It was back to Pitching In Southern League Central Division One action for Thame United at The ASM Stadium as they welcomed Stotfold. Thame were still looking to get their campaign under way this season sitting in last place with no points while Stotfold had one victory to their name. Manager Ben Williams was still without centre back Fin Murray who was injury so Dan West continued at the heart of the defence, While Greg Hackett was unavailable it meant a return for Lance Williams up front. There was also a return for Ethan Lack on the bench after sitting out the last three matches due to concussion protocols, and after 57 consecutive games keeper Matty Crowther starts a lengthy spell on the sidelines recovering from last weeks injury picked up in the win against Winchester City with on loan Jonny Pettitt stepping into the starting line up. Before the game kicked off there was an immaculately observed minutes silence in memory of Chichester City’s Billy Vigar.

Thame got the game underway with the ball played back to Louis Walsh who launched the ball long for full back Curtis Brown who found himself in aches of space on the right hand side, but couldn’t make the most of the opportunity as his cut back was cleared out for a throw in, the first attempt on goal came from a Callum Hall throw in on the left had side after 2 minutes, the ball reached Lance Williams in the box, he turn but his shot was deflected out for a corner. At the other end Stotfold won a corner the ball floated in and misses everyone going out for a goal kick. From the goal kick Thame move the ball to Harry Alexander on the right hand side, he squares the ball to Jenson Wright on the edge of the D who’s shot is well saved by the Stotfold keeper pushing the ball away before being cleared. Stotfold have their first shot after ten minutes their number 10 picks up the ball on the right hand side but his shot from outside the box is so wide it nearly goes out for a throw in. The visitors won another corner on the left and new Keeper Jonny Pettitt is forced into his first real action pushing the ball over his bar for another corner which was cleared and allowed Thame to break upfield.

There was controversy on 18 minutes, Callum Hall loses the ball in the Stotfold half, they break and Captain Mark Riddick made what looked like a fair challenge to win the ball back, but the referee awarded the free kick to the visitors and booked Riddick for questioning the decision, moments later Manager Ben Williams went into the Referees book, clearly frustrated with some of the officials decisions that were being taken on the field. The home side were looking more dangerous and should have taken the leaded on 35 minutes, a poor clearance from the Stotfold keeper, put the ball out for a throw in on the Thame right, a long throw into the box from Curtis Brown was half cleared to Harry Alexander on the edge of the box, his low shot looked to have found the back of the net only for the keeper to make a good save push the ball out for a corner. Stotfold had the final attempt of the half a long range effort which was comfortably saved by keeper Pettitt. The half ended with the scores level, but with the home side creating the better chances with the home keeper having little to do on his debut.

Thame made their first substitute at half time with Abu Khan replacing Lance Williams, with Curtis Brown switching from right back centre forward. Stotfold got the game under way and had the first attempt after 47 minutes a long range effort from the number 4 was well wide of the target. At the other end Thame won a free kick about 30 yards out in a central position after Curtis Brown had been fouled, Jack Tutton stepped up but his shot was over the bar. The visitors weren’t really offering anything in the way of threats on the Thame goal and were content to use the long through of the number 6 to try and put pressure on the Thame goal, each time keeper Pettitt was able to gather the ball as it came into the box. Thame should have taken the lead on 61 minutes, substitute Abu Khan picked up the ball on the half way line drove forward played a neat one two with Lous Walsh, on the edge of the box, and was one on one with the keeper but his shot was well saved and out for a corner. As the half wore on it was the visitors Physio seeing most of the action, with the Stotfold players going down quite frequently, Another chance fell to Thame a cross from Harry Alexander on the right hand side reached an unmarked Riddick at the back post but he couldn’t control his header and the ball went over the bar.

Thame thought they had taken the lead on 69 minutes, another good move on the right hand side found Jenson Wright midway into the Stotfold half, he played the ball into the box where its met by Curtis Brown with a looping header over the keeper into the net, unfortunately he was a yard off side and the flag went up.Thame made a double substitution on 72 minutes with Ethan Lack and Ty Njogu replacing Jack Tutton and Jenson Wright. Shortly after Ethan Lack had a chance from the edge of the area after a clearance fell to him, but his long range effort was over the bar. The home side were really pushing for the opening goal and were on the wrong end of a really poor decision on 77 minutes, a ball from Ty Njogu on the left just inside the home half found Harry Alexander, who was clearly onside, he ran on and into the box and squared it to an unmarked Ethan Lack who tapped the ball into the empty net, at the time the referee had waived play on, but after consulting the assistant referee gave the offside, a poor call from assistant referee.

The pressure was mounting on the visitors, another long throw from the right hand side was flicked on by captain Mark Riddick in the box, but was claimed by the keeper, with time ticking by Thame had another chance, a cross from Curtis Brown on the right was half cleared and fell to Louis Walsh on the left of the box, his first time shot was saved by the keeper diving down to his right to gather the ball. With the amount of times the Stotfold physio had come onto the pitch in the second half there was 10 minutes of added time, the home side were still pushing for the opening goal but has the clocked ticked onto the 100 minute it look like Stotfold had held out for a point. But Thame had one more chance, the ball was played across the back line to Callum Hall who drove into the Stotfold half on the left and launched a long ball into the box, where it fell to an unmarked Abu Khan on the left hand edge of the six yard box, he had time to control the ball look up and pass it back across goal to Louis Walsh, who with his back to goal, controlled the ball turned and smashed the ball into the back of the net, no more than Thame deserved as they had dominated the game, particularly in the second half with the visitors offering no threat. There was time for the kick off and another two minutes of added time before the final whistle blew and Thame had picked up their first win of the season. Overall it was a solid

Goals
Louis Walsh (100 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Jonny Pettitt
2 Callum Foday Hall
3 Curtis Brown
4 Jack Tutton (Ty Njogu 72 minutes)
5 Luke Tingey
6 Mark Riddick (Captain)
7 Louis Walsh
8 Jenson Wright (Ethan Lack 72 minutes)
9 Lance Williams (Abu Khan 46 minutes)
10 Dan West
11 Harry Alexander

Substitutes

12 Alex Monroe
14 Abu Khan
15 Tyrae Njogu
16 Ethan Lack

Attendance 92