Thame United are were back at home on Tuesday evening in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One, as Hadley FC were the visitors to The ASM Stadium. This game was due to be played on 29 November at the ASM but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, then again in February was postponed due to another waterlogged pitch. The two teams met at the start of September on the back of Thame not winning a game in August it became four losses on the trot after going down 4 - 3. A game in which Thame didn’t help themselves giving away an injury time goal in the first half then two early second half goals to go 4 - 1 behind and a strong finish wasn’t enough to get anything out of the game. The two teams went into this fixture with differing fortunes in recent weeks, Thame five games unbeaten while Hadley were without a win in six games. Manager Ben Williams kept the same starting line up and bench that secured victory over Rayners Lane on Saturday, with Fin Murray still missing due to concussion protocols.

It was a cold night at the ASM and a very strong wind blowing across the pitch from goal mouth to goal mouth meant there was a strong wind chill factor as well. Hadley got the game underway kicking towards the ring road end into the wind. There were few chances for either team in the opening half the high winds causing lots of problems and the game would ultimately be decided on who could adapt to the conditions. The first action of the half came on 4 minutes with Dan West taking a knock in the face after going in for a challenge, there was a delay as he received treatment for a facial injury. The first chance fell to Thame on 11 minutes as a corner from the left was whipped into the box by Jack Tutton and it caught the wind and hit the crossbar. It bounced back into the six yard box but Thame couldn’t make anything of the rebound. Brayden Daniel received the first booking of the game after bringing down a Hadley forward on the edge of the box as he raced in on goal, the resultant free kick was on target but keeper Crowther pushed the shot over the bar for a corner. A few minutes later, Hadley could have taken the lead from a corner and a free header by the centre back who made good contact but the ball flew over the bar.

Captain Mark Riddick was the second Thame player yellow carded after a late tackle on a Hadley player. Dan West had a chance from a corner but his back post header was wide of the post after he had created a good position for himself Another chance fell to the visitors when a long ball into the box and a Hadley player just could get a touch on the ball and keeper Crowther gather the ball. Louis Walsh was then almost played through in a central position but just couldnt get onto the ball and the keeper managed to gather. The last chance of the half fell to Jack Tutton who had a free kick on the edge of the box after Ethan Lack was pulled back, his shot was over the bar. The half had become quite fragmented with lots of stoppages with players going down and the referee added almost 8 minutes of injury time. Neither team had managed to get the better of the conditions and the half ended goaless and to make it worse there was heavy rain falling.

The first action of the second half saw a Hadley break into the box on the left hand side, the ball was crossed back, with keeper Crowther pushing the ball out only to fall to a Hadley player but his shot was blocked by Mark Rissick out for a corner, the home side hit back with a chance of their own Ethan Lack playing a ball back to Curtis Brown on the edge of the area but his shot was easily saved by the keeper. Jack Tutton then had the next chance a right footed shot from the left hand corner of the box, but straight at the keeper. As the half went on it was clear that the home side were getting on top in the game and had learnt how to cope playing into the head wind and were being helped by a Hadley team that were playing such a high line there was plenty of space in behind them.

On 60 minutes the referee brandished a red card for Thame Assistant Manager Ben Johnson after being called over by the Assistant Referee for something he had said to him, questioning an offside call. The home side got the break thorugh on 61 minutes Ethan lack picking up the ball in his own centre circle and playing a through ball in between the Hadley Centre backs, Louis Walsh was first to react and ran in on goal, as he got to the edge of the D, his shot was pushed out by the advancing keeper only as far as Harry Alexander who was following in, and had an easy tap into an empty net for the opening goal. Harry Alexander then found himself played in on goal, but his shot was saved by the keeper. It was deja vu 12 minutes later, this time Jack Tutton threading a ball in between the Hadley defence for Louis Walsh to run onto, as the keeper advanced he took his time and picked his spot, placing the ball passed the keeper for Thame's second. The hosts made their first substation on 79 minutes with Greg Hackett replacing the excellent Jack Tutton By now the home side were attacking at will and the Hadley side had little answer to the pace of Louis Walsh, Brayden Daniel, Harry Alexander and Greg Hacket, with Tutton being able to pick out their runs, Lance Williams and Abu Khan replaced Curtis Brown and Louis Walsh on 83 minutes .Meanwhile the defence of Curtis Brown, Luke Tingey, Dan West and Callum Hall were able to deal with lots of long balls comfortably with the visitors reduced to a long range shot saved by keeper Crowther and a shot in injury time that just missed the post. There was 4 minutes of added time which Thame saw out to earn a value win in their play off push and throughly deserved the three points on a dominant second half performance, the result moves Thame upto fourth in the table, as they now look forward to the visit of inform Ware to the ASM on Saturday.

Goals
Harry Alexander (61 minutes)
Louis Walsh (72 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Matty Crowther
2 Callum Hall
3 Curtis Brown (Abu Khan 82 minutes)
4 Ethan Lack (
5 Luke Tingey
6 Mark Riddick (C)
7 Brayden Daniel
8 Jack Tutton Greg Hackett 79 minutes)
9 Louis Walsh (Lance Williams 82 minutes)
10 Dan West
11 Harry Alexander

Substitutes

12 Lance Williams
14 Abu Khan
15 Greg Hackett
16 Leo Galpin
17 Charlie Stow

Attendance 77