Thame United were back at the ASM stadium this weekend as they welcomed Barton Rovers to the ASM in the Pitching in Southern League Division One Central. This season the two teams met back in October for a midweek match under the lights, with Thame putting in arguably one of their best performances of the season coming away with a 0 - 4 victory, inflicting Bartons first home defeat of the season. As we go into this game the two teams are separated in the league by one place and two points with Barton in sixth place and Thame in seventh place but Thame have three games in hand over the visitors. Manager Ben Williams welcomed back Captain Mark Riddick into the side after serving his one match suspension last week and Harry Alexander who had recovered from a knock and replaced Charlie Stow, Ethan Lack replaced Abu Khan at right back who dropped to the bench, also on the bench was new signing and former Thame player Adam Smith. A precautionary pitch inspection was carried out at 10.30 that morning due to the heavy rain the night before and was passed so the game could go on.

Thame got the game under way kicking from right to left in the first half. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors, with number 9 Albie Hall, the leagues leading goalscorer picking up the ball driving at the middle of the Thame defence, his shot was deflected out to the number 7 on the left, with his shot being well saved by keeper Crowther. Moments later the number 7 had another chance from a long throw from the left, the ball flicked on and his shot was deflected out for a corner on the left hand side. Thame nearly opened the scoring on 24 minutes, Harry Alexander playing the ball over the top of the Barton left back, to find Louis Walsh who’s shot past the advancing keeper looked to be going in but was cleared off the line only as far has Harry Alexander on the right and side, his chip back into the box was met by Dan West but the ball went over the bar for a goal kick.

Dan West then picked up the first yellow card of the game with a late tackle on the Barton number 2, with the Barton players unhappy with the challenge. The visitors were trying to use their height advantage and their tactics from free kicks and throw ins was to launch the ball into the box at every opportunity, on 29 minutes another throw from the right was launched into the box and cleared by a Thame defender but the ball fell to the number 7 again who’s first time volley was well saved by keeper Crowther. The visitors had dominated the opening half an hour, with the home sides first attempt coming on 30 minutes a free kick on the right hand side was floated in from Jack Tutton, and was met by Dan West but couldn't get any power on the header and it looped up for the keeper to make a comfortable save. A couple of minutes later Harry Alexander played Jack Tutton into the box on the right hand side but a last ditch tackle prevented Tutton from getting the shot away.

Thame were growing into the game and were seeing the lions share of the ball, Curtis Brown had the next chance on 34 minutes after picking up the ball on the left hand side and letting go a shot from the edge of the area, but was straight at the keeper and saved. The home side had another chance on 41 minutes, Curtis Brown setting up Harry Alexander on the left hand side of the box, but his first time shot was comfortably saved by the Hadley keeper. Jack Tutton then had a shot deflected for a corner, with the final chance of the game falling to Harry Alexander after Dan West had played the ball back into the box from the right hand, but his shot was cleared off of the line by a Barton defender with the keeper beaten. After a strong start from the visitors, Thame came back into the game and arguably had the better of the chances, but it was all square at half time.

Barton got the second half under way, and had the first chance two minutes in with a 40 yard shot going a long way over the bar. Thame had to make their first substitute on 51 minutes after Callum Hall was injured in a clash with the Barton number 11, it had been good battle between the two of them all afternoon, he was replaced by Abu Khan. The home sides first chance came on on 57 minutes, with Curtis Brown picking the ball up on the left hand side cutting in onto his right foot and firing a shot just over the bar from the edge of the eighteen yard line. Shortly after Harry Alexander had another chance but fired over the bar after some good play by Jack Tutton who laid the ball off for the shot. Against the run of play on 61 minutes the visitors took the lead, after turning defence into attack. Thame lost the ball deep in the Barton half, a long ball onto the left flank was picked up by the number 9, he drove to the touch line and crossed the ball which beat keeper Crowther and rolled across the six yard line for an easy tap in for the number 11 Seale to tap in. Back at the other end Thame had won a free kick on the right hand side, Harry Alexander stepped up but his shot come cross was saved by the keeper. Charlie Stow was Thame's second substitute of the game replacing Curtis Brown on 63 minutes.

Thame were level on 69 minutes and it was no more than they deserved, Luke Tingey took a throw in deep into the Barton half on the left hand side, instead of playing a long ball into the box he took a short throw to Abu Khan, who wasn't marked. He moved towards the box and delivered the ball into the box a number of players went up to try and head the ball on the penalty spot but all missed the ball it when over them and was deflected into the net by a Barton defender off of the keeper, with the goal being attributed to Khan. A few minutes later the visitor almost re-took the lead, a long ball down the left flank was picked up by number 9 Albie Hall he beat the full back, ran in on goal but his shot went into the side netting. There was another chance for the number 9 a minute later, the ball played into the right hand side of the box to run onto but his touch took him a little to wide and his shot was saved by keeper Crowther at the near post.

Fin Murray picked up a yellow card after pulling back a Barton player and stopping a promising attack, shortly after he was replaced by Leo Galpin. The game was becoming an end to end encounter, with Barton winning a free kick which was hit into the wall and Thame counter attacking only for Harry Alexanders shot to be saved by the visitors keeper. The rain was falling heavily and making an already difficult pitch to play on even worse. Then after another Barton corner was cleared Louis Walsh broke into the Barton half and was one on one with a defender who managed to get a last ditch tackle in on the edge of the box. Captain Mark Riddick then flicked on an Ethan Lack cross from the edge of the area but it went just wide. Adam Smith made his Thame debut on 86 minutes replacing Dan West and slotting into the left wing position. As the clocked into the second of eight added minutes another chance fell to the home side, Thame won a throw in deep into the Barton half, which Luke Tingey launched into the box, a flick on fell to Harry Alexander on the edge of the box, he controlled the ball but his shot was over the bar. Charlie Stow then had the last chance of the match after being played into the box but his shot was over the bar.

With the 8 minutes of added time up the referee blew the final whistle it had been an entertaining and hard fought match with a draw probably a fair result. Thame move onto play Hadley at home on Tuesday night, before an away trip to London Lions on the Saturday.

Goals

Abu Khan (69 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Matty Crowther
2 Callum Hall (Abu Khan 51 Minutes)
3 Ethan Lack
4 Fin Murray (Leo Galpin 82 minutes)
5 Luke Tingey
6 Mark Riddick (C)
7 Jack Tutton
8 Curtis Brown (Charlie Stow 63 minutes)
9 Louis Walsh
10 Dan West (Adam Smith 86 minutes)
11 Harry Alexander

Substitutes

12 Leo Galpin
14 Adam Smith
15 Charlie Stow
16 Lance Williams
17 Abu Khan

Attendance 127