It was game week 32 in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One as Thame United welcomed an in form Beaconsfield Town to The ASM Stadium, this was the third meeting of the two teams this season, back in August Thame knocked Beaconsfield out of the FA Cup with a 5 - 0 victory at The ASM Stadium. The two teams met in the league in November, with Thame coming away with a 1 - 0 victory with a late Curtis Brown goal, after the home side dominated the match. Both teams were in midweek action in their respective County Cup Semi Final’s, Beaconsfield succumbed to a late winner to loose to Flackwell Heath, while Thame progressed to their third consecutive final beating Oxford City on penalties. Manager Ben Williams made one change to the last league starting eleven against Aylesbury United with Dan West replacing Ethan Lack, who reverted to the bench.

Thame won the toss and decided to play with the sun behind them in the first half kicking from left to right, with Beaonsfield having the advantage of the wind behind them. It was a slow start for the home side with the visitors taken the initiative and penning Thame back, it was a dominant first 20 minutes for Beaconsfield with more possession but without really creating a meaningful attempt on goal, but the home side were struggling to get the ball out of their own half with the wind causing problems. Beaconsfield had the first real chance of the half on 30 minutes, with a free kick tipped over the bar by keeper Matty Crowther, who was then called into action to make another save a couple of minutes later. The Thame keeper was finding it difficult to get the ball clear from goal kicks as the wind was holding the ball up, allowing Beacosnfield to continue to push forward.

It wasn’t long before the visitors took a deserved lead, on 36 minutes, a break on the right hand side, saw the Beaconsfield winger cut the ball back, it was picked up on the edge of the box and laid back to former Thame player Matty Hartiot, who’s left footed shot from outside the box found the bottom left hand corner, with keeper Crowther well beaten. No more than the visitors deserved and it could have been more a few minutes later, after winning a corner the ball bounced across the six yard box, falling to the big centre forward, but didn't make a good contact on the ball and keeper Crowther made the save. Just before half time, full back Oscar Lucey went down after a tackle and was forced off to be substituted by Josh Stranks. The half time whistle blew, with Beaconsfield 1 - 0 up and good value for their lead, not a great first half for the home side and a big half time team talk needed from the manager.

Thame made a half time substitute with Leo Galpin replacing Curtis Brown, who had earlier been booked and had a difficult opening half against the visitors left winger. Lewis Thorne switched to right back with Galpin moving to centre back. It looked as though Beaconsfield had adapted to playing into the wind and continued where they left off in the first half pushing the home side back creating a couple of half chances, and a good save from Crowther from a corner. Greg Hackett then had Thames best chance of the match so far, cutting in from the left hand side but his shot was well wide of the post. Josh Stranks then saw his cross flicked on by Ty Deacon but there was no Thame player at the back post with the goal wide open.

Beaconsfield then doubled their lead on 61 minutes, good play on the left saw the ball crossed into the box, a first time shot was blocked only for the ball to be played out to the visitors number 10, who fired. Low shot from the edge of the box and into the corner of the goal. The home side had been poor and deserved to be 2 - 0 down, but like in a number of games this season, things were about to change, Thame won a couple of corners and started to gain more possession, the home side won a free kick just out side the left hand edge of the box near the touchline following a hand ball. Greg Hackett stepped up and curled a free kick over the visitors keeper and defenders in to the far corner. All of a sudden it was game on, Thame made a triple sub with Jefferson Louis, Ethan Lack and Rocko Tamplin replacing Dan West, Lewis Thorne and Brayden Daniel. And within a couple of minutes of the changes Thame were level, a long free kick form inside the Thame half was headed out to the edge of the box, where the ball was met by Ethan Lack, who with his first touch steered the ball into the net, another great strike and two in two for the midfielder.

The tide had turned and it was Thame who were dominating play and looking the more dangerous, with Beaconsfield struggling to get out of their half. Leo Galpin, picked himself up after getting fouled to fire a fierce free kick from 35 yards, which was well saved by the visitors keeper. Jefferson Loius was giving the visitors centre backs a lot to think about with his hold up play, and on 82 minutes managed to head the ball onto the on running Rocko Tamplin who burst into the box, but his shot was saved by the keeper. Another attack on the left saw Gregg Hackett fouled on the edge of the area, he got up to take the free kick. His shot beat the wall and bounced over the diving keepers hands and into the bottom corner, the visitors looked deflated.

Thame were completely on top looking for a fourth with chances for Rocko Tamplin, Leo Galpin, and Ty Deacon with Greg Hackett firing over the bar with the final kick of the game. As good as Beaconsfield were in the first 60 minutes, Thame were far the better side in the final 30, and in the end deserved to take all three points, another comeback victory with great character shown by the players to come back against a good Beaconsfield team, The victory moves the team back into the play off spots after Hadley’s defeat at Flackwell Heath.

Man of the match
Fin Murray

Goals
Greg Hackett (66 minutes)
Ethan Lack (70 minutes)
Greg Hackett 83 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1.Matty Crowther
2.Curtis Brown (Leo Galpin 45 minutes)
3.Oscar Lucey (Josh Stranks 44 minutes)
4.Fin Murray
5.Lewis Thorne (Rocko Tamplin 67 minutes)
6.Mark Riddick
7.Greg Hackett
8.Jack Tutton
9.Ty Deacon
10.Dan West (Ethan Lack 67 minutes)
11.Brayden Daniel (Jefferson Louis 67 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Rocko Tamplin
14.Jefferson Louis
15.Josh Stranks
16.Ethan Lack
17.Leo Galpin

Attendance 105