United foiled by stand-in keeper

Going in to the game Highworth were a couple of places above United in the league but, apart from having slightly more possession in the first half, the hosts lacked any penetration in the final third and it was United who created the best chances and could, and perhaps should, have been three goals ahead at the break.

Firstly, a Lynton Goss shot from a narrow angle just evaded the far post in the 20th minute whilst, three minutes later, a well directed Matt Willett header at the back post found Taylor Collins in space on the edge of the six yard box whose effort was met with a good save by the home keeper. Shortly afterwards United were awarded a penalty when, following a Thame free kick, a home defender was adjudged to have elbowed a United player. Louis Cordice struck the penalty well but, unfortunately for the visiting supporters, the ball went the wrong side of the post. That was not the end of the first half action as, shortly afterwards, Highworth were reduced to 10 men when the goalkeeper was sent off for a blatant hand ball outside the box, with the resultant free kick from Collins pushed away to safety.

United started the second half on the front foot, with the stand-in keeper pulling off save after save with Cordice, Collins and Goss all going close early on. Ben Connelly then saw an effort come back off the post with the keeper pushing the rebound from Cordice wide of the goal. United continued to press forward but were caught with 20 minutes to go when Highworth enjoyed their best (and perhaps only) five minute spell of the game. A through ball from centre midfield found the striker, T.J.Bohane in space but before he could shoot Ian Pykett got a foot in the way but could only divert the ball in to the back of his own net. Still United pushed on with Highworth content to get deeper and deeper in their own half. The best chance fell to Niall Hodgkins with five minutes to go but he could only see his half-volley just clear the bar.

As it was, time ran out on United and, whilst they can be disappointed with the result, they can take heart from the fact that for the majority of the game (including when both sides had 11 players on the field) they outplayed their higher placed opposition.

United: Farrow, I Pykett (Green), P Pykett, Rhodes, Hercules, Lynch, Goss, Connelly, Collins (Faulkner), Cordice (Hodgkins), Willett