11/08/10…..Narrow defeat for Thame United – (Contributed)

MATCH REPORT – Thame United 1, Ascot United 2 – 10/08/10 – League game at Home: THAME United started their league campaign at Wallingford on Tuesday evening with a narrow defeat, losing 1-2 to Ascot United. Although a disappointing result, it was an encouraging performance by the Thame team, who created more chances than their opponents, and were the better side for much of the game.

The experienced James Saulsbury suffered a groin strain during the pre-match warm-up and was replaced by Luke Fisher, who was a regular member of the young Thame squad in the 05/06 season. The opening exchanges were fairly even, but then the home side started to gain the upper hand and forced three successive corners, one of which brought a good save from the visiting keeper when he just got a hand to a Ben Connelly shot. Thame was in control, and the best chance of the half fell to the normally deadly Captain, Nik Rhodes, who met a free kick with an off-target header.

A few minutes later Dan Bailey brought another good save from the visiting keeper. In the Thame goal, Milan Barisic was idle until the 40th minute, when he made a comfortable save. Against the run of play however, a minute later he was beaten when an Ascot close passing move resulted in a 10-yard shot from visiting striker Rob Saunders which glanced in off the left post.

Possession was more even in the second half but again Thame crated more chances. The equaliser came in the 65th minute with a move which involved four home players. Substitute Mark Jones collected the ball on the Left and fed it to fellow sub, Tom Hoskin who had run outside ?on the overlap?. Hoskin hit a cross which Alex Stuart headed to Ben Connelly who clinically volleyed home from six yards. The remainder of the game was even with some entertaining end-to-end football. At the Thame end the visitors hit the post whilst, at the other end, Hoskin beat two defenders before forcing yet another good save from the Ascot keeper. The final goal came four minutes from time when visiting substitute Jon Bennett ran, seemingly unchallenged, to the right by-line and pulled the ball back to Saunders who hit a volley from 15-Yards, which gave Barisic no chance.

Thame United: Barisic, Fisher (Hoskin), Newell, N Rhodes, Brown (G Way), Braun, Connelly, A Rhodes, Stuart, Stallwood (Jones), Baylie.

PHOTO: Goal scorer, Ben Connelly