Thame United were back in action in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One, as they travelled to Barnet to take on fifth place Hadley who are flying high this season. There were a couple of changes to team that faced Welwyn Garden City on Saturday, Jefferson Louis and Curtis Brown replaced Ty Deacon and Harry Alexander and there was a return to the bench for Mark Riddick who had recovered from illness and Hayden Beadle.

It was a cold night in Barnet, the pitch was in good condition, with a slight slope from right to left the home team were kicking downhill in the first half. Thame started the game strongly and almost took the lead on 3 minutes, good work from Jefferson Louis played in Tom McElroy on the right hand side his shot was saved and Brayden Daniel's follow up shot was cleared off of the line. Matty Crowther was called into action early after Thame lost the ball on the half way line and a quick counter brought out a good save. Hadley were having a bit of joy on their right hand side creating a few difficult moments for the Thame defence, and from one of those attacks the home side took the lead on 9 minutes the ball was crossed into the box and took a wicked deflection off of a Thame defender and into the net past a wrong footed Crowther. Moments later the visitors went close Jefferson Louis chested a ball down with Tom McElroy’s volley going close. Thame were growing into the game and had created a couple of chances with Dan West and Jack Tutton going close with free kicks just outside the area. Hadley were looking dangerous on the counter attack. The home side were forced into making an early substitute as the left back suffered a head injury. The half ended with the home side taking a 1 - 0 lead into the interval, but it was a close game.

Thame were out early for the second half and made a half time substitute with Oscar Lucey replacing Josh Stranks, and started the half well and created two chances to equalise, first a shot from Tom McElroy was well saved by the Hadley keeper, tipping it over the bar then from a corner Fin Murray’s head was just over the bar. Thame were playing well, and putting the home side under pressure, but Hadley were looking dangerous on the counter attack causing the defence a few problems, but against the run of play on 55 minutes the home side went two goals up. After winning a corner the ball came into the box and wasn’t cleared dropping to a Hadley forward whose shot went through a crowd of players into the net. The goal gave the home side the impetus and they continued to attack with Thame struggling to deal with the pressure and within minutes Hadley had a third, another messy goal to concede. Thame made four changes before the restart, Ethan Lack, Leo Galpin, Jefferson Louis and Curtis Brown replaced by Mark Riddick, Hayden Beadle, Ty Deacon and Harry Alexander.

Hadley were content to side back behind the ball and give possession to the visitors in the final 20 minutes, and although Ty Deacon had a shot well saved by the Hadley keeper and Fin Murrays header rebounding of the cross bar, the home side were still dangerous on the counter attack with keeper Crowther forced into making a number of saves as the game drew to a conclusion. There was a strong penalty shot as Hayden Beadle looked like he was brought down in the box but the referee waved it away. And although Thame kept battling the final score ended in a big 3 - 0 home win for Hadley which takes them 8 points clear of Thame.

Next up for Thame is a home game agains bottom of the table North Leigh this Saturday

Starting Eleven

1.Matty Crowther
2.Josh Stranks (Oscar Lucey 61 minutes)
3.Leo Galpin (Mark Riddick 61 minutes)
4.Jack Tutton
5.Fin Murray
6.Ethan Lack (Hayden Beadle 61 minutes)
7.Tom McElroy
8.Brayden Daniel
9.Jefferson Louis (Ty Deacon 79 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Curtis Brown (Harry Alexander 61 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Harry Alexander
14.Ty Deacon
15.Mark Riddick
16.Oscar Lucey
17.Hayden Beadle