If ever there was a must win game in football, this was it as, Thame United travelled to Lords Builders Merchant Stadium for the first time to take on Leverstock Green in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division one. Both teams needed the points for different reasons, Leverstock were sitting third from bottom and were desperate for the points, mean while Thame needed the points to keep their slim chance of the end of season play offs alive as it was now out of their hands and dependent on other results. Thame were hoping to bounce back from the midweek defeat at Northwood their first in nine outings while Leverstock had won their last two games so confidence was high. Manager Ben Williams came into the game with a number of problems with no less than four players not available for the trip, Dan West and Captain Mark Riddick were not available, while Fin Murray and Tyrone Lewthwaite were injured, it meant a new centre back pairing for the game with Jefferson Louis and Leo Galpin stepping in to play together for the first time. Rock Tamplin came into the squad with only three substitutes named.

The Leverstock pitch had a slope from right to left and there was a wind blowing in the same direction, giving a distinct advantage to the team playing down hill, in the first half that was to be Thame, with Leverstock getting the game underway, the first chance of the game fell to the home side on 9 minutes but Keeper Crowther deals with the ball as the Leverstock striker was in on goal. On 12 minutes Greg Hackett made one of his trade mark runs, on the left but his long range effort is deflected for a corner. A few minutes later Thame win another corner as an attack is broken up and the ball put behind by a Leverstock defender. The home side had their best chance of the half on 20 minutes with the ball falling to their number 9, but his shot is wide of the goal. It was the visitors that were in the ascendency, using the slope and the wind to there advantage, 25 minutes in Curtis Brown is played in on the right but his shot is over the bar. Moments later another good run into the Leverstock box, this time from Ty Deacon earns another corner, but the ball in is cleared. Brayden Daniel was the next Thame player to be in on goal after a break down the middle his shot is wide. On 35 minutes the first and only yellow card of the game was issued to Jefferson Louis and clumsy tackle bringing down the home sides winger on a break away. But the majority of the action was taking place in the Leverstock half and the corner count was rising, with another one won on 44 minutes, but again the delivery wasn’t a good one and was cleared, strangely there was no added time and the referee blew for half time with the scores level, albeit Thame had been the better side they couldn’t test the keeper. While at the other end it had been a relatively quite game for keeper Crowther, with good defensive work from the Thame back four snuffing out any danger.

It was a strange atmosphere at the Lords Builders Merchant Stadium, with the sun shinning, it had a feeling of an end of season game with nothing to play for, with the home support soaking up the sun on the grass while the the majority of the noise came from the Thame away fans with their drum. But that couldn’t be further from the truth with a big second half coming up for both sides. Thame got the second half under way and within minutes almost took the lead. An attack sees the keeper clear the ball, but it’s not a great clearance and it finds Ethan Lack, about 35 yards out in a central position, he fires the ball back over the stranded keeper but it hits the cross bar. On 51 minutes, good interplay from Leverstock sees a shot come in but its comfortably saved by keeper Crowther. Brayden Daniel, goes down with a head injury after a strong challenge, looked a clear foul, but the referee restarted the game with a drop ball. Thame then appealed for a penalty when it appeared Greg Hackett had been taken out with an elbow in the penalty area, but again nothing was given and the play restarted with a drop ball. Leverstock were not having any joy using the slope and wind to their advantage Thame were sitting deep and counter attacking and the foul count was increasing, with the visitors picking up another one about 40 yards out from the home sides goal, Leo Galpin stepped up and his long range shot was just over. Thame made their first and only sub on 69 minutes with Rocko Tamplin replacing Brayden Daniel, who was feeling the effects of the earlier challenge. On 72 minutes Thame took the lead, after a period of pressure a clearance finds Lewis Thorne midway into the Leverstock half on the right, he drives forward and let fire a shot which although on target to a deflection and the ball looped over the keepers head into the goal, on the balance of play no more than Thame had deserved. The visitors continued to push forward looking for the second, Rocko Tamplin was causing the home side defence some problems with his direct running, with further attempt by Leo Galpin, Curtis Brown and Greg Hackett all testing the keeper. While at the other end Leverstock had won a number for corners in the final few minutes, but not threatened the Thame goal. There were 5 added minutes with Thame easily seeing out the game for a well deserved win with a make shift set up.

After the game manager Ben Williams was full of praise for his side after securing the 3 points, "Whatever happens from now on the boys have been brilliant. Today was my favourite performance of the season everything was against us but their spirit and character got us through"

The victory moves Thame unto forth place ahead of Barton on goals scored, however having played a game more than the sides around them its now out of their hands. And next up is a huge game against third place team Flackwell Heath at The ASM Stadium on Saturday 19th April.

Man of the match
Leo Galpin

Goals
Lewis Thorne 72 minutes

Starting Eleven

Matty Crowther GK
Lewis Thorne
Josh Stranks
Leo Galpin
Ethan Lack
Jefferson Louis
Greg Hackett
Jack Tutton
Ty Deacon
Brayden Daniel (Rocko Tamplin 69 minutes)
Curtis Brown

Substitutes
Fin Murry
Rocko Tamplin
Oscar Lucey