It was a high stakes game at the Fred Veneer Stadium in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division one as Thame United visited the current in form team in Leighton Town, who were currently on a run of 9 wins on the bounce and just picked up the team of the month for March, while Thame were also on a decent run of form 9 unbeaten, and the Tuesday night win for Thame over Enfield extended the gap over Leighton to 7 points, with Thame sitting two places above them in the table, so this was an important game for both teams in the season run in and play off ambitions. Manager Ben Williams was able to field the same starting eleven and bench for forth consecutive match. The sun was shinning and not a cloud in the sky, but there was also a strong wind blowing down the pitch from the club house end, along with a slight slope in the same direction there was an advantage to kick that way albeit into the sun.

Leighton started the match kicking down hill with the wind behind them in the first half in front of over 500 fans, who were enjoying the afternoon sun. It was the home side who had the first chance of the game on 6 minutes, working the ball through the midfield to create a chance but the shot goes wide. It was an even first 15 minutes lot of work in the middle of the park but chances had been limited for both teams. Leighton started to gain a bit of momentum and were unlucky not to break the deadlock on 30 minutes a break on the left saw the ball crossed into the box where its met by the Leighton number 10 who’s volley was over the bar. There was then a lengthy stoppage for a head injury to Brayden Daniel who went down after a challenge from a Leighton player, he left the pitch and was off for a few minutes whilst the physio checked he had not suffered concussion. The home side were seeing the lions share of possession and on 28 minutes they won a corner, the delivery was a good one and bounced off of the cross bar and out. A few minutes later from another corner the number 6 heads over and another shot is wide of the mark. As the game moved into the final few minutes of the half the referee issues the first yellow card of the match for a Leighton player, for a poor tackle, its so far been a bad tempered affair and surprised its taken this long to produce a card. The home side questioning almost every decision from the officials and making it difficult for them. There were two minutes of added time at the end of the half and against the run of play, Thame won a free kick in the centre circle in the Leighton half, Dan West floated the ball into the penalty area where Ty Deacon rose first to the ball and headed the ball towards goals, where Captain Mark Riddick ran in on goal un marked and poked the ball past the advancing keeper from 6 yards out. The crowd and home team players were stunned as it was Thames first clear cut opportunity, it was also a land mark goal for Thame, their 100th goal of the season in all competitions. Almost immediately after the restart the referee blew for the end of the half, with Thame in the lead.

The second half got under way with Thame having the advantage of the wind behind them and kicking down the slope, but it was the home side were fast out of the blocks, pinning Thame back in their own half and were utilising the left wing as an attacking opportunity to force the visitors back. It wasn't long before Leighton had the equaliser, an attack down the left flank was broken up and it looked like the danger had been cleared, but instead of clearing upfield, Thame tried to play the ball out dribbling across the edge of the box, where Leighton won the ball back and it fell to the number 2, who fires a shot into the top right hand corner past Keeper Crowther, It was a poor goal for the visitors to concern when there was no real danger. Thame came back on 58 minutes Jack Tutton picks up the ball on the edge of the area drives through on goal, but his shot is blocked, at the other end keeper Crowther makes a good save from a cross come shot and pushes it out for a corner The visitors make their first substitutes on 63 minutes with, Braden Daniel and Ty Deacons, replaced by Jefferson Louis and Tyrone Lewthwaite. On 72 minutes one of the Leighton Management team goes into the referees book for something said, this was picked up by the Assistant referee. Thame make their third sub on 75 minutes Greg Hackett off replaced by Curtis Brown. Jefferson had a diving header fly past the post but the lines man flagged for a narrow off side.The home side were finding it difficult to create anything has the half went on but did have a break on 78 minutes, with a cross from the right going straight across the Thame box with knownone able to get on the end of it.

The referee had added 5 minutes to the end of the 90, and it was Thame who were to have the last laugh, Curtis Brown, breaks on the right hand side puts the cross into the box, only for it to take a defection and guide it past the keeper, there were wild celebrations from the Thame players on the pitch and the bench, Leighton tried to come back but Dan West who had been outstanding at Centre half all afternoon with another excellence clearance to break up the homes sides final attack and Thame saw out the final few minutes. As the final whistle blew, there was a confrontation between both sets of players as tensions boiled over in what had been a bad tempered encounter. However at the end of the day, Thame came with a game plan which was executed to perfection the home side creating very little in the second half. Thame taking away a valuable 3 points in their push for the play offs, and open the gap between themselves and Leighton to 10 points. Next up is another midweek game as we travel to Northwood on Tuesday night.

Man of the match
Dan West

Goals
Mark Riddick 45 minutes
Own Goal 90 +1 minutes

Starting Eleven

1.Matty Crowther
2.Lewis Thorn
3.Josh Stranks
4.Fin Murray
5.Ethan Lack
6.Mark Riddick
7.Greg Hackett (Curtis Brown 77 minutes|)
8.Jack Tutton
9.Ty Deacon (Jefferson Louis 64 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Brayden Daniel (Tyrone Lewthwaite 64 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Tyrone Lewthwaite
14.Jefferson Louis
15.Oscar Lucey
16.Leo Galpin
17.Curtis Brown

Attendance 547