14/03/11…..Close call for Thame Utd as they draw with Shortwood

LEAGUE Match – 12/03/11 Thame United 1, Shortwood United 1; MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

THAME came back to equalise six minutes before the end of Saturday?s game at the ASM stadium against, Gloucestershire based, Shortwood United. It was a close thing as the visitors had most of the ball possession and there were few Thame chances.

The match saw the Thame debut for striker James Faulkner who scored 13 goals in 12 league appearances for Oxford City Nomads before signing midweek. James looked sharp and, once he is used to his teammates play, will soon be on the Thame score sheet.

The first half hour was fairly even. After about 15 minutes, the visiting keeper fumbled the ball and was robbed by Alex Stewart, who passed for Faulkner to knock it onto an empty net. The referee however blew for a foul on the keeper. The visitors started to put a few good moves together and controlled the remainder of the half. They scored in the 35th minute when a low ball from the right found Striker Robbie Colwell in enough space to deflect the ball into the net from close range.

The second half saw the visitors continue with more ball possession and Thame keeper Milan Barisic was kept busy. After about 60 minutes, he was injured and was clearly in pain for the remainder of the game. Thame chances were sparse but Stewart and Faulkner both had shots which narrowly missed the target. With about 15 minutes remaining, Thame ?found their feet? and started to mount some good attacks on the visitor?s goal. In the 84th minute a Ben Connelly right wing run was ended by a foul. Luke Ricketts took the in swinging free kick which Stuart Braun did well to reach and head in from close range. Shortwood threw everyone forward in an effort to regain the lead but Thame held out and the points were shared.

Thame United: Barisic, Newell, Pykett, N Rhodes, Brown (Macdonald), Hayes, Connelly, Braun, Stewart, Faulkner, Ricketts.