Thame United were back in action in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One, at The ASM Stadium for the last time this year with the visit of Leighton Town. The two teams have only met four times in recent years, with Thame yet to register a win against the Bedfordshire side. After Tuesday successful victory against Leverstock Green Manager Ben Williams stuck with the same eleven who started the match, with the only absenteeism Ollie Hogg who was suspended. As the players were warming up the heavens opened and there was an unexpected torrential downpour. The players retreated to the dressing room while the officials inspected the pitch whichwas already saturated, luckily the rain stopped about ten minutes before kick off and the referee deemed the pitch ok to play.

Thame started the game off kicking from right to left into a strong head wind, the visitors had the first chance of the match with a shot from a corner well saved by keeper Crowther, at the other end a break from Dan West saw his cross from the right cleared for a corner, it was end to end in the opening ten minutes. Mark Riddick then had a great chance to open the scoring but his headed from a corner was wide of the target. Leighton then had another chance but another good save from keeper Crowther prevented the visitors taking the lead. As the half progressed Greg Hackett was getting a lot of joy on the right hand side and causing the full back a few issues with his direct running and another break on the left saw the ball crossed into the box, where Jack Tutton connected with the ball could only put his shot over the bar. Another chance fell to the home side shortly after another break on the left hand side this time from Brayden Daniel, he pulled the ball back for Harry Alexander just on the edge of the box but his shot was over the bar.

Thame should have taken the lead on 27 minutes, Brayden Daniel latches onto a ball on the right hand side as he drove into the box he rounded the advancing keeper but his goal bound shot was cleared by a Leighton defended. Harry Alexander then had another shot blocked by a Leighton defender. At the other end Leighton had a penalty shout when one of their forwards went down under a challenge but the referee waved it away. The visitors finished the half strongly with keeper Crowther being called on to make a couple of saves, before another penalty shout was waved away just before the half time whistle. A very competitive half in difficult conditions, with Thame just edging on the better chances created.

Leighton got the second half under way and immediately put Thame under pressure winning two quick corners, and a free kick, but didnt threaten the home sides goal. At the other end a speculative long range shot from Jack Tutton was over the bar, although Leighton had started the half strongly neither side had created a decent chance. Brayden Daniel had a header over the bar, while Leighton won another corner but was cleared. Then on 61 minutes Leighton were down to ten men, the ball was played down the Leightons left hand side for the number 11, he picked up the ball, but was intercepted by Jack Tutton who tackled the visitors forward. Although the linesman had flagged for offside the number 11 reacted to the tackle and raised both hands to the Thame number 6 catching him in the face. The referee had no hesitation in producing a straight red card and Leighton were down to ten men. Thame made their first substitute with Curtis Brown replacing Greg Hackett, followed by Tom McElroy replacing Harry Alexander of 72 minutes.

The home side then saw a shot by Jack Tutton parried by the keeper but the follow up from Dan West was offside, Curtis Brown and Tom McElroy then had chances but didn't trouble the Leighton goal. Its fair to say that Leighton once adjusted to going down to 10 men were the better side winning the second ball and were looking dangerous from a number of corners and pushing Thame back, leaving the home side to play on the counter. Thame made their third substitute with Hayden Beadle replacing Jack Tutton on 80 minutes. But it was the home side that got the break through on 88 minutes, a Leighton goal kick was won by Dan West who’s header fell to Jefferson Louis who neatly flicked the ball into the path of Tom McElroy, he drover into the box, the squared the ball back for the on running Hayden Beadle on the right hand side of the box, his first time shot was heading for the top left hand corner but the shot took a slight deflection off of a Leighton defender to divert the ball passed the keeper, slightly against the run of play Thame had the lead. The visitors came back strongly and with 6 minutes of added time had two good chances to equalise, firstly a shot from the right side just went past the post and in the last minute after winning a corner a header hit the base of the post before Thame cleared. The referee blew the final whistle with Thame coming out on top, the win moves the side back into the play off places ahead of Hadley who lost and equal on 39 points with Flackwell Heath and Barton Rovers.

We now have Christmas off with no Boxing Day game, and next up is a trip to the league leaders Berkhamsted on 28 December, we look forward to seeing you there.

MOTM
Fin Murray

Goals
Hayden Beadle 88 minutes

Starting Eleven
1.Matty Crowther
2.Josh Stranks
3.Leo Galpin
4.Mark Riddick (C)
5.Fin Murray
6.Jack Tutton (Hayden Beadle 80 minutes)
7.Greg Hackett (Curtis Brown 64 minutes)
8.Brayden Daniel
9.Jefferson Louis
10.Dan West
11.Harry Alexander (Tom McElroy 72 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Oscar Lucey
13.Archie Davis
14.Tom McElroy
15.Curtis Brown
16.Hayden Beadle