Thame Youth (23/09/2001)
2001 - 2002 Season, Hithercroft Under 15s



This home game kicked of at midday in chilly overcast conditions but as it progressed we glimpsed the sun before light rain fell in the last quarter.
After ten minutes Matthew Wilson-Jones, during a Thame attack, hit the ball over Lee Hudson’s head and, although he managed to get his hands to it the ball spun into the net to put the visitors one goal up. Seven minutes later, however, Dewayne Dublin tried a shot at goal which ricocheted from the Thame keeper for Duane White to hit the ball into the net and level the score. Then Dewayne took a free kick, end Shahid Ahmed headed the ball against the Thame goalpost. After thirty-eight minutes of play Duane took the ball down the wing, turned inside and, from a tight angle, struck the ball over the Thame goalkeeper’s head into the net for a superb goal. The score remained at 2-1 until the second half, with the play being fairly even.

Two minutes after the restart Dewayne fired a shot from near the righthand touchline, over the keeper to put Hithercroft 3-1 ahead but eight minutes later Thame pulled a goal back after their No 11 took the ball down the touchline and crossed it for No 10 to score. Within sixty seconds Hithercroft played the ball down the centre of the field and Dewayne collected it, lobbing the goalkeeper to restore the home team’s two-goal lead. Then, from a Kevin Ife free kick, Duane White scored again for Hithercroft bringing the score to 5-2. One minute later Jason Guy, the Hithercroft captain, had to leave the field after he twisted his knee and he was replaced by Phillip Lines. (There was real concern at Jason’s injury given the fact that he had missed many games last season following a knee injury). Twenty-two minutes into the half Shane Globe played a terrific shot from out wide, further extending Hithercroft’s lead but two minutes later the Thame No 11 again came down the right wing and crossed the ball for Ruari Standish (No 15) to shoot the ball behind Lee, bringing the score to 6-3. Lee then made a superb save, diving to push the ball wide from a good attempt from Thame’s No 11. After twenty-six minutes the Thame No 9 hit a brilliant shot from just inside the Hithercroft half, the ball dropping down behind Lee and into the net reducing the deficit to just 2 goals. Six minutes later Ruari Standish (No 15) scored again for Thame to bring the score back to 6-5. Despite piling on the pressure Thame were unable to add to their total and the game finished with a home team win.


Hithercroft scorers: Duane White (3), Dewayne Dublin (2) and Shane Globe.

Hithercroft’s ‘Man of the Match’: Duane White

Thame scorers: Ruari Standish (2), Matthew Wilson-Jones, Matt Dickenson and Oliver Tankden.

Referee: Stuart Smith and Des Ife ran the line for Hithercroft.