Goals for Thame: Blake 14 and 68 (pen), Tucker 82
Starting XI Thame United: Rackley, Peake-Pijnen, Essex, Mapley, Mepham, Blake (Capt), Hackett, Tutton, Tack, West, Goss
This pre season game was played behind closed doors. This year it was the turn of the U's U21 side to travel to the ASM Stadium in windy conditions.
Thame entered this fixture undefeated in pre season with the forwards banging in the goals. This match was full of goals and a real competitive game.
The first goal came about when an Oxford United defender failed to head the ball away from goal. Ryan Blake capitalised and fired the ball into the top of the net. Thame pushed Oxford back for the first 30 minutes but then the yellows upped their game and took control for the rest of the first half.
Oxford made Thame pay for switching off at the back. Oxford squared the ball across goal for a tap in. A corner for Oxford was not dealt with in the air by Thame. It ended up as an easy tap in at the back post. The third goal for Oxford was a strike from distance along the deck which crept inside the near post. Which meant it was the yellows that went into the break 3-1 up.
The first half saw multiple chances for both sides and a physical battle in various areas of the field.
Manager Mark West brought on Ben Sturgess into centre midfield at half time which was later followed by multiple trialists. Thame battled in the middle of the park to get early possession in the second half. The early part of the second half saw Thame create half chances from set pieces and attacks on the break without hitting the target. Thame refused to give up the fight and it was Sturgess who was fouled in the box giving Thame a penalty. Ryan Blake stepped up and placed his penalty down the middle of the goal.
One minute after Thame had scored from the spot, Oxford were awarded a penalty of their own which rattled the bar. Thame equalised when a corner kick was not cleared and defender Tucker turned and fired the shot in with his left foot to make it 3-3.
Oxford responded immediately and for the second time a shot from outside the box found it's way into the net to give the visitors the lead again.
NEXT UP Thame will host Leighton Town this Saturday at the ASM Stadium with fans back in attendance.
