Thame United 1, Eton Wick 0

16/2/08 League

Thame United defeated Eton Wick 1-5 when they visited them in August. The ‘Wick’, who have not won a league game this season, are bottom of the league. Thame, on the other hand, are mid-table so a home win seemed a near certainty.  Thame won, but it took 87 frustrating minutes for them to find the back of the visitor’s net.

Maybe Thame’s league position is part of the problem. Promotion is extremely unlikely and relegation is now mathematically impossible so, perhaps understandably, there is a lack of motivation in the team. They certainly played without any passion or purpose for the first 75 minutes.

From the kick off Thame had more possession and created more chances, but their finishing was off form and, except from saving a Lee Thompson volley, the visiting goalkeeper had little to do during a scrappy first half.

The second half was better and after 10 minutes Luke Ricketts hit the post with a shot from an acute angle. Apart from the occasional break it was one way traffic, but Thame seemed unable to penetrate the visitor’s defence. Sam Cowan missed a chance when, following a corner he hit a high shot from the edge of the box.

With 15 minutes to play Graeme Catlin hit a goal bound shot which forced a great save from the visiting keeper. This seemed to spark Thame into action and they increased the pressure on the visitor’s goal. Both Ben Conelly and Mark West (who had brought himself on) had half chances before Thame’s long awaited goal came. With three minutes remaining Ben Conelly made a run to the right by-line and pulled the ball back for Adam Rhodes to confidently fire home from 10 yards. Game over!

Thame’s goal was rarely threatened and the home side were still attacking when the final whistle blew.

Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Watkins (Mountfield), Higgs, Hocking, Cowan, Connelly, Rhodes, Skiller (West), Catlin, Ricketts.