Potters Bar 2 - 3 Thame United

Thame United were on their travels as they headed to Hertfordshire for the first ever competitive meeting against Potters Bar, in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central. Manager Ben Williams made two changes from the last time out agains Welwyn Garden City, Ethan Lack and Ed Daffern coming into the starting eleven to replace Curtis Brown and Greg Hackett who was missing from the squad due to injury. Onto the bench for the first time was new signing George Cleveland who was signed early in the week from Aylesbury United.

It was a miserable day in Hertfordshire with driving rain from the moment the team arrived and a strong wind blowing from one goal to the other, which meant the ball was zipping around on the 3G surface. Thame got the game under way kicking from left to right with the wind and rain behind them and there was almost an instant impact Roger James passing to Jack Tutton direct from the kick offwho from the edge of the Centre circle tried an audacious shot which had the keeper scrambling back but the ball just went over the bar it would've been a tremendous start after a couple of seconds. With four minutes gone, Roger James picked up the ball and drove into the box on the right hand side and put a low ball across the six yard line, but there's nobody there to meet the ball and it goes out for a throw on the other side. At the other end a couple of minutes later the host break on the right-hand side; a left-footage shot is just wide of the post. Then back at the Potters Bar end Captain Mark Riddick won the ball play ball in the centre of the home sides half he passed to Harry Alexandra who played a neat pass inside to Jack Tutton on the edge of the box on the left, but his shot was straight at the keeper and saved. Dan West went into the referee book after winning the ball in a challenge high in the Thame half but his foot comes down and catches a Potters Bar player, who fell to the floor, clearly accidental but some how the referee decides its worthy of a yellow card.

It was developing into end to end game, on 22 minutes the visitors won a corner on the left, Jack Tuttons cross into the box was met by Mark Riddick who got a head on the ball but it went wide of the right hand upright. Potters bar should have taken the lead on 29 minutes a ball into the box from the right-hand side was met by the Potters Bar number 10; he hooks the ball over the advancing keeper; and the number nine, with an open goal, heads over the bar. Callum Hall with a another deep run into the host half on 34 minutes managed to crosses the ball but its clear by a Potters Bar defender but only as far on Harry Alexander on the edge of the are clear to but his shot over the bar The home side took the lead on 31 minutes Dan West looked like he had been caught in the face by an arm he went down and Potters Bar broke on the right, the referee then stopped play for a head injury but didn't award a free kick to Thame instead he asked the centre back to leave the pitch for one minutes as the new law states after receiving treatment and gave a drop ball to the host who worked the ball into the Thame box where it was picked up by new signing Noah Mosanya who hooked the ball into the left had side of the net. Thame equalised on 39 minutes , The ball is played to Roger James on the left-hand side he takes the ball towards the edge of the box cuts back inside and from just outside the corner of the 18 yard box curls a right footed shot into the top corner with the keeper beaten, it was a superb strike from the Thame number 9. Three minutes later Thame were in front as another attack on the right breaks down but the visitors win the ball back and it falls to Harry Alexandra he played it to Ed Daffern on the left edge of the 18 yard box, who laid theball back to Jack Tutton on the edge of the D. He jinxed inside and hit a beautiful left footed shot into the right hand side of the goal with the keeper had no chance of getting to it. As the half drew to a close the dangerous right-winger picks up the ball; its played in on the right-hand side; and takes it to the goal line, but his cross, flashes across the Thames box with the incoming striker unable to get a touch on the ball. The half ended with the visitors good value for the 2 - 1 lead

The second half got under way, with the rain and wind heavy and showing no signs of letting up, the most were on the front foot looking for an equaliser, with two early chances after winning a throwing on the left-hand side the ball is launched into the box and headed clear only as far as the number three who’s shot on the edge of the 18 yard area is saved by keeper Calum, Potters Bar immediately win the ball back from the clearance and the number nine battles for the ball and a long range shot is wide of the goal. The visitors score again on 50 minutes after a Potters Bar attack broke down in the Thame box, the ball was cleared up to Roger James who picked the ball up on the half way line and was one on one to the host right back, he out did him for pace ran in on the left into the box and fired a shot passed the keeper the ball nestling into the right hand side of the net. The home side cam back and one a series of corners and on 57 minutes the hosts win another corner on the right hand side, the ball is floated into the box. It's headed out by a Thame defender but only finds but only finds the hosts number seven who was unmarked at the far post but his shot is over the bar Thame created another chance on 61 minutes with a throw from Josh Stranks on the left-hand side in the Potters Bar half is flicked on by Captain Mark Riddick the ball was cleared back out to him. He played in Harry Alexander who laid the ball off to Jack Tutton on the edge of the box in a similar position to his first goal, but his shot is wider of the right hand post. Thame made their first substitution on 68 minutes with new signing George Cleveland replacing Ed Daffern. Time were causing the host all sorts of problems on the right hand side with Callum Hall a constant threat and on 76 minutes another driving run towards the edge of the box culminates into a cross across the face of the goal whihc is picked up by substitute George Cleveland with his back to goal, he swivels but his shot is wide of the left-hand post.

Potters bar continued to threaten and came close with a ball played out to the left-hand side of the box and the left winger cutting in and let a right footed shot fly in but it's just wider the goal with keeper Callen stretching to meet the ball.

Roger James hand another break on the left-hand side running into the edge of the 18 yard box but his shot is saved and goes out for a corner to Thame from the corner the hosts win the ball back another shot in goal is saved by the keeper. Roger James was having a good day another shot from him goes over the bar. The host started to throw everything forward and the continuous pressure paid off with a goal bacon 84 minutes the ball coming from the right hand side played into the box. It's bounced around with the visitors failing to clear it can't and the number 11 Quadri with a left footed shot from the six yard line into the left-hand side of the goal. Thame made a double substation with Charlie Bacon and Hayden Beadle replacing Harry Alexander and Jack Tutton who had earlier been booked for a robust challenge. The visitors continued to look dangerous as the minutes ticked on and another deliver from Caluum into the box, flashed across the goal with Mark Riddick just unable to get a touch on the ball at the far post. On the other wing Roger James won the ball back of the right back and his cross into the box was put behind for a corner, the ball was cleared and Potters Bar broke, with Fin Murray earning a yellow card for holding onto the attacking Potters Bar player. As the 90 minutes approached there were four minutes added at the end of the game Potters bar had one last chance of the corner from the left which the home keeper came up, the ball was swung in but headed over the bar Thame comfortably sore out the last few minutes of the game to come away with a thoroughly deserved 32 victory and pretty much controlled the second half of the game to earn another victory against a side in the top for in five days.

Attendance 98

Goals
Roger James (42 minutes)
Jack Tutton (38, 50 minutes)

Team
1. James Callan
2. Callum Hall
3. Josh Stranks
4. Finn Murray
5. Ethan Lack
6. Mark Riddick (C)
7. Ed Daffern (George Cleveland 68 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton (Hayden Beadle 85 minutes)
9. Roger James
10.Dan West (Charlie Bacon 85 minutes)
11.Harry Alexander

Substitutes
12.George Cleveland
14.Charlie Bacon
15.Curtis Brown
16.Aydin Ulas
17.Hayden Beadle