Barton Rovers 1 - 3 Thame United

Thame United made the trip to Bedfordshire on Saturday to face Barton Rovers in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central. Manager Ben Williams made two changes to the starting line-up that faced Milton Keynes Irish on the previous Tuesday. Goalkeeper James Callan returned in goal, while George Cleveland came into the starting line-up to replace the unavailable Roger James. Charlie Stow also came into the squad.

On a bright and crisp day, Thame got the game under way, kicking from right to left on a good pitch with a substantial slope. The visitors started the brighter, attacking the home side down both wings and should have taken the lead after six minutes when a ball through the middle of the Barton defence was missed by one of the defenders and ran kindly for Harry Alexander. He ran in on goal and, as the goalkeeper advanced, placed his left-footed shot just wide of the left-hand post.

Thame had another chance after 15 minutes following a free kick on the right. Jack Tutton played a short pass to Harry Alexander, who laid the ball back. Tutton took the shot, but it went over the bar. Ed Daffern had a chance to double Thame’s lead on the stroke of half-time. Following another attack down the right wing, he drove into the box and could have taken a shot, but decided to square the ball to George Cleveland on the edge of the six-yard box. However, he was challenged by a defender and could not get a clean shot away. The ball ran out for a goal kick. The half ended with Thame 1–0 ahead and good value for their lead with the visitors managing to limit Barton to just six shots, with only three on target, but all were comfortable saves for goalkeeper Callan.

The second half got under way with the visitors continuing to put the home team under pressure and within two minutes, Thame scored their second. After winning the ball and attacking down the left, it was played to Jack Tutton on the left-hand edge of the box. He jinked past two defenders before lifting a right-footed shot over the goalkeeper and into the top-right corner of the goal. It was a fantastic strike from the number eight. Barton had a chance in the 55th minute following a break down the right. The ball was crossed into the box and cleared by the Thame defence, but only as far as the home side’s number 11, whose first-time shot went straight at goalkeeper Callan.

Barton opened their account after 60 minutes. A long, route-one ball was played into the right-hand side of the Thame half. The Thame defence failed to control it, allowing number eight Jack Sayell to pounce on the ball and run in on goal. His shot rebounded off goalkeeper Callan and straight back to him, and he had an easy tap-in. The goal sparked the home side, who enjoyed the majority of possession for a period. However, the Thame back four of Callum Hall, Dan West, Fin Murray and Josh Strank's did extremely well to break up the attacks and prevent any pressure on goalkeeper Callan. Captain Mark Riddick also played well in the holding midfield role, winning most of his aerial challenges.

Curtis Brown replaced goalscorer Ed Daffern after 68 minutes. The game then went into a bit of a lull, with neither team creating any chances and Thame looking in control of the game. Charlie Stow came on for George Cleveland after 81 minutes, and Jack Tutton made way for Hayden Beadle after 86 minutes. Thame made the game secure after 89 minutes, with leading scorer Harry Alexander wrapping up the points. After some good work from Curtis Brown, who won the ball just outside the box, he played a lovely pass between the centre-back and left-back for Alexander to run onto on the right-hand side of the box. Alexander lifted a first-time, left-footed shot over the goalkeeper and into the left-hand side of the net.
The referee added five minutes at the end of the 90, with Thame making their final substitution in the 91st minute. Charlie Bacon replaced Harry Alexander. The visitors comfortably saw out the final few minutes to record a well-deserved victory and earn another three points.

Attendance 202

Goals
Ed Daffern (37 minutes)
Jack Tutton (47 minutes)
Harry Alexander (89 minutes)

Team
1. James Callan
2. Callum Hall
3. Josh Stranks
4. Finn Murray
5. Ethan Lack
6. Mark Riddick (C)
7. Ed Daffern (Curtis Brown 68 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton (Hayden Beadle 86 minutes)
9. George Cleveland(Charlie Stow 81 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Harry Alexander (Charlie Bacon 91 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Charlie Stow
14.Charlie Bacon
15.Curtis Brown
16.Hayden Beadle