30th September 2024
Thame United travelled to Kings Langley in the Pitching In, Southern League Central Division one, for a Friday night fixture under the lights. Both teams were separated by one place and one point in the table going into the match, with Kings Langley only suffering one defeat in the league this season, winning three and drawing one game. Last season the honours were shared with both home teams winning.
Manager Ben Williams had no injury worries so the starting line was the same as last weekends victorious side at Westfield, with Tom McElroy and Archie Davies returning to the bench. It was credit to the Kings Langley grounds staff, as the pitch was in excellent condition despite the heavy rain over the previous 24 hours. Before the game there was a minutes silence to recognise Suicide awareness with Kings Langley working with Hectors House to raise awareness.
The home side kicked off with with Thame kicking from right to left in the first half, Thame started where they left off in the last match with a high press on the home team forcing mistakes from their defence, giving the ball away allowing Thame to press forward. The visitors had a couple of early chances, first a Jack Tutton shot was saved by the home sides keeper and Harry Alexander had another shot over the bar. The Langley side were battling for every ball, with strong challenges going in from both sides with each side picking up early yellow cards. Thame were on top and pushing the home side back, and the breakthrough came on 33 minutes, Thame won a free kick just out side the Kings Langley box, Dan West stepped up but his shot deflected back off the wall and fell to Harry Alexander who’s first time shot from the left hand side looped over the keepers head and into the net. The visitors were in the ascendancy and two minutes later another attack saw Braden Daniel play a through ball into the box for Alexander to run onto, he was taken down and the referee pointed to the spot. He picked the ball up and his spot kick sent the keeper the wrong way, 2 – 0, just before the break another chance for the visitors but the home team keeper pulled off a good save. That was all the action from the first half with Thame going into the break with a deserved 2 – 0 lead.
The second half got underway with Kings Langley immediately on the attack, a scramble in the Thame box, and a close range shot was blocked, a few minutes later another Langley attack on the right saw the ball fired across the box and just wide of the post, this was followed by another attack on the right with the final shot over the bar. Thame made their first sub with Jack Tutton limping off to be replaced by Tom McElroy, The home side were getting a lot of joy on the right, another shot is fired in but saved by keeper Crowther, mid way through the half and it was alll Langley with Thame struggling to get out of their own half. Braden Daniel had worked hard up front was replaced by Jefferson Louis on 71 minutes. On 73 minutes another strike from the home team side beat the keeper but cannons back off of the bar, a few minutes later Crowther is forced into making another good save diving low to his right to collect the ball. A few minutes later Curtis Brown came on for goal scorer Harry Alexander and the final change for the visitors saw Greg Hacket replaced by Fabian Garcia. As the game went into its final 10 minutes Thame had weathered the storm and had a couple of counter attacking chances with both Jefferson Louis and Curtis Brown going close.
The referee added 5 minutes of additional time at the end of the game, but Thame were resilient in their defending and saw the game out to come away with a very good away victory. It was a game of two halves a very good offensive display in the first half and a resilient defensive display in the second half. Fin Murray was name man of the match for a commanding performance at the back. The win leapfrogs Thame above Langley and up to seventh place in the table on twelve points after this weekends fixtures.
Next up is a visit to newly promoted Flackwell Heath on Tuesday night at the Wilkes Stadium, kick off 19.45.
Man of the Match
Fin Murray, commanding performance in defence.
Goals
Harry Alexander (33 minutes Penalty)
Harry Alexander (35 minutes)
Team
1.Matthew Crowther
2.Josh Stranks
3.Oscar Lucey
4.Leo Galpin
5.Fin Murray
6.Mark Riddick
7.Jack Tutton (Tom McElroy 54 Minutes)
8.Greg Hackett (Fabian Garcia 80 minutes)
9.Brayden Daniel (Jefferson Louis 71 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Harry Alexander (Curtis Brown 74 minutes)
Substitutes
12.Jefferson Louis
14.Curtis Brown
15.Fabian Garcia
16.Tom McElroy
17.Archie Davis
