28/02/13….Thame lose to Ardley after missing first half penalty

LEAGUE game – February 23: Thame United 1, Ardley United 2; Match report: (Contributed by Bob Dixon)- THAME United were defeated 1-2 by Ardley United at the ASM stadium on Saturday. The score-line could have been so easily reversed as Thame missed a first half penalty, but the visitors scored from the spot in the second half.

Thame started brightly and went ahead after seven minutes when Matt Hall hit a 25-yard shot, which to everyone?s surprise beat the keeper. Whilst well-placed, it was not a particularly strong shot but the surprised keeper, who may have been unsighted, misjudged it and Thame were in the lead. The home side looked sharper and, on 25 minutes Dan West was fouled in the box. Regular penalty taker Mitchell Meredith, who had a penalty saved in Thame?s last game, sent the keeper ?the wrong way? but his effort hit the foot of the goalpost, and bounced out of play. Ardley settled towards the end of the half but Thame were rightly still in the lead at half time.

The visitors came out ?fired up? for the second half and equalised two minutes after the restart when some sloppy defending allowed Troy Bryan to tap in from close range. The game ebbed and flowed and Ardley were looking more dangerous. Then, 17 minutes into the half, Phil Pykett made what even the visiting officials saw as a fair tackle in the box but to the spectators’ surprise Referee O?Shea awarded a penalty. He then unbelievably dismissed Pykett from the pitch. Steve Howkins scored from the spot giving lee Farrow no chance.

Down to 10 men, Niall Hodgkins moved back into midfield and Thame spent much of the remaining game penned into their own half. Ardley could have scored again but Nik Rhodes did well to head the goal-bound shot clear. Thame mounted the occasional attack and Ellis Hercules went close when he headed just wide from a free kick. All three substitutes were brought on to replace tired legs but frustratingly it was Ardley who collected the points.

Thame United: Farrow, Meredith, Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, Hall, Connelly (Evans), West, Hodgkins (Davis), Gray (Johnston), Ricketts.