Thame United entertained Kings Langley in their final home league game of the season knowing nothing more than a win would do in their bid to avoid the drop. Kings Langley came into this their final game of the season sitting comfortably in mid table, with an impressive scoring record of 71 goals this season.

Manager Ben Williams made a number of changes to the team that narrowly lost out to Biggleswade Town last weekend. Captain Jefferson Louis was fit again and returned at centre back, with Fin Murray moving to the bench, Dani Lucas came in for Ollie Hogg and Mark Riddick replaced Matty Harriott who also moved to the bench. Theo Ransby came back into the squad on the bench as James Towell was unavailable.

Thame were kicking from right to left in the first half, and got off to a dream start on 8 minutes, when a clearance from Jefferson Louis intersected the Kings Langley centre backs, with Ryan Knight the first to react and ran onto the ball and from just outside the area took a first time shot to the right of the keeper who just stood there wrong footed, 1 - 0 to Thame. The visitors were dominating possession but were finding it difficult to break through a resolute Thame defence, who were playing well on the counter attack with Mark Riddick and Ethan Lack breaking at pace when the ball was recovered in midfield. There was little more goal mouth action in the first half, Thame were comfortable with keeper Davis having very little to do.

The second half kicked off, Kings Langley upped the tempo and started to push Thame back especially using the flanks to get in behind the home teams defence, the visitors thought they had equalised on 52 minutes, when the ball was worked out on their left hand side and it was crossed into the middle and it was touched into the net by the visitors striker, however the linesman immediately raised his flag for offside, a let off for the home team. Thame made their first substitute with Louis Fountain replacing Dani Lucas on the left had side. It got better for Thame on 61 minutes, Pierce McNamara intercepted a ball played a nice one two with Ethan Lack, drove into the Kings Langley half and played a great through ball which Harry Alexander ran onto shrugged of the defence and cooly slotted passed the advancing keeper for his 15 goal of the season. Matty Harriot replaced Eitel Goueth on 71 minutes who had been booked earlier and slotted into central midfield. Kings Langley had their first meaningful shot of the game on 69 minutes but the ball was blasted over the bar. A few minutes later at the other end, the Kings Langley keeper pulled off a fine save from close range to deny Ryan Knight his second.

Thame were on top, and winning every ball in the air with Jefferson Louis, Romeo Ebona and Mark Riddick having fine games, the icing on the cake for the home side came on 82 minutes, Kings Langley defence, lost the ball on the half way line when Ryan Knight capitalised on a poor touch from the centre half on the half way line, he drove at the visitors defence into the box and taking it round the keeper and slotting home for his second and Thames third. The visitors had one last chance to pull one back late on but the shot was wide of goal. And Thame ran the clock down to end up with a comfortable 3 - 0 victory, which on the balance of play was no more than they deserved.

So with one game to go away to Waltham Abbey next Saturday, there is still plenty to play for with a shoot out now with Aylesbury United for the second bottom place. A win for Thame and defeat for Aylesbury with a 4 goal turnaround could make the difference.

Goals

Ryan Knight 8 & 82 minutes
Harry Alexander 60 minutes

Line Up
Archie Davis
Oscar Lucey
Pierce McNamara
Ethan Lack
Romeo Ebonda
Mark Riddick
Dani Lucas (Louis Fountain 50 minutes)
Ryan Knight
Jefferson Louis
Eitel Goueth (Matty Harriot 71 minutes)
Harry Alexander (Theo Ransby 87 minutes)

Substitutes
Theo Ransby
Louis Fountain
Ollie Hogg
Matty Harriott
Fin Murray