Thame United were in Pitching in Southern League Division One Central action as they welcomed Northwood to The ASM Stadium. After the previous two Saturday postponements it was fingers crossed that the game would go ahead, after heavy rain on the Friday, it was touch and go as the forecast was for more rain during the day. However the rain held off and the referee inspected the pitch on arrival and was happy for the game to go ahead. Manager Ben Williams made two changes to the team that turned out in the last game against Leighton Town. Curtis Brown came into the side at right back replacing Abu Khan who dropped to the bench and there was a change in goal as Jonny Pettitt returned after injury to continue his loan spell at the club.

Thame kicked the game off playing from right to left into the wind and were dominating the opening minutes of the game pushing forward and using the wide areas to push the Northwood defence back and were looking the more threatening in front of goal, creating several half chances. The pressure that the home side had created in the opening quarter of the game finally paid off In the 23rd minute, when they took the lead from a corner, which was whipped in from the left hand side by Jack Tutton and an unmarked Fin Murray peeled off his defender on the 18 yard line and met the ball to head firmly into the back of the net, nothing the visitors keeper could do to keep the ball out with the power the centre back had got on it. Thame continued to push forward with the visitors struggling to get a foothold in the game and was no surprise when the hosts doubled their advantage on 34th minutes, with Louise Walsh delivering a ball into the box which was controlled by Mark Riddick before laying it back to Jack Tutton, who slotted the ball past the keeper into the bottom right corner.

Northwood's first real effort came two minutes later, a long-range shot from Freddie Ford sailed wide, highlighting their struggles to create meaningful opportunities, with Thame controlling the game. However the visitors had a big chance to pull a goal back, a ball played through the Thame defence was missed by the centre back and the number 8 found himself in on goal with just the keeper to beat, but keeper Pettitt stayed on his feet and pushed the shot out for a corner. As half-time approached and against the run of play Northwood pulled one back in the 44th minute from a set-piece. After winning a free kick just out side the box on the Northwood right the ball was floated in and headed out a wayward shot was going wide but was met by the number 10 who directed his header past the diving keeper, giving the visitors hope heading into the break. At the interval, Thame led 2-1, but Northwood's late goal and only their second shot on target kept the contest alive. The second half got underway with Thame kicking with the wind behind them and the game exploded into life early. Firstly Dan West fired just wide of the upright from a free kick from just outside the box and just four minutes in on 49th minutes, Thame restored their two-goal cushion when Curtis Brown advanced down the right, picking the ball up midway into the Northwood half, beating three Northwood players driving to the by line before delivering a ball across the six yard box, it missed by a number of players but Greg Hackett fired into the roof of the net running in from the left. Northwood responded quickly, scoring their second on 52 minutes to make it 3-2 shortly after, a ball played into the Thame box wasn't cleared and it fell at the feet of the number 5 who had an easy shot to take it passed keeper Pettitt.

Thame, however, regained control decisively. In the 62nd minute, a poor back pass from a Northwood defender put the keeper under pressure and his clearance went straight to Louis Walsh who took possession of the ball and passed it back to Ethan Lack who converted it into an empty net to make it 4 - 2. A minutes later (63th minute), a rampant Thame had their fifth Greg Hackett struck again with a similar move down the right hand side, this time Louis Walsh providing the cross and assist, extending the lead to 5-2 and prompting celebrations among Thame supporters. Substitutions followed as both sides refreshed their line-ups. Thame replaced Ethan Lack who had picked up a yellow card in the first half and had put in a real battling shift in midfield, with Luke Tingey and Greg Hackett with a brace of goals replaced by Lance Williams on 69 minutes. Thame made their final substitutes with Abu Khan replacing an impressive Jack Tutton on 71 minutes and Charlie Stow coming on for Louis Walsh. Northwood refused to fade, pulling one back in the 81st minute through Dan Williams, whose right-footed shot slipped through the Thame keeper hands to make it 5-3. One that the keeper will not want to see again. The chances kept coming, Curtis Brown had a shot just wide of the post, Dan West shot from the edge of the area was saved by the keeper and Lance Williams had a chance which was over the bar. The drama peaked in stoppage time on 90+4 minutes when Thame scored a last-gasp header that evaded the visitors keeper, Thame won a corner which was floated in by Harry Alexander, the ball was headed back out to him and another cross was headed into the air and Lance Williams rose to head home, confirming the 6-3 final score just before the referee's whistle.

It was a very good performance from the home side dominating the game from start to finish scoring six goals the most in a league game for a number of seasons with all players contributing to the result. And a good way to sign off with the final home game before Christmas, Thame now embark on three away trips to Ware, Biggleswade and Marlow before the Christmas break..

Goals

Finlay Murray (23 minutes)
Jack Tutton (34 minutes)
Greg Hacket (50 & 63 minutes)
Ethan Lack (62 minutes)
Lance Williams (95 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Jonny Pettitt
2 Callum Hall
3 Curtis Brown
4 Fin Murray
5 Ethan Lack (Luke Tingey 67 minutes)
6 Mark Riddick (Captain)
7 Greg Hackett (Lance Williams 69 minutes)
8 Jack Tutton (Abu Khan 71 minutes)
9 Louis Walsh (Charlie Stow 76 minutes)
10 Dan West
11 Harry Alexander

Substitutes

12 Lance Williams
14 Abu Khan
16 Charlie Stow
20 Luke Tingey

Attendance 98