Second half come-back draw for Thame Reserves

MATCH REPORT – Saturday, February 28 – Newbury Reserves 4, Thame United Reserves 4.

THAME Reserves travelled down the A34 to Newbury filled with confidence on the back of two great wins against good opposition.

The game started in a frantic matter and in the first minute James Bloomfield had a golden opportunity to put Thame one goal up after he had shut the home keeper down forcing an error. Unfortunately, a lack of communication and a hurried shot meant he missed the target from eight yards and kept the score at 0-0.

Then Thame were well and truly on the front foot and mounting a wave of attacks and on five minutes, were rewarded with the opening goal. James Bloomfield turned on a sixpence in the box to squeeze his shot in from a tight angle at the near post. Newbury replied with two goals in the next five minutes, the first coming from a cross in open play when the Thame defence allowed the same player to head the ball twice under no pressure about 10 yards out and his second touch made it 1-1.

Newbury’s second goal came from the penalty spot. Captain, Matthew Gibbs, was fortunate, being the last defender to only receive a yellow card after cleaning up Newbury’s centre forward as he was just about to pull the trigger. The match was 10 minutes old and Thame was 2-1 down.

James Bloomfield equalized on 12 minutes with his second of the game, a well worked move involving five players that was calmly slotted home. Newbury then took control of the game and scored twice more before the break, making it 4-2 at half time. A mention must go out to Ryan Bell in goal for Thame. He pulled off a great save with the last kick of the half – a moment in the game that was to prove vital.

Some readjusting and organisation at half time to cancel out the threat of the Newbury attack, allowed Thame to get back in the game and on 55 minutes Greg Stocker’s right foot shot from 30 yards, sailed over the keeper and dropped into the top corner. The game followed an even path pretty much throughout the middle stages of the second half with both teams cancelling each other out.

The introduction of fresh legs gave Thame an extra spring in their step and they became brighter and more successful going forward. Thame got their well deserved rewards on 75 minutes. A corner from the right looked like it was going to be met by the head of the air-bound Russell Haynes. A Newbury defender was spotted infringing his attempt and the referee had no option but to award a penalty. Up stepped Adam Rowley who sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 4-4. Newbury then threw everything they had in an attempt to win the game but the Thame defence stood strong. This left their defence exposed and the chances Thame had didn’t result in the winning goal.

A remarkable come back after being 4-2 down at half time, to see us share the points which over the 90 minutes was a fair result.

Thame were left reflecting that, if only we could have performed at the level we did in the second half in the first, the result may have been a better one.