Thame United 4 – 2 Wealdstone
Thame United4 - 2
WealdstoneTame ?
And it certainly was a tame start from Wealdstone who really were not at the races during the opening exchanges, seemingly off the pace throughout the side. Thame had four chances early on, and better finishing may have seen them take a commanding early lead, as it was only Wealdstone’s failure to clear their lines from a corner saw a chip into the six yard box finished by Jones to give the home side the lead.
Stones were still under pressure and were not competing across the field when another defensive error saw a cross to the back post where Swaysland scored the Thame second on 22 minutes. From this point on though Wealdstone did start to play, Gordon Bartlett changing the formation to a three man back line, moving Danny reeve into midfield to prevent Jones, the Thame playmaker from controlling the game, which until half time, was successful. Just before the half, Ricky Pither making his first start was replaced suffering the after effects of flu, and he had been unable to breath properly during the half.
Another slight adjustment to the formation in the second half saw Stone start the half on top, and it was Thame that were forced back into their own half. Again from a corner, the defence failed to clear and Danny reeve was on hand to give Stones a glimmer of hope, pulling back a goal on 54 minutes.
Stones battled well for a period and had the better chances, Tilbury, Hammatt and Shaw all having opportunities to equalise but to no avail.
On 70 minutes Danny Gibbs slipped making a challenge and his man broke down the touch line and hit a cross into the Stones area, as the ball came in Cort tried a bicycle kick, missing the ball, but with both sides lining up for a goal kick, the referee awarded a penalty, having seen Cort’s shirt tugged in the area, later admitted by a luckless defender. It was no worse than happens frequently in the box, but this time the penalty was given, and Jones stepped up to score Thame’s third goal, somewhat fortunate at the time.
Stones lost their shape at this point, desperate to get back into the game, and it was no surprise when Swaysland scored their fourth minutes later.
Stones did continue to press, and forced a couple of save before on 88 minutes Hammatt broke away only to be brought down just outside the area by the home keeper who was sent off. The free kick was cleared but only as far as Shaw who scored a consolation for Stones from 25 yards. All in all, not a good performance, but a score line that may have been very different early in the second half.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter (b70), Robin Tucker, Fergus Moore, Billy Amarteifio, Danny Reeve (54), Paul Lamb (b75), Ricky Pither (s38 Danny Gibbs), Jason Shaw (89), Dennis Greene (s65 Lee Walker b82), Bryan Hammatt, Danny Tilbury (s78 Robert Connelly)