In a midweek clash under the floodlights at the Winton Haulage Stadium, Thame United delivered a clinical performance to dismantle hosts Barton Rovers 4-0 in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central. The visitors, known as the Red Kites, capitalised on a numerical advantage after an second half sending-off to secure a emphatic victory that boosts their rise up the table while leaving Barton to rue a night of defensive lapses and missed opportunities.

It was the first away league fixture for a month for Thame with the side yet to pick up a point on their travels, but were looking to stretch their unbeaten run to five league games. Barton have started the season where they left off last season, currently sitting in fifth place on 16 points. . After the 2-1 win on Saturday against London Lions Manager Ben Williams kept the same squad, but made some changes due to the amount of games coming up. Into the starting eleven came Jack Tutton, Greg Hackett and Jenson Wright, replacing Ethan Lack, Curtis Brown and Harry Alexander who moved to the bench.

The game got underway with Thame kicking from left to right in the first half playing against quite a significant slope.The pitch at the Winton Haulage Stadium was looking very good but with the rain the pitch was quite slippery and the ball was moving quickly off the wet grass. The first 5 minutes of the game started with both teams trading blows, it was the proverbial end to end encounter, Thame were playing some neat football and were hunting in packs when they were out of possession making it difficult for the home side to get into any rhythm. Dan West nearly had the first opening of the game a neat one two with Jack Tutton, played him in on goal, but the Assistant Referees flag went up, a marginal call for offside. Barton had the first attempt on goal a long range shot was turned out for a corner, by Keeper Pettitt a good save as the ball zipped off the wet surface.

Thame were causing the Barton side a few problems in the opening 20 minutes and were playing some neat football in and around the home sides final third, and had the best chance in the opening exchanges on 21 minutes, a long throw from the left was flicked on and met by Dan West who’s header rebounds off of the cross bar. As the half progressed it was Thame who were making all of the running, Abu Khan made a good run and was brought down just outside the box, the resultant free kick deflected off of the wall out for a corner. Barton were playing on the counter attack and just on the half hour created a chance from 20 yards which crashed off of the upright and away. Jack Tutton was having a good game in midfield and was spreading the ball about, he slides another ball in for Jenson Wright to run onto and his first time shot is saved by the Barton keeper. Another long range free kick form the home side was saved by keeper Pettitt as he parried the ball away due to the slippery conditions and the ball is cleared up field. The half came to an end with both sides battling for the opening score, but Thame were playing well and had put the home side under a lot of pressure in the opening 45 minutes, all that was missing from the performance was a goal.

The second half got under way with Thame kicking down hill, Barton won the first corner of the half but comes to nothing and the ball was cleared down field. Abu Khan who was having decent game then intercepts a Barton ball on the right and picks out a long ball for Greg Hackett he takes the ball forward and shoots from outside the box, but its comfortably saved, moments later Jenson Wright picks up the ball and releases a fierce low drive which just missed the left hand upright with the keeper beaten. Both teams were looking for the opening, but it was Thame who were looking the more dangerous and the attempts were starting to mount up. Barton picked up two yellow cards in quick succession, firstly the number 4 stops Greg Hackett on the counter attack and the number 2 for a foul on Callum Hall.. Abu Khan then makes another good interception on the right and this time plays in Jenson Wright who was finding lots of space in front of the Barton defence, his shot from distance was just wide of the goal.

The break through came on 65 minutes and it was no more than Thame deserved, Greg Hackett picked up the ball on the right hand side swung a cross into the six yard the keeper went to claim it but couldn't handle it, Dan West got something on the ball to knock it towards goal where Lance Williams was waiting to tap the ball into the empty net from inside the six yard box, there were shouts for a foul on the keeper, but the referee waived them away and the goal stood. Barton pushed forward and were looking dangerous on the flanks, Callum Hall made a great interception to deny a break away, pushing the ball out for a corner, which was claimed easily by Keeper Pettitt. Luke Tingey and Fin Murray were doing a great job at the centre of the defence keeping the Barton front men quiet.

Thame made a double substitution on 71 minutes with Harry Alexander and Curtis Brown replacing Jenson Wright and Lance Williams, both of them had played really well. Thame were defending very well with a couple of great blocks to deny the home side hitting the target, but they were still pushing for the equaliser. But on 74 minutes the trajectory of the game changed, Barton looked to break again this time the number 2 picked up the ball and drove at the visitors Penalty area, as Dan West went in for the tackle the number fell to the floor. The referee blew his whistle and looked like had had given Barton a free kick much to the disbelief of the Thame players, after about thirty seconds the referee then produced a yellow card for the number two for diving and then produce a red card and give the free kick to Thame

Barton tried to push on with 10 men and won a couple of free kicks with Captain Mark Riddick picking up a yellow for one of them but didn't threaten the Thame goal, as they were wide of the mark. At the other end Curtis Brown had a shot deflected out for a corner, which was cleared. But the visitors were now on top and with five minutes to play made it two, Mark Riddick picked up the ball on the edge of the box and chipped it over the Barton defence for Dan West to run onto, beat the offside trap and slot the ball past the keeper. Lots of shouts from the home side, but the run was timed to perfection, and that was his work done for the day a good performance and was replaced by Ethan Lack.

As the clocked ticked onto 90 minutes, there were 5 minutes of added time, The home side looked beaten and Thame were enjoying their evening and it wasn't finished another attack down the left found Harry Alexander cutting back in and laying a neat pass to Jack Tutton on the edge of the box in a central position he calmly side footed the ball past the keeper into the bottom right hand corner a lovely finish. And finally to put the icing on the cake Curtis Brown got on the score sheet a shot from the edge of the box on the left, beat the keeper and rebounded into the net off of the far post. It was a job well done and without doubt the best performance of the season against a good Barton team who had only lost once this season. Every player put in a shift today and fully deserved the win.

Next up we welcome Hitchin Town to the ASM this Saturday, 15:00 kick off.

Goals
Lance Williams (66 minutes)
Dan West (85 minutes)
Jack Tutton (92minutes)
Curtis Brown (95 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Jonny Pettitt
2 Abu Khan
3 Callum Hall
4 Fin Murray
5 Luke Tingey
6 Mark Riddick (Captain)
7 Greg Hackett
8 Jack Tutton
9 Lance Williams (Curtis Brown 71 minutes)
10 Dan West (Ethan Lack 81 minutes)
11 Jenson Wright (Harry Alexander 71 minutes)

Substitutes

12 Harry Alexander
14 Tyrae Njogu
15 Curtis Brown
16 Ethan Lack
17 Pelumi Maxwell

Attendance 109