Thame United 3, Holyport 2

1/9/07 League

Thame United continued their winning ways on Saturday in a close match. The visitors from Berkshire had more first half possession and went ahead in the 30^th minute when, following a corner, Thame goalkeeper Paul Searl did well to parry a goal bound header. Unfortunately for Thame, the ball was met by visiting midfielder Aaron Coleman who reacted quickly to head in from close range. Ten minutes later Searl made a good stop from a 30-yard shot from visiting striker David Butler. Thame seemed content to ‘go for glory’ with long range shots which were rarely on target and did not really threaten the Holyport goal.

The visitors were out for the second half at least 3 minutes before Thame. Whatever Mark West said to his team during that extended break worked, as they were far more dangerous in the second half.

The equaliser came on 60 minutes when Chris Watkins hit a cross from the left which was met on the goal line by both the visiting goalkeeper and Thame’s Nigel Swafford, who managed to head home without impeding the keeper. Thame took the lead five minutes later when following a poor clearance by the Holyport Keeper, which hit one of his own players; Ben Connelly nipped in, beat a defender, and made a good run at goal before squaring the ball for Swafford to tap in his second. Thame’s third, in the 83^rd minute again came from a Watkins left-field cross. This time it was played to the feet of West who created a good chance by passing quickly to the unmarked Stuart Braun. The impressive Braun finished well by hitting a strong, well-placed shot from 15 yards, giving the keeper no chance.

The visitors pulled a goal back a minute from time but it was Thame who, perhaps fortunately, took the points.

Thame United Searl, Cowan, Graves (Ricketts), Higgs, Hocking (Capt.) Boult, Watkins, Braun (Catlin), Swafford, Reading (West), Connelly.