22/11/11….Fourth successive win for Thame United

LEAGUE MATCH – 19/11/11 – Thame United 3, Slimbridge 2 – CONTRIBUTED

IN one of the most entertaining games seen at the ASM Stadium this season Thame defeated Slimbridge 3-2 last Saturday. This was United?s fourth Successive win and a good victory for Thame as, at the start of the game, the visitors were six league places above their hosts, having had not lost an away game all season.

Unusually, Thame did not make any substitutions and ended the game with the same eleven players that had lined up at the start.

The first half hour was fairly even with both teams playing attractive attacking football. The visitors took the lead on 35 minutes when a long ball from defence resulted in a mix up between home defender Meredith Mitchell and out coming keeper Nick Bennion, allowing Slimbridge striker Alex Higgs to dribble the ball pass Bennion and hit it in onto an empty net from 20-yards. United equalised just before the break when Stewart rose to head an Aaron Rogers cross, but a defender intervened and fortunately the ball fell to Stewart, who reacted quickly to hit an acutely angled shot home from close range.

The resumption of play saw United attacking and, as a corner was taken, there was the usual amount of jostling near goal, however the referee saw an infringement and awarded a penalty. Stewart took the spot kick well giving the visiting keeper no chance. After a period of Thame pressure the visitors recovered and put the Thame goal under pressure. The on-form Bennion was kept busy and made a brilliant save from point-blank range. The pressure was rewarded in the 77th minute when substitute Dan Holliday hit a strong 20-yard free kick pass Bennion. So it was 2-2 with 13 minutes remaining. Three minutes later, Thame were awarded a free kick on the left and Rogers went one better by hitting a superb, well-placed, shot from 25-yards. Thame were under pressure for the rest of the game and could have conceded seconds before the final whistle when Sam Cowan almost headed into his own goal, but the ball hit the post and Bennion collected.

Thame United: Bennion, Cowan, Hall, Mitchell, Steadman, Hayes, Connelly, D West, Stewart, Rogers, Ricketts.

United are at home next Saturday (26th), when they meet Chalfont Wasps in the Hellenic League Supplementary Cup.