Category: Sports News

A THAME Youth footballer, Haitham Sheriff, has been named as one of six Oxford United Academy players selected to play in the Oxfordshire under 18s, South & West Counties Championship match against their Berks & Bucks FA counterparts at Henley Town FC on Saturday, January 16, 2010.
Kick off is at 2pm.

MATCH Report 16/12/09 – Hurricanes 30 V Falcons 23; THAME Hurricanes played their best match of the season on Wednesday night against Falcons 2. Last time the teams met Falcons 2 won the game convincingly. However, this time round a much improved Hurricanes team demonstrated some excellent netball.

The score was kept close throughout with Falcons 2 only just keeping the edge. GA Becky Froud displayed some outstanding shooting which kept Falcons 2 on their toes. Passing down the court and into the shooters was excellent and in the centre position Mel Rose played fantastically. Hurricanes demonstrated some excellent team work in defence and Nicola Renyard played brilliantly at GD, making it difficult for the Falcons shooters. Hurricanes fought hard and should be proud of their performance, but Falcons 2 took the win, 30-23.

Team: Lynne Hopwood, Nicola Renyard, Penny Caudle, Lynne Jones, Amy Smith, Becky Froud, Emma Young and Mel Rose.

Tornadoes V Crendon Aces
18 ? 18

THAME Tornadoes match against Crendon Aces was tense on Wednesday evening. The Tornadoes demonstrated strong play against a determined opposition and were leading all the way through the first three quarters. In the final quarter the skill and agility of Thame player of the match Mel Wilkins (centre) helped to hold the final score to a draw of 18-18.

Team: Hannah White (captain), Sue Dunn, Lisa Sydenham, Mel Wilkins, Karen Fowler, Carol Storey, Vanessa Hake and Lynne Hopwood.

SAM STOOPS LOW TO SAVE THE GAME – Chinnor RFC 8 vs Redingensians 6 – December 19, 2009 – Match report by Bill O’Donnell.

THAT a game took place at all was a triumph for the ground staff and the many volunteers that made a snow laden pitch playable.

The match itself was one of much endeavour without too much score. Chinnor welcomed back Ben Farr on one wing with Sam Stoop taking the other wing berth. Liam Gilbert was preferred at no.8 and Matthew Webster started in the 2 jersey.

The match was reminiscent of the previous week?s match at Reading with Chinnor spending great periods of the match in the opposition half without coming away with scores. Although a low scoring affair, there was plenty of drama but more of that anon.

Cathcart opened the scoring with a penalty goal on the 15th minute to give Chinnor a 3-0 lead. Shortly after, Winpenny for Chinnor was yellow carded for not retiring 10 metres but Redingensians could not reap any rewards during his absence. The game see-sawed between both sides until the 33rd minute when Sid Matthews, for Gensians, scored from a penalty goal to even the match at 3-3. Just before the half closed came the first moment of drama in the match. Attempting a sweeping backs move, Chinnor dropped the ball in midfield. Pouncing on the loose ball, Gensians winger Craig Clements seemed to have a clear run to the line. Out of nowhere, Sam Stoop chased down his man and with an outstretched hand, just 5 metres from the line, tap-tackled Clements. In the ensuing scramble, Chinnor got the ball away to safety to keep the half time score at 3-3.

The second half began much like the first half with both packs of forwards engaged in a war of attrition with occasional forays from the backs. Redingensians however were clearly getting more into the match. For a period of about 10 minutes they laid siege to the Chinnor line but could not find a way through a tough defence. On the 73rd minute, fly half Matthews, getting desperate at the lack of scoring from such committed attacking, dropped for goal. Dramatically, the ball wobbled, bounced on the crossbar and went over to give Gensians a 6-3 lead. With only seven minutes left and with previous difficulties in scoring, it looked like a final score. But no, there was more drama to come. With a surging break out by lock forward Sam Black, the ball was quickly recycled. Rapid accurate passing across the back line saw the ball into Ben Farr?s hands. His pace took him wide of his marker to dot down in the corner on the 77th minute. The conversion was wide but Chinnor now had an 8-6 lead with just three minutes remaining. Time for more drama. On the 80th minute, the ref blew for a penalty against Chinnor. Matthews stepped up to take the shot straight in front of the posts some 30 metres out. The crowd held its breath as the kick sailed wide and the ref blew for full time.

Thank goodness for the tap tackle from Stoop that saved the game for Chinnor.

Chinnor team: Wallace, Farr, Williams, Hewitt (Brown 56), Stoop, Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Webster, Pickett (Matthews 66), Hutchings, Black, Jackman (Mowbray 77), Hastings, Gilbert

Reps: Matthews, Mowbray, Brown.

LEAGUE GAME: 12/12/09 – Thame United 3, Newbury 0 – MATCH REPORT from Bob Dickson:

THAME United returned to their winning ways at Wallingford on Saturday when they defeated Newbury 3-0. Although when the game started, Newbury were in 15th league position and Thame were third, the game was close and, apart from a fifteen minute period in which United scored all their goals, their was little to choose between the two teams.

The first half was fairly even. The visitors came close to scoring when, after about 20 minutes when visiting midfielder, Daniel Lachacz hit the Thame post from a free kick. Two minutes later Thame?s Ben Connelly was unlucky to see his chip, which had beaten the visiting keeper, headed off the goal line. Shortly afterwards, Nik Rhodes found the back of the visitors net following a set piece from a corner, but his effort was ruled off-side. At half time with the game was goalless, with Thame unable to find their real form.

Whatever manager Mark West said to his team at half time clearly worked as they controlled the first 15 minutes of the second half. United?s first goal came 5 minutes after the restart when Adam Rhodes hit a long, defence splitting, diagonal ball to Luke Ricketts on the left wing. Ricketts ran at goal but as he hit his shot, he was pulled back and the shot went wide. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Adam Rhodes took the spot kick, placing the ball in the bottom left of the goal.

Three minutes later Mark Jones met an Adam Rhodes free kick with a powerful header, forcing an outstanding save when the visiting keeper tipped the ball over the bar. Thame however equalised from the resultant corner when Nik Rhodes directed a header towards Jones who scrambled the ball in at the left hand corner from close range. Amazingly, the home side, who were now dominating the play, scored their third goal two minutes later. Following a run on the right Connelly played a good ball to Adam Rhodes who, beat his man, and hit a high cross from the right by-line to Jones who skillfully headed in. It could have been four a few minutes later, when Adam Rhodes met a Connelly cross, but his header hit the crossbar.

The visitors came back and started to pressurise the Thame goal and home keeper Lee Orkney was called into action. On 72 minutes Connelly was unfairly ?up ended? by the visiting keeper. Connelly went to react to the challenge but his self-discipline kicked in and he walked away. Amazingly and unjustifiably, the linesman called the referee over and Connelly was dismissed. With the job done, and down to 10 men, United were content to defend their lead for the remainder of the game.

Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Newell (Way), N. Rhodes, Boult, El-Kassir, Connelly, Rhodes, Jones (Braun), Rogers (Wakelin), Ricketts.

Thame do not play in the league again until Boxing Day, Saturday 26th December, 2009, at 3pm, when they meet third placed Henley Town in a game which United must win to keep their promotion hopes alive.

photo: Thame United Manager, Mark West

MATCH REPORT – Thame Netball Club 02/12/09 – Score: Tornadoes 33 V Southcott 13

THAME Tornadoes achieved another win on Wednesday night, (02/12/09) beating Southcott 33 – 13. Thame played a superb game and the win was a result of a real team effort. Shooters Vanessa and Carol were on top form and they played brilliantly together to ensure Thame took the win. Yet again Thame demonstrated some excellent mid court play with excellent passing down the court and some fantastic interceptions. Thame Hurricane Penny played for the Tornadoes due to a shortage of players and she had an excellent game at WD – defending brilliantly and intercepting well. Tornadoes circle defence also played excellently, making it difficult for the Southcott shooters. Overall Thame played a very strong game and the outstanding team performance allowed the Tornadoes to secure yet another win.

Team: Hannah White (captain), Sue Dunn, Penny Caudle, Rachel Wilkins, Karen Fowler, Carol Storey, Vanessa Hake and Emma Young.

SATURDAY, 5th December 2009 – Chalfont Wasps 3, Thame United 2 – MATCH REPORT (Contributed)
Although United can rightly look to some bizarre officiating that ultimately led to two Chalfont goals, they will know that the performance was probably their worst of the season and came when victory would have put them joint top of the league.

Played on a very damp, muddy pitch United were forced to make a number of changes to the team due to injuries and player unavailability. As a result, the 4-4-2 formation was sacrificed for a 3-5-2 line-up, and it was evident in the early stages that it would take United a while to settle in to the new formation. Adapting better to the conditions, Chalfont put Thame on the back foot from the start and it took a good ten minutes for United to force play in to their opponents half. However, it was no surprise when Chalfont took the lead on 25 minutes, Heffernan taking advantage of a mistimed header in the Thame defence to beat Orkney down low to his right. After the goal Thame began to assert themselves and after they hit the bar and had an Adam Rhodes effort tipped over the bar, United equalized on 41 minutes when Jones, with the help of a deflection, finished powerfully from 12 yards.

With the scores level at the break, United made a number of changes and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. Despite the more familiar line-up, the opening 20 minutes of the half remained even. On 70 minutes Chalfont went back in front. The ball was played down the middle where, with the Chalfont forward clearly backing in to central defender Sam Cowan, Cowan?s headed clearance did not have sufficient distance and Trip collected the ball and raced through, placing his effort beyond Orkney. Braun then went close for Thame with a header before United again hit the bar. 10 minutes from time and Chalfont scored a third. With his normal composure Cowan confidently collected a through ball on the edge of the box but, inexplicably and to the amusement of the Chalfont bench, the referee awarded the home side a free kick. The first effort came back off the Thame wall but Moakes followed up to powerfully finish in to the bottom left hand corner giving keeper Orkney no chance.

United pushed forward to get back in to the game and were rewarded 3 minutes later when Lawrence El-Kassir finished from close range. Despite manager Mark West coming on United were unable to force and equalizer and it was Chalfont who left with all three points.

United will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday (12th December) when they face Newbury at home (AFC Wallingford, 3:00pm kick off). They then follow this with an Oxfordshire Senior Cup tie against Premier League side Ardley United on Tuesday 15th December, again at home (7:45pm kick off).

Thame United: Orkney, Newell, Wakelin (Barnett), Cowan, P.Way (Goffe), El-Kassir, Rhodes, Braun (West), Jones, Connelly, Rogers.

Thame United Reserves drew 1-1 at home to leaders Eton Wick Reserves. Goalscorer for Thame was Ryan Daly. The win takes the reserves up to second place in the league, 3 points behind Eton Wick.

THAME Hurricanes 16 pts V Thame Tornadoes 38 pts; MATCH REPORT 01/12/09:
The first and second Thame Netball sides played against each other recently for the first time this season, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Both teams played exceptionally well and from the first quarter, it certainly looked as though the result could go either way.

The hurricanes played with a lot of determination and their defence proved hard to beat. However the tornadoes retaliated and their attack was fast and furious with some excellent passes mid court. The shooting ability was excellent from both sides, and the tornadoes took the lead from the second quarter and then continued onwards and upwards. However, the hurricanes never gave up and played some excellent netball throughout the court.

A well deserved win for the tornadoes who are continuing to be a team to beat.

Player of the match: Becky Froud (hurricanes)
Vanessa Hake (tornadoes)

PHOTO: Flashback to Thame Carnival in June, 2009

THAME Town Council has agreed to give the Thame Football Partnership a

HELLENIC League Supplementary Cup – 28.11.09 – MATCH REPORT – Launton Sports 0, Thame United 4

THAME United visited nearby Launton Sports last Saturday, where they comfortably defeated the home side scoring two goals in each half. Launton are currently struggling at the foot of division one west so did not prove to be particularly strong opposition, but nevertheless Thame played well and but for an in form Launton goalkeeper, they would have scored more.

Thame manager, Mark West, was unable to attend as his son Dan, who is a trainee with Oxford United, was on the Oxford bench for their F A Cup encounter with Barrow.

Thame started strongly and created several chances. After about 18 minutes, Ben Connelly made a run on the right, played a 1-2 with Stuart Braun and hit a strong low cross which Aaron Rogers got a foot to, but the ball skidded wide. A minute later Connelly made a similar run, playing the ball to Braun but before it could be returned, Braun was flattened from behind. The referee rightly pointed to the penalty spot. Adam Rhodes took the penalty kick, and calmly placed the ball in the bottom left corner of the home goal. Thame almost increased their lead a few minutes later when Launton Keeper Nick Lacey parried a shot from Rogers, who then collected the rebound and hit another strong goal bound shot only to see Lacey make a superb fingertip deflection. The ball was initially cleared from the resultant corner but was than played back in where Nik Rhodes collected it and hit a first time shot. Lacey again parried but this time Nik confidently hit the rebound pass him. It was Rhodes brothers (and Thame) 2, Launton 0 at half time.

United continued to control the game after the break and increased their lead in the 58th minute when, following good work on the left, Luke Rickets found Braun who flicked the ball to Rogers then saw him hit a shot pass Lacey from 15-yards. Thame?s fourth goal came around the 70-minute mark when substitute Mark Jones picked up the ball just inside the halfway line and ran at goal before unleashing a 20-yard shot, giving Lacey no chance.

Thame are currently playing attractive football to feet, rather than the? hit and hope? tactics so prevalent at this level. If they can maintain this form this could be a season to remember.

Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Newell, N. Rhodes, Boult (Jones), El-Kassir, Connelly, A. Rhodes, Braun, Rogers (Collinge), Ricketts.

United are away next Saturday (5th) to Chalfont Wasps. The next home game is on the 12th December when Thame entertain Newbury.

OXFORDSHIRE Senior Cup 1st round – 17/11/09 – Thame United 2, Old Woodstock Town 1 – MATCH REPORT

Thame United progressed to the second round of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup at Wallingford on Tuesday evening, when they defeated Old Woodstock Town 2-1. The visitors lie 17th in the premier division of the Hellenic League, which is where Thame will play if they are promoted. The game was close, and although United had more ball possession, the visitors defended well and were able to snuff out most of Thame?s chances.

Thame started brightly, but the visitors soon got into their stride and went ahead in the 15th minute when a ball from the right found striker, Adam Lovegrove, in enough space to hit a strong shot passed goalkeeper Lee Orkney from 15-yards. Thame countered and Ben Connelly was unlucky to see his shot cleared off the goal line. The equaliser came just before half time. Ed Barnett took a throw-in near the right corner flag which was knocked on to Mark Jones who hit a shot which the keeper seemed to have covered until it was deflected by a defender into the top left corner.

The second half continued in similar vein with Thame winning more possession and putting together some good moves only to see them break down near goal.

With about 30 minutes remaining, Thame defender Matt Higgs was carried off on a stretcher due to the re-occurrence of a knee injury. He was replaced by Tom Goffe who normally plays as a striker, but played surprisingly well in the centre of defence.

There was drama a few minutes later when United defender Barnett was harshly judged to have fouled a visiting player in the box, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Lovegrove took the spot kick but Orkney managed to block his shot, Lovegrove followed up and again Orkney blocked, the ball again went to Lovegrove, but this time Orkney held his shot. Remarkable goalkeeping.

The winner came with about 20 minutes remaining and it was a moment of real quality. Following good work on the right, Jones played a ball to Aaron Rogers, in space about 25 yards from goal. The on-form Rogers hit a strong, well-placed shot giving the visiting keeper no chance. The final minutes saw Thame ?on the back foot? and Orkney was again on form.

United will be at home in the next round, to either Launton Sports or Ardley.

Thame United: Orkney, Barnett, Meredith (Jones), Cowan, Higgs (Goffe), El-Kassir, Connelly, A Rhodes, Rogers, Braun (West), Barr.

Thame United’s next home game is on 12th December when Newbury Town are the visitors.