Thame Rangers with a completely different management team and a squad made up of mainly last year’s Thame Utd U21 Development team plus a few new faces were handed an attractive local derby against near neighbours Chinnor FC in their first ever game at this level. Some of the new faces were competing in their first senior game of football and most of the rest playing their first games at this level. There was no need for Thame’s management team to motivate their players as social media had already done the job.

The players did themselves proud and on another day and based on chances alone could have sealed all 3 points. Pat Buston opened the scoring with a well-worked goal involving Steve Newell and Dan Hatton. Buston finished the move off beating Chinnor’s keeper at his near post. Chances were reasonably limited in the first half for both sides. The impressive young Dan Bowker in goal for Thame dealt with Chinnor’s long ball tactics well by collecting everything without having to make a save. At the other end Dan Hatton and Buston were causing problems for the home defence at every opportunity. Both had chances to increase the lead along with Nathan Lang and Kieron Moreton but the half finished 0-1.

The second half was played in the same fashion. Chinnor continued with their long ball tactics whilst Rangers sought to expose the weaknesses, which centred on the lack of pace in the Chinnor central defence. However, a mix up was punished midway through the half and Chinnor equalised with their second shot of the game. Things then began to get heated and Chinnor’s right back was handed a straight red for what looked like a punch. Rangers looked to capitalize on the man advantage with a switch in formation and the introduction of 16-year-old Antony MacIntyre. Chances came and went; a blatant penalty was not given when Buston was rugby tackled around the neck by a defender preventing an opportunity for him to score. Craig Faulconbride, Dan Hatton & Buston all had chances to win the game. Faulconbridge headed over from close range, Hatton could not get enough purchase on the ball to beat the stranded home keeper and Buston chipped over the advancing keeper, which would have capped his man of the match performance off in style but it was not to be and the game finished 1-1.

All in all a great introduction to so many of our young players. 13 of the 16-man squad were under the age of 21. The game was evenly contested and its a shame on chances alone we could not secure all 3 points.

Team:

Bowker, Newell, Lynn, Luckett, Attwell, Faulconbridge, Moreton (MacIntyre), Hawes, Buston, Hatton, Lang

Subs;

Banks, Butler, Miles, Khan.