It was another game under the lights as Thame United welcomed Enfield FC for their first ever visit to The ASM Stadium, this was Thames’s game in hand on the other play off contenders, so 3 points was a must. After a good performance in Saturday’s goalless draw against rivals Barton Rovers, Manager Ben Williams kept the same starting eleven with the bench also staying the same, Dan West retaining his place at centre back, along side Fin Murray.

Thame got the game started kicking from left to right in the first half, there was a slight breeze blowing across the ground from touch line to touch line, but nothing like the last two home games with the wind blowing straight down the pitch, it was also noticeable how the pitch had greened up and the grass starting to grow since the weekend game. Thame started the game strongly on 2 minutes the they won a free kick in their own half, Dan West delivered the ball into the box, it was half cleared and fell to Mark Riddick on the edge of the area, who’s shot is wide of the goal. Two minutes later Thame win the first of several first half corners, which is taken by Brayden Daniel who played ball into box, from the right had side and its met by Fin Murray with a free header but its wide of the goal. Another trade mark Brayden Daniel run down the left and into the box forces the keeper to make a save from his shot and put the ball out for another corner. Enfield first foray into the Thame box, resulted in a cross coming into the left hand side of the box, but the Enfield's players header is straight up in the air and Keeper Matty Crowther collects easily.

Thame win a free kick on 18 minutes but Jack Tutton kick is wide of the mark while at the other end on 21 minutes a good move by the visitors left winger breaks down the flank and his low cross is claimed by keeper Crowther diving at the feet of the on rushing attacker. There was a long stoppage on 24 minute while an Enfield player receives treatment after a collision with the Thame left back Josh Stranks. The home side were on top and on 29 minutes win a free kick just out side the box on the right hand side but Greg Hacketts shot is over the bar. Thame win another corner on 44 minutes, with the ball ball is floated in, its half cleared and falls to Ty Deacon, but his shot is inches wide of the left hand upright with the keeper know where. The corner count for Thame was rising, another from the right hand side reaches Greg Hackett at the back post but his shot is pushed out for yet another corner. There was a Yellow card for Enfield defender who took out Brayden Daniel as he was in on goal, the Thame players wanted more, but the referee just gave the free kick. Into added time of which there are a good few minutes, as there had been plenty of stoppages and the opening goal for Thame comes from Captain Mark Riddick, yet another corner is floated in from the left and he gets a head on the ball and his goal bound effort takes a slight deflection which takes it past the keeper, no more than Thame deserve on the balance of the first half play. It’s been a scrappy first half with some robust challenges going in which have resulted in three yellow cards for the visitors and one for Thame. But Thame have dominated play creating more chances with keeper Matty Crowther not having much to do.

Enfield got the second half underway, with not much action in the first 10 minutes, the home side sitting deep inviting pressure from the visitors, who won the first corner of the half which is comfortably cleared. Moments later Thame win a free kick in the visitors half, the ball is played into to Brayden Daniel, but just can get a good enough connection to score. Yet another free kick won by the home side just inside their own half, which is taken by Jack Tutton, Mark Riddick gets a flick on to Brayden Daniels who slots the ball into the net from inside the 6 yard box, only for the off side flag to go up. There was another break in play when a coming together in the Thame left hand corner of the pitch which involved Fin Murray saw the free kick going the home sides way, but the Enfield player coming off worse.

Thame made their first substitutes on 68 minutes, with Jefferson Louis and Curtis Brown replacing Ty Deacon who had picked up a knock and Greg Hackett. Moments later Jefferson Louis holds the ball up midway on the Enfield half turned and played in Curtis Brown, who drove into the box, took it round the advancing keeper, and his shot went inches wide of the near post. Enfield then had a chance to equalise with a long range shot beating keeper Crowther only to crash off of the cross bar. Tyrone Lewthwaite made his second Thame appearance replacing Brayden Daniel on 81 minutes. Enfield were pressing the Thame back line and won a cheap free kick just out side the penalty area, but the shot is blocked, moments later almost a carbon copy with the visitors winning another free kick but the kick sales over the bar. Another half chance is safely collected by Matty Crowther. With the clock ticking down, Thame score their second and with Enfield pressing high, the home side win the ball back and find Jefferson Louis just inside the opposition half with back to their goal, he turned and played the ball over the top of the remaining Enfield defender for Curtis Brown to run onto, as the keeper came running out to try and get the ball, Brown was first to it and knocked it passed the advancing keeper, and out paced the defender to knock the ball into the empty net. Thame made their final substitute with Leo Galpin coming on to replace Ethan Lack who had had a good performance in the midfield engine room. Thame wound down the clock for the final few minutes with no real dramas and recorded a deserved 2 - 0 victory in a physical and sometimes bad tempered game. But the home dies stood up to the task and moved back into play off spots.
Goals
Mark Riddick 45 minutes
Curtis Brown 87 minutes

Starting Eleven

1.Matty Crowther
2.Lewis Thorn
3.Josh Stranks
4.Fin Murray
5.Ethan Lack (Leo Galpin 87 minutes)
6.Mark Riddick
7.Greg Hackett (Curtis Brown 68 minutes|)
8.Jack Tutton
9.Ty Deacon (Jefferson Louis 68 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Brayden Daniel (Tyrone Lewthwaite 81 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Tyrone Lewthwaite
14.Jefferson Louis
15.Oscar Lucey
16.Leo Galpin
17.Curtis Brown

Attendance 112