced an excellent save from the visiting goalkeeper. Thame took the lead five minutes later when Connelly made a good run on the right before cutting into the penalty area where he was fouled by a visiting defender. Adam Rhodes took the penalty, which glanced off the left post on its way into the goal.

Thame?s second came a minute before the break when Mark Jones beat the offside trap and ran at goal before squaring the ball to Matt Miller for a far post tap in.

Thame goalkeeper, Ryan Bell, who had not been troubled in the first half, was forced to make a good, diving save shortly after the restart, but from there on Thame controlled the game. Their third goal came on 53 minutes when Connelly played a cross-field ball to Will Wallace who coolly sidestepped the advancing keeper before hitting the ball into an empty net. Ten minutes later Connelly ran at the defence and crossed for Mark Jones to finish from close range.

Thame?s fifth was very similar as Connelly continued the supply of quality low crosses, Matt Miller netting has second. With 15 minutes to play, Launton pulled a goal back when the ball was played to the unmarked Neil Tattersall who volleyed in from 10 yards, giving Bell no chance. Thame made it six with five minutes to play, when Connelly pulled the ball back from the by-line for substitute Tom Hoskin to net from two yards.

Thame United: Bell, Thompson, Newell (Hoskins), N Rhodes, Graves (c), Cowan, Connelly, A Rhodes, Miller (Smail), Jones, Wallace (El-Kassir)

Thame travel to unbeaten 3rd placed Binfield next Saturday (18th). Their next home game is at Wallingford on Saturday 25th October when Holyport are the visitors.

Photo: Ben Connelly