Unbeaten record for Thame United (Contributed)

LEAGUE MATCH – Saturday, October 3, 2009 -Thame United 0, Wokingham & Emmbrook 0; Match Report:-

THAME United exchanged their 100% league win record for an unbeaten record on Saturday when they drew 0-0 with league leaders Wokingham & Emmbrook. It was a match, played in a strong gusting wind, which made it difficult for players to judge the flight of the ball. The encounter was also marred by a referee who blew his whistle at the least provocation, and it seemed at times without any reason, and he consequently prevented the game from flowing. Although the sides were evenly matched, the game was therefore not particularly entertaining.

The visitors, with the wind at their backs, started brightly and could have gone ahead after 15 minutes when impressive striker Richard Bland pounced on a loose ball and hit a shot from 12-yards, but Thame keeper Paul Searl made a seemingly impossible fingertip save. A few minutes later Thame captain, Dave Hocking was forced to clear a goal bound shot off the line. Thame grew stronger as the half progressed, but both Ben Connelly and Adam Rhodes were unable to convert difficult half chances.

The home side had the wind advantage in the second half and this time and it was Thame who controlled the play. Their best chance came from a set piece. A corner was played back to Connelly, who hit a ball to the far corner which Nik Rhodes met with well-placed header forcing an outstanding save from the visiting keeper. Searl?s goal was rarely troubled until, with about 20 minutes to play, visiting striker Luke Lee hit the post from 10 yards. Shortly after however Lee was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Thame made substitutions and continued to press, but despite the home side?s one-man advantage, they were unable to penetrate the well-organised Wokingham defence. The game therefore finished goalless and a draw was a fair result.

Several Thame players had excellent games but defender Nik Rhodes was chosen as Thame?s man of the match.

Thame United: Searl, Cowan, Wakelin (Barr), N Rhodes, Hocking, El-Kassir, Connelly, A Rhodes, Jones, Rodgers (Higgs), Ricketts.

Photo: Man of the match, Nik Rhodes