Thame United travelled to Bedfordshire to take on Biggleswade FC at the Eyrie Stadium in Division one of the Pitching in South League, with Biggleswade sitting comfortably in mid table while Thame were still sitting bottom, so couldn’t afford to slip up. Manager Ben Williams made a number of changes to the team which successfully overcame Oxford City in the Semi Final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup. Ozzy Othman was out with Injury with Pierce McNamara and Louis Fountain dropping to the bench. Into the starting eleven came Mark Riddick, Matty Harriot and Harry Alexander. Ryan Knight and Theo Ransby also returned to the squad and there was a new addition in Fabienne Etienne a full back who signed this week from Risborough Rangers. With injuries to two of the centre backs, Thame were forced to play Jefferson Louis in defence with Eitel Goueth playing up front.

Biggleswade kicked off and started the stronger creating a number of half chances in the first ten minutes, but Thame began to grow into the game and had the first real chance of the game on 14 minutes, Thame picked up the ball in the middle of the park, Jayden Carbon drove into the box, took it round the keeper but could get off a shot, as the ball rebounded out it fell to Matty Harriot who's low shot was cleared off of the line by a Biggleswade defender. A few minutes latter Ethan Lack shot just wide followed by another shot wide by Harry Alexander. The visitors then forced a series of corners but could not convert, into a meaning full shot on goal. Both teams were creating chances but Thames wingers Carbon and Alexander were causing the Biggleswade defence all sorts of trouble getting in behind the full backs on numerous occasions. There were five minutes of added time played at the end of the half after both Physios had been busy with injuries, the half ended goalless, but Thame would be disappointed not to have taken the lead, missing two great chances.

The second half started and almost immediately Carbon picked up a yellow card for delaying a throw in, Thame were playing well and starting to dominate the midfield with Matty Harriot and Ethan Lack taking control and feeding the wide areas forcing Biggleswade back and were reward on 59 minutes, when the home team got themselves in a mess in the box, Harry Alexander picked up the ball and fired a low shot which beat the keeper at the near post. The goal was no more than Thame deserved on the balance of the second half play. The home side had a couple of half chances but didn’t trouble keeper Davis. At the other end Thame should have made it two, firstly Oscar Lucey found himself free in the box and his low shot was well saved by the Biggleswade keeper tipping it wide for a corner. From the resulting corner, Fin Murray was first to the ball his header hitting the far post and agonisingly trickling along the goal line before hitting the other post and being cleared.

As the ball was played up the other end Jefferson Louis fouled the homes sides striker, bringing him down, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and booking Jefferson, the Biggleswade forward stepped up and hit a low shot to his left, keeper Davis superbly saving and gathering the ball at the second attempt. Although Biggleswade had plenty of the ball they were struggling to create and meaningful attempts on the Thame goal. Archie Davis was booked for time wasting before Ryan Knight replaced Jayden Carbon who had had an excellent game. On 81 minutes Thame doubled their lead, a loose pass across the Biggleswade defence was intercepted by Eitel Goueth who expertly chipped the keeper from the edge of the box. As the clocked ticked towards full time McNamara and Fountain replaced Goueth and Harriot, both players putting in a good afternoons work. The referee added five minutes at the end of the 90 minutes, with Thame comfortably seeing out the game. On the balance of play a well deserved and needed win for Thame and a big shift from all the players today, closing the gap at the bottom of the table.

Thame return to the Eyrie Stadium, on Tuesday 26 March, this time to take on Bedford Town.

Goals

Harry Alexander 59 minutes
Eitel Goueth 81 minutes

Line Up
Archie Davis
Oscar Lucey
Rashane Maxwell
Fin Murray
Ethan Lack
Mark Riddick
Matty Harriot (Pierce McNamara 90 minutes)
Jefferson Louis
Jayden Carbon (Ryan Knight 76 minutes)
Eitel Goueth (Louis Fountain 90 minutes)
Harry Alexander

Substitutes
Louis Fountain
Pierce McNamara
Ryan Knight
Fabienne Etienne
Theo Ransby