Thame United were on the road as they travelled to Hertfordshire to take on Welwyn Garden City in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One. This was a crucial game in Thame’s push for a play off spot and with games to come against two of the top four this was a game that would have significant impact on the top five places. After Monday’s disappointing defeat at home to Aylesbury, manager Ben Williams made a number of changes to the starting line up. Into the starting eleven came Abu Khan, Fin Murray, and Lance Williams with Curtis Brown, Ethan Lack and Harry Alexander dropping to the bench.

It proved to be another disappointing afternoon for Thame, going down by four goals to three, despite a late come back it was too little too late, with defensive errors contributing to Thame’s downfall. Conditions for the game were not at there best with a strong wind which Thame kicked with it behind them in the first half and an uneven pitch making the ball hard to control. The home side started the stronger and took the lead on 16 minutes and it was a bad goal to concede a free kick into the box was headed across goal where it looked to be an easy clearance but Welwyn won the ball back and as the ball bounced around inside the six yard box it was pooked into the net. Thame were back on level terns 3 minutes later after a long ball from from Jack Tutton from inside his own half picked out Brayden Daniel on the right he outpaced the left back and cut back inside and his shot from the edge of the area beat the keeper at the near post.

Thame were struggling to deal with the home sides long balls into the box and on 23 minutes were caught out with a long throw which was not dealt with and was flicked on towards goal, Keeper Davis dived to his left to push the goal bound header out but only managed to push the ball against one of the Welwyn attackers who was running in and the home side re took the lead. Thame were really struggling to get into the game lots of long balls were easy pickings for the Welwyn defence and Thame weren’t helping themselves with a number of wayward passes and giving the ball away, and it got worse for the visitors on 44 minutes with Steve Cawley grabbing his second and Welwyn’s third. The Thame defence had pushed up to the half way line and then lost the ball midway inside the Welwyn half and a route one ball straight over the top was pounced on by the Welwyn attacker and he ran in on goal and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper. The half ended with the home side in control and a very lacklustre display from Thame who had contributed to their own downfall.

Thame made two half time changes with Harry Alexander and Greg Hackett replacing Abu Khan and Luke Tingey, with Thame switching to a back three of Dan West, Fin Murray and Callum Hall, and although Thame were on the front foot and pushing the home side back, they were still struggling to test the keeper, Thame made their fourth substitution 60 minutes Charlie Stow replacing Lance Williams, The visitors thought they had pulled a goal back when a Welwyn clearance rebounded off of Captain Mark Riddick and into the net but the Referee deemed the ball had hit his arm and rulled the goal out. Despite dominating the half Thame got themselves caught out again by another defensive error and another soft goal to concede, Welwyn played the ball over the top of the left back it should have been and easy clearance but instead a mis hit back pass wasn't strong enough to get to the keeper and Lewis Taaffe run onto the ball and finished well passed the advancing keeper.

Thame pulled a goal back on 79 minutes, Harry Alexander picking the ball up in the box on the left hand side and passing to Charlie Stow, who after controlling the ball fired it into the roof of the net. Curtis Brown came on for Louise Walsh on 81 minutes who moments earlier had been unlucky when he had a shot cleared off of the line by a Welwyn defender. Thame were finishing the game stronger and got a third when the ball was played into the box, and Charlie Stow picked it up turned on the ball and shot passed the keeper, and the same player could have equalised right at the death picking up the ball in the box but his shot was over the bar. Welwyn managed to see out 7 minutes of added time to see the victory and another defeat for Thame who now must get something out of games against Biggleswade Town and Hitchin to have a chance of reaching the play offs.

Goals
Brayden Daniel (19 minutes)
Charlie Stow (74, 84 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Archie Davis
2 Callum Hall
3 Abu Khan (Harry Alexander 46 minutes)
4 Fin Murray
5 Luke Tingey (Greg Hackett 46 minutes)
6 Mark Riddick (C)
7 Brayden Daniels
8 Jack Tutton
9 Louis Walsh (Curtis Brown 81 minutes)
10 Dan West
11 Lance Williams (Charlie Stow 60 minutes)

Substitutes

12 Harry Alexander
14 Curtis Brown
15 Greg Hackett
16 Ethan Lack
17 Charlie Stow

Attendance 92