Wohingham & Emmbrook 1,
Thame United 2
5/1/08 League
Thame United were
fortunate to come away from Wokingham on Saturday 5th with three
points in a display which was far from their best and would have left their
hosts wondering what they had to do to win a game.
United struggled from
the start with their usual passing game hindered by the damp conditions
underfoot and with the Wokingham midfield and attack showing greater mobility
in the final third of the pitch. Nevertheless, Thame caused the home defence
problems with their pace out wide and forced a succession of corners in the
first quarter of an hour. None of these resulted in a clear cut chance, and it
was Paul Searl in the Thame goal who had to be alert on a number of occasions
in the opening half to thwart the lively Wokingham strikers.
Just as it looked as
though the game would go in to half time scoreless, an Adam Rhodes cross was
met by the head of captain Dave Hocking who from a difficult angle beat the
keeper. Although the ball was heading in to the goal, an attempted headed goal
line clearance by the retreating defender only helped the ball over the line.
The second half
opened in similar fashion to the first half, with Wokingham pushing forward and
Thame seemingly content to hit their opponents on the break. Whilst Wokingham
created a number of shooting opportunities, Searl was never really tested until
the 79th minute when following a neat passing move from just inside
their own half, the ball fell to substitute Shaun
Watson, who confidently finished from eight yards.
The equaliser stirred
Thame back in to the life and for the remainder of the match they enjoyed their
best period of the game. The winning goal arrived five minutes from time when
following their best passing move of the game, Ben Connelly played the ball
through to Adam Rhodes who turned his marker just inside the penalty area and
gave the keeper no chance from an acute angle. There was still time for Thame
to create another opening as Nick Skiller raced on to
through ball from Matt Higgs in the last minute only for a defender to block
his goal bound shot. However, Thame were relieved when the referee blew the
final whistle, and the win sees them consolidate their position in the top half
of the table.
Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Watkins (