Thame United welcomed Frackwell Heath to The ASM Stadium in what was a must win game in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One, to maintain the playoff push. Manager Ben Williams welcomed back captain Mark Riddick and Dan West who were missing from the last game, Leo Galpin was unavailable so Dan West partnered Fin Murray at the centre of the defence, with Jefferson Loius moving to the number 9 position, replacing Ty Deacon who moved to the bench.

For the third home game running there was a strong wind blowing down the ground for right to left, with Thame kicking into it in the first half. The first chance of the game fell to Thame a couple of minutes into the game, after winning a free kick, Dan West floated the ball from the left, it was met by Mark Riddick who’s header found Greg Hackett but his shot was wide of the Mark. The opening 10 minutes was a bit scrappy with neither team getting into their stride and the game broken up by a series of fouls. Thame had another chance on 8 minutes wining a free kick from a central position about 40 yards out Dan West Stepped up and his shot had to be tipped over by the Flackwell Keeper.

Flackwell went ahead on 16 minutes with a piece of magic from the visitors number 11, the ball was played into him on the right hand corner of the 18 yard box, there didnt look to be any danger with two Thame defenders around him. But a neat turn beat both players, and left him free to curl a left footed shot beyond keeper Crowether into the far corner. On 29 minutes a good run from Brayden Daniel on the right hand side into the box, found Jack Tutton with the pass but his shot was saved by the Flackwell keeper and the ball cleared. There was then a lengthy delay as Jack Tutton collided with the keeper chasing a through ball played in by captain Mark Riddick, the keeper leaving his area and just getting to the ball first.

Flackwell should have doubled their lead on 36 minutes, when Thame lost the ball from a corner and a mistake by the Thame centre back allowed the Number 9 in on goal, but a great double save from keeper Crowther kept it at 0 - 1. The final chance of the half fell to Flackwell, a free kick from the right hand side was flicked on but the shot was wide of the mark. The half ended with chances fairly equal, but a moment of skill being the difference between the two teams, but it had been a very scrappy half with the free kick and yellow card count rising has the half continued.

Thame got the second half underway, and had an early chance, Ethan Lack playing in Greg Hackett but the forward couldn’t get a shot away. Thame should have been level on 54 minutes, a Dan West free kick was played into the box, Mark Riddick won the header, played the ball back across the 6 yard box, with an on running Jack Tutton meeting the ball but his shot hit the keeper. Thame made two substitutes on 56 minutes with Ethan Lack and Jefferson Louis being replaced by Ty Deacon and Tyrone Lewthwaite. Matthy Crowther was then forced to make a good save tipping a shot from inside the box over the bar after a neat break down the right hand side, in fairness it was the first real action he had had to make in the second half.

Thame were having the better of the second half, another break this time on the left saw Tyrone Lewthwaite cut back in side into the penalty area but his shot was blocked and Brayden Daniel following up gave away the free kick. Then on 74 minutes the most controversial moment of the game occurred, Ty Deacon won the ball in the middle of the park, played it back to Mark Riddick halfway inside the Flackwell half, his slide rule pass split the visitors centre backs for Tyrone Lewthwaite to run in on goal, however the flag went up for offside, to be honest it was a howler from the Assistant Ref as the Flackwell left back was playing the Thame forward onside. Thame rightly so were upset by the decision, but Greg Hacket went too far and said something to the referee, who immediately produced a red card. After a lengthly delay the game got under way and with the Thame players still angry about the previous decision switched off and Flackwell had their second, a break on the right followed by a shot which keeper Crowther could only parry into the feet of the in coming forward who had an easy tap in.

Thame made two more changes with Lewis Thorne and Brayden Daniel being replaced by Curtis Brown and Rocko Tamplin. Although down to ten men the home side were in the ascendancy with Tyrone Lewthwaite firing over the bar, then on 86 minutes getting a goal back, some neat work on the left hand side found Tyrone just inside the box he turned and curled a shot in to the right hand side of the goal with the keeper beaten. Thame made their final substitute with Oscar Lucy replacing Fin Murray, The referee indicated 8 minutes of added time. Thame continued to attack and won a corner, the ball was played into the box and only half cleared as the ball came back in there was a scrabble on the deck and Thame appealed for hand ball and a penalty was given. Jack Tutton stepped up after scoring against Northwood, but his shot to the keepers right wasn’t high enough and the keeper palmed it away. And that was it game over.

Thame probably deserved a point on the second half performance, but it wasn’t to be and a bad tempered game which saw 12 yellow cards and a red card went the way of the visitors which secured third place and ended Thames play off chances for the season

Goals
Tyron Laithwait 86 minutes

Starting Eleven

1.Matty Crowther
2.Lewis Thorn (Curtis Brown 80 minutes)
3.Jason Stranks
4.Fin Murray (Oscar Lucey 84 minutes)
5.Ethan Lack (Ty Deacon 56 minutes)
6.Mark Riddick
7.Greg Hackett
8.Jack Tutton
9.Jefferson Louis (Tyrone Lewthwaite 56 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Brayden Daniel (Rocko Tamplin 80 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Rocko Tamplin
14.Ty Deacon
15.Tyrone Laithwait
16.Oscar Lucy
17.Curtis Brown

Attendance 254