Welcome to the Thame United section. You will be able to find out information about the clubs senior side here including fixtures for the new season in the Hellenic Premier division following their promotion from Divison 1 East as Champions and updates on the Reserves
United end Ardley’s unbeaten run.
Thame put in their most complete display of the season on Bank Holiday Monday when they comprehensively beat the previously undefeated Ardley United. The game, which saw the United squad stretched due to player injury and absenteeism, started in end-to-end fashion, with Thame playing down the pronounced slope and gradually gaining the upper hand. However, the first chance, which perhaps owed more to luck than judgment, came to Ardley after 10 minutes when a flighted cross from the right dropped on to the cross bar and, fortunately for Thame, away from danger. It was then Thame’s chance to press and following some half chances, striker Aaron Rogers fashioned an opening on the half hour, and from 25 yards saw his effort beat the keeper but come back off the outside of the post. Five minutes later and a corner from Adam Rhodes was met by FA Cup hero Stuart Braun whose powerful header from six yards appeared to cross the line before being cleared by an Ardley defender.
With the score line goalless at half time, United perhaps expected to be under pressure for most of the second half given that they were now playing up the slope. However, with Nik Rhodes and Martin Brown solid at the back, Ardley failed to impose themselves and instead it was Thame who found themselves with the chances. Ten minutes in to the half and United looked to have twice gained a penalty when Man of the Match Alex Stewart was hauled back in the penalty area when clean through. With Stewart staying on his feet, his shot hit the bar and he received the same treatment when looking to score from the rebound. The referee, unlike the majority of the crowd, failed to see either offence and Thame started to wonder if it was to be one of those days. However, they only had to wait a further five minutes before taking the lead. Nik Rhodes swung over a free kick from the left that Stewart met with a powerful header 12 yards from goal, directing the ball in to the far corner and giving the home keeper no chance. Ten minutes later and United doubled their lead when winger Ben Connelly went on a trademark run down the right, pulling the ball back for Stewart to drill the ball beyond the keeper. At 2-0 Thame looked reasonably comfortable and, despite Ardley having more possession, the United defence was rarely threatened, the nearest Ardley coming to getting a goal back being a 25 yard drive that Barisic turned round the post. Instead it was Thame who had the chances, with Stewart going close to a hat trick and substitute Thomas Hoskin causing the home defence problems.
In the end United held out for a 2-0 win and, in a game where all the players contributed, emphasised the strength of the squad.
Thame United: Barisic, Barr, J.Way, Brown, N.Rhodes, Braun, A Rhodes, Connelly, Stewart, Rogers (Hoskin), El Kassir (Wakelin).
Thame United progressed to the next round
of the FA Cup at Wallingford on Saturday when they defeated Gloucestershire based Lydney Town 2-1. In the next round they will play away to either Thatcham Town or Witney United, who drew on Saturday. The game is scheduled for Saturday 11th September. Thame had the better of the opening exchanges and took the lead in the 7th minute. Following good work in midfield, the ball was played to Nik Rhodes on the left and he hit a perfect low cross to Luke Ricketts, on the edge of the area, whose first-time shot found the back of the visitors net. At this stage, Thame had about 70% of ball possession, were looking dangerous and It seemed that the home side would record a comfortable victory. Lydney, of course, had other ideas and as the half progressed they grew stronger and, just before half time, had two good scoring chances which, fortunately for Thame, they squandered. The second half was fairly even. On 50 minutes, the visiting goalkeeper miss-kicked a back pass in the 6-yard box, but managed to recover milliseconds before Aaron Rogers pounced. The equaliser came on 54 minutes. The visitors took a corner on the right which a Thame head nodded out to midfielder Jon Kear who hit a well-placed shot from 15-yards giving goalkeeper Milan Barisic no chance. Thame were on the back foot for a while, before recovering and creating some good chances themselves. It looked as if a replay was likely but, with 5 minutes to play, a goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball coming out to Stuart Braun who hit a strong 20-yard shot through a crowded penalty area into the net. The goal was awarded, and a visiting defender was booked for handling the ball on the goal line. The final few minutes saw the Thame goal under siege but the visitors were a spent force, and united held on comfortably until the final whistle.
Thame United: Barisic, Cowan, N Rhodes, Saulsbury, Brown (Jones), Braun, Connelly, A Rhodes, Stewart, Rogers, Ricketts.
United win 3-2 at Bracknell.
Thame secured their first three points of the season at Bracknell on Tuesday evening, although the score line does little to reflect their dominance of the game. After a flurry of corners for United in the opening few minutes, the deadlock was broken after five minutes with a goal that was simple in both construction and execution. A long kick from Thame keeper, Milan Barisic, was headed on by striker Aaron Rogers to Ben Connelly on the wide right. Connelly played the ball back to Adam Rhodes, whose first time cross was met by the head of Alex Stewart who confidently guided the ball beyond the home keeper. Stewart then nearly doubled the lead after half an hour when his turn and shot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide of the left hand post. However, United only had to wait another five minutes to extend their lead. The impressive James Saulsbury controlled the ball on the edge of his own box before feeding Connelly on the right, who went beyond his marker with ease and chipped the ball to the far post where Man of the Match, Stuart Braun headed home. At this point, United were firmly in control and whilst Bracknell were dangerous on the break and from set pieces, Barisic had rarely been troubled. The second half was only three minutes old when United increased their lead further. Stewart and Rogers combined well to put in Braun who confidently beat the keeper from close range. The game then became a midfield battle as both sides cancelled each other out, but Bracknell sensed a come back when they scored in the 77th minute. A flowing move down the right hand side resulted in a cross that Barisic did well to initially save before the ball fell at the feet of striker Dean Thomas who poked the ball through the legs of the stricken keeper. Two minutes later and Bracknell pulled another goal back. With Barisic having done well to push a 25-yard drive over the bar, the resulting corner again fell to Thomas who finished with confidence at the near post. Bracknell then pushed forward for an equaliser, but Thame defended the final few minutes well to secure their first league victory.
Thame United: Barisic, Cowan, Newell, Saulsbury (J Way), N.Rhodes, Braun, A Rhodes, Connelly, Stewart (Jones), Rogers (Stallwood), Barr.
GOOD RESULT SEES PROGRESS IN FA CUP
Thame United 3 Shrivenham 0
United progressed in to the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday with a relatively comfortable and convincing win against fellow Hellenic Premier Division side Shrivenham. With the words of manager Mark West still ringing in their ears from the previous Tuesday, United set about their opponents from the start and immediately had Shrivenham on the back foot. However, the first chance of the game and, as it transpired, their best chance in the whole game, fell to Shrivenham in the fifth minute when a ball across the box found a Shrivenham player unmarked at the far post but, fortunately for Thame, he mis-kicked from close range. Shrivenham regretted the miss three minutes later when, following a series of corners, Adam Rhodes delivered another corner from the right that was flicked on by striker (and Man of the Match) Alex Stewart 
and the defender could do no more than divert the ball in to the back of his own net. Ten minutes later and United found the net for a second time. Following good work from Adam Stallwood, the ball was played out to left back Dan Baylie who delivered a first time cross to the edge of the six yard box that Stewart headed powerfully in to the top corner giving the visiting keeper no chance. It was game over five minutes before half time when United extended their lead further. A free kick from deep in the Thame half was played forward to Stewart on the edge of the box, who deftly laid the ball off to Stallwood who shot powerfully in to the bottom corner of the net. With 
Thame 3-0 to the good at half time, the second half became a stalemate with United content to preserve their lead. However, the best chance of the half fell to midfield player Stuart Braun who forced a good save from the visiting keeper. Shrivenham continued to press but they were limited to long range efforts on goal that were comfortably dealt with by Barisic in the Thame goal. United have another home draw in the next round on 28th August, when they again face Hellenic League opposition in the form of either Fairford Town or Lydney Town.
Thame United: Barisic, Newell, Baylie, Saulsbury (G Way), N.Rhodes, Braun (El-Kassir), A Rhodes, Connelly, Stewart, Stallwood (Hoskin), Ricketts.
Good Performance but chances go begging
United started their league campaign at Wallingford on Tuesday evening with a narrow defeat, losing 1-2 to Ascot United. Although a disappointing result, it was an encouraging performance by the Thame team, who created more chances than their opponents, and were the better side for much of the game.
The experienced James Saulsbury suffered a groin strain during the pre-match warm-up and was replaced by Luke Fisher, who was a regular member of the young Thame squad in the 05/06 season. The opening exchanges were fairly even, but then the home side started to gain the upper hand and forced three successive corners, one of which brought a good save from the visiting keeper when he just got a hand to a Ben Connelly shot. Thame were in control, and the best chance of the half fell to the normally deadly Captain Nik Rhodes who met a free kick with an off-target header. A few minutes later Dan Bailey brought another good save from the visiting keeper. In the Thame goal, Milan Barisic was idle until the 40th minute, when he made a comfortable save. Against the run of play however, a minute later he was beaten when an Ascot close passing move resulted in a 10-yard shot from visiting striker Rob Saunders which glanced in off the left post.
Possession was more even in the second half but again Thame crated more chances. The equaliser came in the 65th minute with a move which involved four home players. Substitute Mark Jones collected the ball on the Left and fed it to fellow sub Tom Hoskin who had run outside ‘on the overlap’. Hoskin hit a cross which Alex Stuart headed to Ben Connelly who clinically volleyed home from 6 yards. The remainder of the game was even with some entertaining end-to-end football. At the Thame end the visitors hit the post whilst, at the other end, Hoskin beat two defenders before forcing yet another good save from the Ascot keeper. The final goal came four minutes from time when visiting substitute Jon Bennett ran, seemingly unchallenged, to the right by-line and pulled the ball back to Saunders who hit a volley from 15-Yards, which gave Barisic no chance.
Thame United: Barisic, Fisher (Hoskin), Newell, N Rhodes, Brown (G Way), Braun, Connelly, A Rhodes, Stuart, Stallwood (Jones), Baylie.
THE ASM STADIUM
Thame Football Partnership are delighted to announce that Thame based ASM Auto Recycling Ltd are to provide sponsorship for the new stadium at Meadow View Park and for Thame United Football Club in a deal that provides ongoing support over the next three years.
The new Stadium will now be called the ASM Stadium.
Paul McDonagh, of ASM commented, “we are a local business that strives to provide a professional service to all of our customers.
Having seen what Thame Football Partnership are doing locally for the community we wanted to be part of this and help support the football partnership through this sponsorship”.
“We are big supporters of football at all levels and we are really pleased that we are now getting involved with the club at both Youth and Senior levels”.
With Thame United back in the Hellenic Premier Division again and looking to be playing at The ASM Stadium in the late Autumn they are hoping that attendances will increase with support for all of the sides playing there.
TFP’s Frank Thompson said “ We are really pleased to have ASM as both our stadium and senior team sponsors. Paul and the other ASM Directors have demonstrated to us that they are passionate about their involvement with the clubs and we are looking forward to a long and successful partnership with them. The deal not only involves the name for the stadium but also includes new ASM home and away playing strips for the Thame United sides, as well as branded training packs.
When it opens members at the new stadium will also be entitled to a discount on car parts purchased from ASM’s site in Rycote Lane.
Thame’s Allied Counties Under 18’s side are looking for new players for next season and with the new stadium due to be ready by the late Autumn matches will be played at the new venue under floodlights once the pitches are available. Thame are also expecting to announce a new management team for the Youth side early next week. If any players are interested in finding out more information, please contact Frank Thompson at frank.thompson@thamefootball.co.uk or 07919 272222
Thame United Championship winning squad shown below
Thame United go into next seasons campaign back in the Hellenic Premier Division after an absence of 3 years. Thame will be facing a tough 42 game league season and will have to travel as far afield as Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. After a successful campaign Thame are looking to consolidate their position in the league as they take possession of their state of the art new facility in the late Autumn. Thame have retained their management team of Mark West (Manager) Frank Thompson (Asst Manager) and Vince Saunders (Physio)
Many thanks to all of our sponsors for the 2009/10 season
