Thame United were back on the road in the Pitching in Southern League Division One Central, when they travelled to Hollyways Park to take on Beaconsfield Town (The Rams) hoping to continue their ten match unbeaten beaten run. This weekend's meeting saw two of the form sides in the league come together with Thame topping the form table and the Rams sitting in third place, so both teams were full of confidence coming into the game The two teams met back in November at the ASM with an underwhelming performance for the home team saw the Rams come away with a 4 - 1 victory with Zak Fraser-Grante scoring all four goals. Manager Ben Williams was forced to make a change to the starting line up for the first time in four games with top scorer Louis Walsh picking up a knock in training so was sidelined for the game, into the starting line up came Charlie Stow, with Ashley Moake's retuning to the bench.

Thame got the game under way kicking from right to left towards the club house, on an almost perfect day for football, with the 3G surface suiting both sides style of play. The opening exchanges were cagey with Thame sitting deep but hunting in packs to disrupt the Beaconsfield's game.The first shot of the match came form Dan West picking the ball up on the right hand side of the pitch cutting into the middle of the park and shooting just over the bar from a central position just outside the area. Thame were unlucky a minute later a poor defensive pass back put the Rams keeper under pressure just inside his penalty area and a shot came in from Charlie Stow with the keeper saving it, the ball rebounded into the air and the keeper managed to head it away from outside the box only to Mark Riddick who headed it back towards goal and Harry Alexander was just wide with an attempted lob, with the keeper stranded. The opening goal came on 18 minutes, a cross field ball from Jack Tutton found Curtis Brown on the left he drove towards the edge of the box, cut inside and fired a right footed shot at the goal which was parried by the keeper straight into the path of Charlie Stow who knocked the ball into an empty net. Beaconsfield's first attempt came on 25 minutes some good work from the number seven on the right who managed to get a cross into the box where it fell to the number eight Zak Fraser-Grante who controlled the ball but blazed his shot over the bar from the penalty spot.

On 31 minutes the home side won a free kick on the edge of the box in a dangerous position after Fin Murray had brought down the Rams number nine Willialms, who was lining up for a shot, but the free kick was high over the bar and didn't trouble the keeper Crowther. Thame doubled their lead on 34 minutes, a good interception by Curtis Brown on the left hand side allowed the winger to run past the right back into the box and square the ball into the six yard box, where Harry Alexander beat the defender at the near post and placed the ball into the net off of the post.Charlie Stow had another attempt on 36 minutes picking the ball up on the left cutting into the box but his shot was just wide of the far post. Curtis Brown who was enjoying himself up against the homes sides right back had a long range effort just after but his shot was easily saved by the home keeper. The half ended with Thame two goals to the good, with five shots, three on target and had stifled Beaconsfield, who had spent most of the half playing the ball back wards and sideways with only two shots over the bar to show for their efforts, keeper Crowther not having much to do.

The second half kicked off and no surprise the home side had upped their game and within a couple of minutes of the restart blazed another opportunity over the bar, a cross from the left was met by the number 9 Williams but couldn't control is shot. After a short period of pressure Thame got back control of the game and the third goal for the visitors came on 50 minutes, a long throw from Luke Tingey on the right hand side was headed up in the air by Dan West in the six yard box, Captain Mark Riddick was the first to react and as the ball fell in volleyed it into the back of the net from just outside the six yard box. Thame could have increased their lead on 57 minutes, first Curtis Browns free kick from the left hand side was saved by the keeper, then a Beaconsfield clearance from the edge of their own box rebounded off of Charlie Stow and almost looped back over the keepers head. Charlie Stow then ran from the half way line outpacing the Beaconsfield defence, who had lacked in that department all afternoon, he raced into the box but his shot was wide of the far post and out for a goal kick. The home side had another chance on 63 minutes, a cross from an overlapping number 15 George Brough on the left wing was met by the number nine Williams with a free header but there was no control and the ball was over the bar. Meanwhile at the other end a break from Harry Alexander on the right flank into the box, he played the ball to Ethan Lack but his shot was saved by the keeper, and almost immediately had another attempt this time Charlie Stow racing past the defender on the left flank and into the box, but his shot was well saved by the home sides keeper diving to his right to push the ball out for a corner. Thame had another shot on target with Dan West laying the ball off to Curtis Brown on the edge of the box but his shot was straight at the keeper who saved comfortably.

Beaconsfield's first shot on target came on 67 minutes the number seven breaking into the left hand side of the box cutting in side but a low shot was saved by keeper Crowther diving down his right. Thame made their first sub on 68 minutes with Charlie Stow, making way for Lance Williams. It was becoming relatively easy for the visitors to pick their way through a Beaconsfield’s defence who lacked pace. Harry Alexander should have made it four on 72 minutes he raced into the right hand side of the box leaving two defenders behind but his shot was saved by the legs of the keeper. Two minutes later a long throw from the left level with the 18 yard line was met by Dan West but his header was just wide of the right hand post. It was becoming a bit of shooting practice for the visitors, Jack Tutton was next up, a cross from the left was headed out only as far as Tutton on the edge of the box, he controlled the ball then his shot was deflected just over the bar and out for a corner. There was a double substitution for the visitors on 78 minutes Harry Alexander who had been a threat all afternoon on the right and Jack Tutton who had picked up a yellow card were replaced by Adam Smith and Abu Khan, with Ethan Lack switching from right back into midfield. The final Substitute for Thame came on 85 minutes with Ashley Moakes replacing Curtis Brown who had had a good game with two assists to his name. It wasn't until the 89 minute that the home side actually beat the Thame keeper with the number seven Zidan Akers shot from the edge of the box, rebounding of the left hand up right. The visitors wrapped the game up on 90 minutes, with the hosts looking a beaten side, Callum Hall who had worked his socks off all afternoon broke on the left hand side, he played a neat one two with Ethan Lack, picked the ball up ran to the touch line then played the ball into the box to Dan West who was un marked, he had time to tee the ball up and fire it past the keeper, and that wrapped up the game. With four minutes of added time Thame comfortably saw out the game, which in fairness they had dominated from start to finish.

Some might say the home side had an off day, and were missing players, other would say Thame stopped them playing and limited them to just six shots and only one on target. A very good day at the office for a Thame side that now stretched their unbeaten record to eleven games.

Goals
Charlie Stow (18 minutes)
Harry Alexander (34 minutes)
Mark Riddick (50 minutes)
Dan West (90 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Matty Crowther
2 Callum Hall
3 Ethan Lack
4 Fin Murray
5 Luke Tingey
6 Mark Riddick (C)
7 Curtis Brown (Ashley Moakes 85 minutes)
8 Jack Tutton (Abu Khan 78 minutes)
9 Charlie Stow (Lance Williams 68 minutes)
10 Dan West
11 Harry Alexander (Adam Smith 78 minutes)

Substitutes

12 Abu Khan
14 Adam Smith
15 Ashley Moakes
16 Lance Williams