Thame United welcomed Leverstock Green to the ASM Stadium in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One. The two teams had met four times in the past, with Thame having the upper hand with three wins to Leverstock Green’s one.

Thame are playing catch-up in the league after their run to the third qualifying rounds of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy. Coming into the game, this was only their sixth match, whereas this would be Leverstock’s tenth. The visitors had won one, drawn four and lost five. Manager Ben Williams had to make one enforced change, with Callum Hall suspended following last week’s red card against Eastbourne Borough. Aydin Ulas came into the left-back position, with Josh Stranks moving to right-back. Ethan Light was back on the bench after being unavailable for the FA Cup last time out.

Kicking from left to right towards the Ring Road End, Leverstock Green got the game underway as the heavens opened and there was a brief downpour. Thame had the first opening of the match after a couple of minutes when Greg Hackett made a good run down the left and crossed the ball to the back post. The ball was met by Harry Alexander, but his volley went over the bar. It was not long before the visitors opened the scoring. On four minutes, right-back Callum Neil advanced down the right-hand side and skipped inside before passing the ball to number 11, Iker Leon. Leon ran along the edge of the 18-yard box before getting his shot away. It went through a number of players and beat the goalkeeper, finding the left-hand side of the net.

It was not a great goal to concede, and questions will be asked about how easily number 11 was allowed to advance across the box without a challenge being made. The goal buoyed the visitors, who started to dominate the game. The hosts looked somewhat out of sorts, struggling to get a foothold in the match and appearing under pressure every time Leverstock picked up the ball and drove forward. Thame were hanging on and were lucky not to be 2–0 down when the visitors struck the right-hand post with a low drive from the left-hand side of the box.

Thame started to get into the game as the half drew to a close. Harry Alexander had a chance in the 42nd minute, picking up the ball in a central position and shooting from just outside the box, but his effort went over the bar. Then captain Mark Riddick thought he had scored with a header at the back post following a cross from the right-hand side by Roger James. However, the referee judged that Riddick had pushed the defender in the back to reach the ball. It was a shocking decision from the referee. As the ball came across, Riddick placed one hand on the side of the defender. As the player realised the ball was going over his head, he threw himself to the ground despite there being no contact. It was nothing more than cheating by the visiting player, and the referee bought it.

However, Thame equalised right on the stroke of half-time. After winning a corner on the right, the ball was cleared towards the left-hand corner. It was picked up by Harry Alexander, who laid the ball off to Jack Tutton outside the area on the left-hand flank. His low, right-footed shot beat everyone, including the goalkeeper, and nestled into the right-hand side of the net. The half ended with the scores level, but the visitors had been the better side, with the home team well below par during the opening 45 minutes.

Thame got the second half underway with Ethan Lack coming on to replace Hayden Beadle. They should have taken the lead in the 48th minute when Greg Hackett picked up the ball on the left-hand side and ran into the box. Before he could get his shot away, he was tackled, and the ball fell to Harry Alexander, however, his shot was somehow saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper and went out for a corner. Jack Tutton went into the referee’s book for a foul in the 49th minute, and Greg Hackett had a shot from the edge of the area saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper after a surging run from Ethan Lack.

Leverstock continued to put pressure on the counter attack, creating a couple of chances that forced goalkeeper Callan into making saves. Then, in the 62nd minute, they took the lead, and it came from a route-one move. A throw-in from the Leverstock half on the left was picked up by their number three, who launched the ball towards the goal, in between the two centre-backs. Leverstock Green’s number 11, their danger man, picked up the ball and ran into the box, but his shot was saved by Callan. However, Joe McCarthy, the number nine, was on hand to follow up, and his shot took a rebound off a Thame player before ending up in the net.

Curtis Brown replaced Aydin Ulas, who had had a difficult time up against the visitors best player who was a handful all game, Josh Stranks switching to the right-hand side. Thame were not behind for long. After a surging run down the left, Josh Stranks entered the box and was brought down from behind, resulting in a penalty. Harry Alexander stepped up and coolly placed the ball to the right of the goalkeeper. Ethan Lack picked up a yellow card in the 67th minute for a foul.

The visitors took the lead again in the 71st minute, and it was another poor goal for the home side to concede. Leverstock Green won a throw-in deep on the right in the Thame half. The ball was played to their number 11, who played in number eight Pett on the edge of the box. Pett ran towards the six-yard box unchallenged and, as goalkeeper Callan came out, fired the ball high into the roof of the net. Once again, Thame had conceded without a challenge being made on the scorer. Ed Daffern replaced captain Mark Riddick in the 77th minute, with Dan West taking the armband.

Ethan Lack was substituted late on after making another late challenge, which caused the opposition players to surround the referee. However, the referee kept his card in his pocket. Jack Tutton’s cross-field ball found Ed Daffern on the left. He cut inside and sent over a cross-cum-shot, which Greg Hackett narrowly missed, preventing him from getting a touch to guide the ball into the net. With goalkeeper saving the goal bound ball, In the dying moments, a shot from Hackett was deflected, but the goalkeeper managed to get across and push the ball out for a corner, which came to nothing.

The visitors managed to see the game out for a well-deserved victory, with the home side playing well below the level of their recent performances. Thame must pick themselves up quickly, as they hit the road on Tuesday night for a trip to play Flackwell Heath.

Goals
Jack Tutton (45 minutes)
Harry Alexander 65 minutes)

Attendance 144

Team
1. James Callan
2. Aydin Ulas (Curtis Brown 63 minutes)
3. Josh Stranks
4. Finn Murray
5. Hayden Beadle (Ethan Lack 45 minutes)
6. Mark Riddick (C) (Ed Daffern 77 minutes)
7. Greg Hackett
8. Jack Tutton
9. Roger James
10.Dan West
11.Harry Alexander

Substitutes
12.Ethan Lack (Charlie Bacon 84 minutes)
14.Charlie Bacon
15.Ed Daffern
16.Curtis Brown