Category: Sports News

THAME UNITED’S run of five consecutive wins came to an end on Saturday (15/09), when they lost to Binfield on Saturday, three goals to two.
The visitors were probably the best organised side that Thame had faced so far this season. Although Thame did not play badly, they gave the visitors too much space, which they were quick to exploit.

The game saw the welcome return of striker Nathan Jack to Thame after a short spell with Kidlington.

Binfield had more first half possession but there were few chances at either end until the 26th minute when the visitors went ahead with a superb 35 yard shot from Tim Walsh. A few minutes later, Walsh was unlucky to see another shot hit the Thame crossbar. United went close in the 40th minute when a Nathan Jack free kick, from at least 40 yards, grazed the outside of the post. The scores were levelled just before half time when Dave Hocking met a Jack corner with a powerful header from close range.

Thame played better after the break and took the lead on 56 minutes. Jack picked up the ball at the half way line and ran at goal. He was forced wide, lost possession, but somehow managed to regain it before playing a quality ball from the left by line to Stuart Braun who finished clinically from six yards. Binfield countered and equalised in the 70th minute when a ball from the right found Walsh in space. He turned and shot from eight yards, giving Thame goalkeeper, Paul Searl, no chance.
Binfield?s winner came from a corner in the 81st minute when defender Gary Callaway?s header took a deflection to beat Searl. The last few minutes saw sustained, and sometimes frantic, Thame pressure but the visitors held out to take the points.

Thame United: Searl, Ansell, Graves, Hocking (West), Higgs, Boult, Braun, Watkins (Green), Reading (Leach), Jack, Connelly.

Thame United travel to Wiltshire next Saturday (22nd) for a FA Vase match. The next home game is on October 29th when Englefield Rovers are the visitors.

THAME United confirmed last night that Nathan Jack has rejoined the club following a short spell at Kidlington FC.
Jack was the Hellenic Premier League, and Thame United Player of the Year last year. With his goal scoring record it will bring an added boost to the squad that has recently produced five straight wins, moving them up to fourth place in the Hellenic league.

Asst Manager Frank Thompson stated:”With Nathan?s proven pace and goal scoring ability, this will add strength and experience to our young squad.
“We are looking to get a good blend of youth and experienced players in the team now and our recent results have demonstrated that we are starting to get the mix right.”
He added:”The Club is going through a major transitional period currently and will shortly unveil it?s plans for a new sports and football stadium complex in Thame with the Thame Football Partnership. Through our youth programme and partnership with Thame Boys and Girls FC we are able to bring local players into the senior squads and this has already been demonstrated with the Reserve and Allied Counties U18 sides both having good starts to their season, this exciting news will only help to strengthen our cause and enable us to bring football in the community back to Thame.”

THAME won their fifth game in a row and moved in to fourth position in the league with a hard fought victory at Ascot United last Saturday (08/09).
At the picturesque home of Ascot United, adjacent to the racecourse, the first half was an even affair with neither side creating many goal scoring opportunities, the best for Thame falling to Full Back, Matt Graves who could not beat the Ascot keeper from 25 yards.

For the second week in a row, the half- time team talk from Mark West seemed to have the desired effect as Thame came out the stronger of the two sides. Indeed, with only three minutes gone in the second half, Chris Watkins crossed from the left for Paul Reading to confidently volley home from 10 yards. This seemed to settle Thame as they began to take a grip on the game and, in the space of five minutes, had four good chances to extend their lead. The best chance fell to Ben Connelly who, on one of his trademark jinking runs, beat four players only for the goalkeeper to save his goal bound shot at the near post.

The missed chances looked like they may cost Thame as Ascot threw everyone forward in the last ten minutes. However, some good saves from keeper Paul Searl and wayward finishing from the Ascot forwards, meant it was Thame who returned home with the three points.
ASCOT UNITED 0 1 THAME UNITED

Thame now look to make it six wins in a row on Saturday (15th September) as they face a stiff test against sixth place, Binfield at home (AFC Wallingford), 3:00pm kick off.

Thame United: Searl, Cowan, Graves, Boult, Hocking, Higgs, Connelly, Rhodes, Reading (West), Braun (Catlin), Watkins (Ricketts).

Thame United Reserves moved in to second place in the Hellenic Reserve Division 2 East, with a comfortable 9-2 win against Prestwood Reserves at the Southern Road Recreation Ground. Pick of the players was striker Matt Leach, who scored five goals including one direct from a kick off.
8th September 2007

CHINNOR RFC 2nd Team – Friendly Game against Weston Super Mare, Saturday, September 8.
Score: Chinnor 36 pts – Westom SM 13 pts.
Tries: Rob Fenwick, Ian Stock, Andy Millburn, Nick Grimsdell and Adam Seymour.
Conversions: Adam White x 4
Penalties: Adam White x 1

MATCH REPORT (Contributed)
Chinnor seconds visited Weston Super Mare and came away with a very good win, by beating their 2nd team by 36 points to 13 in a friendly.
Chinnor went down to Weston with one player on the bench. They had to lose one of their boys to the first team due to one their players pulling out. All fifteen players had great games but there were also some outstanding performances by the forwards Rixon, Goddard, Millburn with Stock, Winchester, Iles, Scholtz on his debut, and the team was well lead by captain Fenwick who was not far behind.
The backs excelled with Duder and Burns closely followed by Grimsdell, White, Hackshaw, Davies, and Tom Iles who played out of position.

Weston was first to put points on the board with a penalty that was offset two minutes later by White. It took until the 20th minute for Chinnor to add more points with a well worked try by Millburn converted by White. This did not last long with Weston converting a try of their own and the points were level 10 points each. Then the boys then stepped up a notch with some class rugby between forwards and backs leading to a try by Capt Fenwick then one by Grimsdell converted by White and the first half finished 22 points to 10.

Sadly, Chinnor lost Iles with a hamstring injury early in the second half. This resulted in Chinnor playing the rest of the match with14 players. Scholtz, No 8, moved to centre to fill the gap and the forwards played the rest of the game with seven men. Watching the game one would never have known it, they were so disciplined with everyone giving their all.

Ian Stock was the next one to score after some great interpassing between backs and forwards again working as a unit. Weston added to their point tally with another penalty. Captain Marvel then broke out of a tackle and sprinted 50 meters passing to Adam Seymour for another try with Adam White adding the extra two points. Chinnor finished the game 36 points to 13.

The ref thanked the Chinnor team for making it one of the best games that he had officiated at and remarked on the discipline they showed for the full game.
Man of the Match, Ed Rixon.

CHINNOR 2nd – 33 Pts vs. Grove 1st – 14 Pts
Away, friendly game – September 1.
SCORERS
Tries: Tom Iles, Guy Hackshaw, Adam Seymour and 2 x Richard Grimsdell.
Conversions: 4 x Adam White

MATCH REPORT By Walter McGuicken

Chinnor seconds started the new season with a very good win by beating Grove First 15 by 33 points to 14.

A rugby game called a friendly is a contradiction in terms, and this game was no different with both teams giving their all. It was very physical with hits coming in as if their lives depended on it with no quarter given. The game was played in four periods of 30 minutes each, which was meant to have been 20-minute periods, but it worked out well.
Both teams were a little rusty after not playing for the last four months. It was more evident in the first 20 minutes with both teams making a lot of errors.
The Grove pack was the bigger with a lot of older heads; this gave the Chinnor pack something to think about for the coming season.
First points went the way of Chinnor with a forwards drive, new boy, Tom Iles, playing at No 8, scoring the try in the 20th minute.
It took to the 60th minute for the next points when it went the way of Grove with their scrumhalf breaking around the side of the scrum and Chinnor were caught flat footed. The first half ended with Grove in the lead 7points to 5.

The second half, or third 30 minute period, saw a more determined Chinnor team cutting out most of the errors. There were a lot of positives and great inter passing between forwards and backs and getting to the break down much quicker. This made a vast difference and it was just a matter of time before they would add points. It came by off a break by Richard Grimsdell that left Grove for dead and scored under the posts converted by Adam White.
Then it was the turn of Guy Hackshaw after Ian Stock broke through about six players to off load to Guy, again converted by White. Once again Grimsdell broke through a number players to score and again converted by White and Chinnor were 26 points to 7 ahead.

Final points for Chinnor came from some great inter passing between backs and forwards from their own try line, ending up with flanker, Adam Seymour, running from the Grove 10 meter line to score a fantastic try once again converted by White.
Grove finally got a consolation try after some sloppy passing by Chinnor, making the final score Chinnor 33 points to 14.
Chinnor seconds welcome the new boys to the team, Anthony Avery, Tom Iles and Tim Price, it?s great to have you join us.

Walter

MATCH REPORT – League game – Saturday, September 1.
Thame United 3, Holyport 2
Thame United continued their winning ways on Saturday in a close match. The visitors from Berkshire had more first-half possession and went ahead in the 30th minute when, following a corner, Thame goalkeeper Paul Searl did well to parry a goal bound header. Unfortunately for Thame, the ball was met by visiting midfielder, Aaron Coleman, who reacted quickly to head in from close range. Ten minutes later Searl made a good stop from a 30-yard shot from visiting striker David Butler. Thame seemed content to ?go for glory? with long range shots which were rarely on target and did not really threaten the Holyport goal.

The visitors were out for the second half at least three minutes before Thame. Whatever Mark West said to his team during that extended break worked, as they were far more dangerous in the second half.

The equaliser came on 60 minutes, when Chris Watkins hit a cross from the left which was met on the goal line by both the visiting goalkeeper and Thame?s Nigel Swafford, who managed to head home without impeding the keeper. Thame took the lead five minutes later when, following a poor clearance by the Holyport Keeper (which hit one of his own players), Ben Connelly nipped in, beat a defender, and made a good run at goal before squaring the ball for Swafford to tap in his second.
Thame?s third, in the 83rd minute, again came from a Watkins left-field cross. This time it was played to the feet of West who created a good chance by passing quickly to the unmarked Stuart Braun. The impressive Braun finished well by hitting a strong, well-placed shot from 12 yards, giving the keeper no chance.
The visitors pulled a goal back a minute from time but it was Thame who, perhaps fortunately, took the points.

Thame United Searl, Cowan, Graves (Ricketts), Higgs, Hocking (Capt.) Boult, Watkins, Braun (Catlin), Swafford, Reading (West), Connelly.

THAME United are away to Ascot United on Saturday, September 8. Their next home match is at Wallingford on September 15, when they face Binfield.

THAME Badminton Club has issued a welcome for players to join the club for both social and competitive play.
With the new season starting, the club is holding two open evenings at the Thame Leisure Centre on September 5 and 12, from 8pm to 10.30pm.
For more informaton call David Hargrave on 01844 290000, or email dmhargrave@msn.com. Visit: the club’s website.

THAME United defeated Rayners Lane on Tuesday (21/08) evening, three goals to nil, in an entertaining game played at a fast pace. Manager Mark West donned the number nine shirt and played for the full 90 minutes.
Whilst ?Westy? may not be as fast as the rest of the team, many of whom are half his age, he showed some beautiful touches of class and scored the opening goal.
Thame started brightly and went ahead in the 14th minute when James Bloomfield played a through ball to West lurking just outside the six yard box. It looked as if a defender had the ball under control when West robbed him of the ball, dummied the goalkeeper, and fired home. Rayners Lane countered and the small crowd were treated to a period of attacking end-to-end football, with both teams creating good moves and both defences under pressure.
Early in the second half, Paul reading, who had come on to partner West up front after Bloomfield was injured, dropped back to midfield and Stuart Braun moved forward as joint striker. This proved an inspirational swap when they both scored. Reading?s goal was a beauty. It came after 70 minutes when the Braun played the ball back to Reading who hit a 30 yard screamer which the keeper got a hand to, but could not stop. Thame were now in control and with nine minutes remaining, Ben Connelly made a brave run before squaring the ball to Braun who finished confidently from 12 yards.
Overall it was a good performance from the Thame team who will be encouraged that this season they have scored more goals than they have conceded, a position Thame United have not been in for over two years.

Thame United: Searl, Way, Graves, Hocking (Watkins), Ansell, Rhodes, Connelly, Braun (Leach), West, Bloomfield (Reading), Barr.

THAME United rounded of a good Bank Holiday weekend, which will probably be seen as a turning point in their fortunes, when they scored another four goals to add to the five they scored on Saturday (26) REPORT BELOW.
It must be said that neither Prestwood nor Saturday?s opponents, Eton Wick, were particularly strong sides, but nevertheless Thame are beginning to get into the habit of convincingly winning their games. After the problems of the last two seasons, long may this continue!
The first 20 minutes were fairly even but then Thame started to pressurise the Prestwood goal and, following a corner, Dave Hocking was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar. Thame squandered several good chances but, just before half time Stuart Braun met a cross from the right with a well placed strike to finish confidently from 10 yards.
Prestwood had no answer and Thame dominated the second half, with goalkeeper, Paul Searl, rarely troubled. The second goal came in the 75th minute when Nigel Swafford hit a beauty from 15 yards which struck the far post before nestling in the back of the Prestwood net. Eight minutes later Swafford crossed to the tenacious Stuart Barr who, beat his marker, and finished well from eight yards. Thame?s final goal was created by a spectacular run by Ben Connelly who picked the ball up just over the half way line and beat several defenders before reaching the left by-line when he passed back to Swafford who hit a strong shot to score from 18 Yards.

Overall, it was a very satisfying performance from the young Thame team; however the real test will come when they meet the teams at the top of the table.

Thame United: Searl, Way, Graves, Boult (Higgs), Hocking, Ansell, Barr, Braun (West), Stafford, Reading (Cowan), Connelly.

NB In a recently rearranged fixture, Thame are at home next Saturday, September 1, when Holyport are the visitors. (K.O.3.00)

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MATCH REPORT – Eton Wick 1, Thame United 5 – League March 25/8/07

IN Thame United?s second game in five days, on what must have been the hottest day of the season, they came up against Eton Wick, Third from bottom of the League, the game being played under the magnificent backdrop of Windsor Castle.
Having been around since 1881, Eton Wick have an even longer history than Thame United.

Thame made a good start with Ben Connelly driving the ball into the Wick net from a Stewart Barr cross after just 8 minutes. The game then settled down with both sides fairly even until, three minutes before the break, Ben Connelly made another of his magnificent runs and crossed the ball into the goal mouth where a scramble ensued until Adam Rhodes drove the ball into the net. With Thame now fired up, Paul Reading went on to hit the bar before scoring Thame?s third goal seconds before half time. Thame went in for the break three goals up.

The second half showed a different story with Eton Wick starting strongly and after 15 minutes their Stuart Johnson scored a superb ?Beckham? type goal from a free kick thirty yards out. With 15 minutes remaining, Paul Reading worked well to get the ball into the Wick goal mouth for Matt Leach to score from close range. Wick battled bravely to pull back the deficit but four minutes later a collision left the Wick goalkeeper and Adam Rhodes writhing on the ground with the ball running free. Paul Redding quickly assessed the situation and coolly punted the ball into the net during the confusion, scoring his second and Thame?s fifth goal.

Thame United: Searl, Way (Cowan), Watkins (West), Boult, Ansell, Graves (Captain), Connelly, Rhodes, Bloomfield (Leach), Redding, Barr

A THAME cricket scorer recently had the honour of being called up to keep the score at a prestigious County cricket match.
Surrey County Cricket Club was due to play Kent CCC in a LV County Championship match at Canterbury. However, Keith Booth, the SCCC scorer had to score at the Oval Test match against India and needed a replacement. He called up one of the Thame Cricket Club scorers, Andy Scarlett, to stand in for him. Andy travelled down to Canterbury the night before the match to meet up with the Surrey team.

The Thame link was further strengthened as Jon Batty, a former Thame player, was keeping wicket for Surrey. Surrey played well and beat Kent in just two days.

The Surrey coach commented that perhaps Andy should score another game as he had seen only the second win in the Championship for Surrey, and pulled them out of the relegation zone.

This was not the first time that Andy has scored at this level. Since retiring from playing cricket, Andy has umpired and scored all over the country. He said that he could not give up the game and had to do something. When not with Thame, Andy can usually be found at a cricket match somewhere. The following week, he was in the scorebox at Lord?s for the Friends Provident final.