The Red Kites made the trip to Bedfordshire today to take on Barton Rovers in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One. There were a number of changes from the last time out at Cirencester. Pelumi Maxwell, replaced Eric Mafuta, Jordan Jenkins returned from injury replacing Ollie Hogg who was still struggling from the knock picked up in the last game and up front Harry Alexander made his first start of the season with Alfie Alexander dropping to the bench.

Barton started the game brightly and kicking down hill in the first half were dangerous breaking on the flanks a number times in the opening 20 minutes they exposed Thames right hand side and created chances to take the lead but good goal keeping and good fortune kept the scores level. At this point the home team were on top, but the best chance of the opening exchanges fell to Harry Alexander who intercepted a poor clearance from the keeper and his shot was just tipped over the bar. The momentum of the game changed a few minutes later, a through ball found Wiktor Malowkoski in a central position he ran through and his shot from just outside the box, took a deflection which wrong footed the keeper and Thame were in front. 3 minutes later it was 2, Harry Williams picked up the ball on the Thame right hand side drove into the box and was clipped from behind and the referee awarded a penalty. Eitel Goueth stepped up and slotted the ball to the keepers left. At this point the away side were dominating the game and it got worse for the home team on 34 minutes when their keeper was injured and had to be substituted, with no replacement keeper on the bench one of the Bartons substitute defenders took the keeper gloves. In injury time another injury for the home team saw one of their Centre Backs forced off with an injury. The half ended with Thame on top leading 0-2 with a number of chances to score more. With Barton having used all of their substitutes.

The second half began with the home side looking much more dangerous and had the ball in the net early on only to be ruled out for a hand ball in the build up. Thame were forced back and struggled to get the ball out, relying on the counter attack and giving the ball away too easily and were unable to trouble the stand in keeper. Harry Williams and Harry Alexander were replaced by Alfie Anderson and Ezra Forde. Barton continued to press and were rewarded with 15 minutes to go, an attack on the right hand side saw a Barton player take the ball into the box and cross to find an unmarked player in the six yard box who tapped into an empty net. At this point the home team were completely on top and Thame had man of the match Keeper Fred Chapman to thank for keeping the opposition out with a number of fine saves. However as the clocked ticket into the 90th minute another attack and shot deflected off of a Thames players hand and the referee awarded a penalty, which was slotted home sending the keeper the wrong way. 7 minutes of injury time saw the home team continue to press for the winner, but Thame held out and the final score ended in a 2 - 2 draw. A hard earned point on the road for this young side but after the first half performance disappointment not to be going away with all three. Next up a home Oxfordshire derby against Kidlington on Bank Holiday Monday ant the ASM Stadium, kick off 3pm.