United were left to rue a penalty miss five minutes from time that could have secured a barely deserved point at Bedford Town on Saturday.
With Harry Mepham joining the injury list and Ben Connelly dropping to the bench as a precaution for a foot injury, manager Mark West shuffled the team, with Calvin Evans coming in at right back, Aston Goss switching to the right side of midfield and Luke Ricketts to the left.
Bedford, for their part, were a very different side to that which United had beaten 3-1 earlier in the season, with the sole survivor from that team being goalkeeper Kyle Forster – who ultimately played a big part in securing the points for the home side. From the outset United were on the back foot, as Bedford’s direct, long-ball style reaped dividends out wide with former Swindon Town and Charlton Athletic striker, Paul Benson, also proving a handful for the United centre-back pairing of James McGowan and Jamie Essex.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession and territory in the opening half an hour, including a number of corners, Bedford were unable to trouble Craig Hill in the Thame goal. That it took United until the 32nd minute to create their first chance on goal – a long range effort from Aston Goss that just cleared the bar – was perhaps indicative of the dominance of the home side but, as it was, United went in to half time on parity with the home side.
The second half opened with the home side maintaining the pressure, and Hill was forced in to a couple of fine saves to keep United in the game. United, for their part, showed more attacking intent and were finding some joy down the flanks with the pace of Lynton Goss starting to cause trouble. Indeed, on 53 minutes Goss found some space on the wide right and his shot from an acute angle was well held by Forster.
Ten minutes later and good passing down the right by Bedford saw an attacking striker upended in the box, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Benson chipped the penalty down the middle and in to the back of the net only for the referee to order a re-take for encroachment. This time Benson struck the ball low to the right, given the home side a deserved lead.
United looked to respond but, in fairness, did not look like taking anything from the game until, five minutes from time, Bedford were unable to clear the ball from their penalty area and Hull made a clumsy challenge on Tom Ashworth, with the referee awarding a second penalty of the match. Top scorer Dan West stepped-up, but his penalty was saved by the feet of Forster with the rebound falling to West who put the ball wide from his weaker left side.
That was as good as it got for United and, indeed, Hill pulled off a couple of smart saves in the final moments of the match to keep the score down.
United will now look to pick themselves up next weekend when play-off chasing Cambridge City are the visitors to the ASM Stadium.
Thame United:
Hill, Evans, Lynn, Essex, McGowan, Ashworth, A.Goss, L.Goss, Morris, West, Ricketts
