Category: Sports News

BRACKLEY SPORTS 2, THAME UNITED 2; Match Report – Saturday, July 25, 2009.
United returned from Northamptonshire both relieved and disappointed at the same time ? relieved that a Greg Stocker penalty three minutes from time secured a draw, but disappointed that they were unable to make their chances pay when the opportunities arose.

The first of these came in only the second minute when, in the same move, Cowan, Jones and Barr all failed to force the ball home when well placed. 10 minutes later and United hit the post, before captain Dave Hocking had a good opportunity from a Barr corner. United continued to press with both Mark Jones and Pete Way going close. United did have the ball in the back of the net after 23 minutes following a well worked free kick, only for the referee to bring the game back for the free kick to be taken again. The first real opportunity for Brackley did not arrive until the 35th minute when a shot from fully 25 yards flew just over the bar and a minute later Matt Pay did well in the Thame goal to gather a shot at his near post.

The second half started in a similar vein, but 10 minutes in to the half United opened the scoring. A through ball from Gavin Way glanced off the head of an opposing defender in to the path of striker Mark Jones who calmly rounded the keeper to score from close range. However. The lead only lasted two minutes as good work down the Brackley right resulted in a cross along the six yard line that found an unmarked Brackley forward who calmly placed the ball wide of Pay. United nearly took the lead again two minutes later when a Greg Stocker shot went just wide of the post following a good passing move. However, it was Brackley who went in front ten minutes later when good work down the left resulted in a similar cross along the six yard line that was met by the on-rushing Brackley forward in front of the Thame defenders and placed wide of Pay. United nearly equalized shortly afterwards when Jones hit the crossbar, and they eventually got their reward three minutes from time when Manager Mark West was fouled in the box and Stocker stepped up to comfortably beat the Brackley keeper from the spot.

United face a trip to Shrivenham on Wednesday evening (7:45pm kick off) before facing landlords AFC Wallingford on Saturday 1st August, 2:30pm kick off.

Thame United Squad: Pay, Newell, P.Way, Hocking, Gacoyne, Jones, Cowan, El-Kassir, Smail, Barr, Gibbs, G.Way, Stocker, West.

THAME Runners Open Evening Run – Thame Runners would like to invite all runners (especially non-club runners) in the area to their open invitation run on Wednesday, July 29.

If you have run in the odd 10k or half marathon and fancy trying to run with a club, why not come along and give it a try and discover some of the footpaths and countryside around Thame?

There will be three runs to suit all abilities, each lasting about an hour. Afterwards there will be refreshments in the form of a buffet. There will also showers available.

The start is at 7pm from the Thame Leisure Centre, Oxford Road, Thame (please try and arrive early).

Enquiries to Pete White 07778 445473 or visit www.thamerunners.co.uk

Hope to see you there!

Photo: Anxious runners wait for ‘the off’ in a previous Thame 10K race

THAME Netball Club trains on Friday evenings in the sports hall at Lord Williams’s Lower School. Training sessions last for an hour and run from 6.30-7.30. They recently appointed Lisa Manning as their coach and she is doing an excellent job in terms of developing skills and preparing the club for next season. (2009-2010)

Karen Fowler told ThameNews.Net: “We currently have about 15 members and are actively seeking new members in order to develop two strong squads for the coming 2009/10 season. Club members range in age from school age to 40s/50s. We are keen to attract new members reglardless of age and ability and would encourage those interested to come along to a couple of training sessions before making a committment to the club.

“Recently, we played a friendly agianst Kites, another Thame team. The friendly was fought in good spirit and it was great to see two new Thame teams thriving in this period of pre-season training. Kites had the edge throughout with solid shooting, while Thame used the friendly as an opportunity to try out players in new positions in advance of the coming season. Kites demonstrated some good passing and won the game with 30 goals to 20. “

Contact: karenfowler84@hotmail.co.uk for more information about how to join.

THAME United traveled to Hellenic Premier Division side Kidlington on Saturday with a squad of around 30 players, for a double header with Kidlington Reserves and first team. The opening fixture between the respective Reserve sides saw United fall behind to an early goal, with former Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa player Garry Parker controlling the direction of play for Kidlington.

However, Thame came back in to the game strongly, and upset the hosts by scoring four goals and running out deserved 4-2 winners.

Bouyed by the result for the Reserve side, the First Team started well against a strong Kidlington side boasting last years Hellenic Premier Division Player of the Year. United also included the highly experienced Lee Orkney in goal with John Mitchell, a prolific goal scorer for United in their Southern League days and a target for Kettering Town only two seasons ago, returning up front.

Whilst Kidlington were generally on top for the early exchanges, they rarely threatened Orkney in the Thame goal, and it was United who took the lead in the 28th minute. Striker Aaron Rogers picked up a loose ball from the Kidlington defenders and neatly lobbed the stranded home keeper from 20 yards. There followed United?s best period of the half, as they kept the ball with a neat passing game, and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty just before the break when Tom Hoskins was fouled within the area, only for the referee to give a free kick on the edge of the box.

Kidlington came out strongly at the start of the second half and forced United on to the back foot ? something United were prepared for and content to hit Kidlington on the break. As a consequence, Orkney was the busier of the two keepers, but kept United in the game by collecting all the crosses that came in to the Thame box and comfortably gathering a number of long distance shots on the Thame goal. However, in the 73rd minute Orkney produced a stupendous save from only two yards, and moments later United could have extended their lead when Ricketts, who did well to work space on the bye-line hit a pin point cross to substitute Corey Forbes who could only find the Kidlington keeper from six yards out. Forbes almost found the back of the net five minutes later, only to see his effort from 18 yards well saved by the keeper.

United did, however, extend their lead in the final move of the match. Forbes held the ball up well on the halfway line, before feeding Ricketts in the left wing back position, who hit a pin point pass down the line to substitute Matt Leach. Leach turned his marker and, from a narrow angle on the edge of the box, hit a powerful shot across the keeper who could only parry the ball in to the path of Tom Hoskins who placed the rebound comfortably wide of the keeper.

Whilst United will concede that it was not one of their best performances, the confident and assured display by Lee Orkney in goal provided a solid base for their attacking football that reflected the understanding and confidence within a settled squad and which was aided by the guile and experience of John Mitchell up front.

Thame United: Orkney, Gascoyne, Newell, Cowan, Hocking, Jones, El-Kassir, Hoskins, Mitchell, Rogers, Ricketts (Substitutes: Forbes, Gibbs, Leach)
18th July 2009

Picture: John Mitchell (blue) returning to action for Thame United following a three year absence

THAME pulled off the most unlikely victory in its Home counties clash at Wokingham last Wednesday, 10/07/09.
Twice Wokingham were in the absolute ascendancy and both times Thame demonstrated resilience and determination to dig themselves out of a mire. Having won the toss Thame invited Wokingham to on a wicket that promised to support the efforts of the seam attack and promise a torrid time for the openers. Both Merry and Lachlan worked hard butbeat the bat regularly and often felt the pinch a a rapid out field. With the match losing 16 overs to rain the Thame bowlers found momentum hard to find and saw Wokingham move to a formidable position of 120 for 1 on a difficult pitch. Thame again mixed their bowlers well and saw excellent spells from beard (2-20), Bhatti (2-9) and Higgs (3-14) backed by some fine catches, claw their way back into the match and leave the home team losing 9 wickets for 63 run after lunch.

Thame, buoyant after such a fight-back, had a poor start and lost the top order in a flurry of wickets reaching 55 for 7leaving129 for victory in an unlikely 27 overs. The loss of Barnett saw the ever reliable Sam Lachlan who played a match winning innings ( 37*) by batting with great determination and frustrate the efforts of the Wokingham attack.

Brooks and Lachlan worked away at the Wokingham attack aided by some very attacking fields as Wokingham chased the 25 points.

The game developed into Thame needing 34 from 4 overs to win. A succession of boundaries from skipper Brooks (92*) saw Thame to victory with one over to spare and a record 8th wicket partnership of 129 for the club.

Photo courtesy of ‘gusloid’ flickr

THAME United travel to Hellenic Premier Division side Kidlington for a double-header in their first pre-season friendlies of the new season on Saturday.

The action will start at 12:30pm with United?s Reserve side taking on their Kidlington counterparts, and will be followed at 3:30pm when both respective First XI?s take to the field of play. Still buoyed by their excellent finish to last season, which saw them lose only one of their last thirteen league fixtures, United will be looking to test themselves against a Kidlington side under new management, including former Thame player Keith Appleton.

United have been in training since the middle of May, with the majority of the squad from last season in regular attendance. A number of new faces have also attended the training session which will enhance the team and add considerable experience. With strength in depth through the First XI, the Reserves and the Youth team, United are hoping to be challenging for honours through all three teams in their respective leagues.

After Saturday, United face Southern League side Marlow at Watlington on Tuesday evening (July 21; 7:00pm kick off), before travelling to Brackley Sports on Saturday, July 25 for another double-header, this time with both teams kicking off at 3:00pm.

15/07/09

A new stadium and facilities to take football in Thame into the next century, came closer last week when a

WELCOMING all juniors from beginners to elite from ages 7 – 15. All will recieve high quality coaching from our experienced coaches.

each day includes coaching,competitions and training as well as use of the equipment in the gyms.

Members

CHINNOR 1st XV Captain Matt Hutchings will be running rugby camp for 5 to 12 year olds during the summer holidays.

This successful ??rugby is fun? camp has been running for a number of years now and is open to members and non members, players and those new to the game. It is held at Chinnor Rugby club situated just on the outskirts of Thame on Kingsey Road.

One day starts at

THE 2009 CPM Thame 10K, this year attracted a record turn-out.
The race winner was Stephen Male of Oxford City AC, finishing in 33:54. The vetern mens race was won Julian Richardson also of Oxford City AC and the supervets race by Trevor Dixon-Nutt of (you’ve guessed it) Oxford City AC in a fantastic time of 37:37. No surprise then that Oxford City AC who dominated across all categories took the mens team title too, an achievement they can be very proud of.

For the second year in a row Jane Preen of Milton Keynes topped the ladies race in 38:03, by a now margin to Tracy Galbraith who won the Ladies Veteran race in 38:32.

Congratuations also go to Ladies Suprt Vet winner Angela Banks of Alchester Running Club who finished a superb 43:01.

Both ultravet Categories were retained by last years winners, Mike Shipway of Woodstock Harriers in 42:08 and everpresent Lena Gazzani of Bearbrook Joggers 50.06.

The full results are now available to Download as a pdf file from: http://www.thamerunners.co.uk

28/06/09

Photo: Stephen Male, (pictured when he also won the Otmoor Challenge back on June 6, 2009)