Thame Boys (14/03/2004)
2003 - 2004 Season, Hithercroft Under 16s



The weather for this, our final League game of the season, was wet and windy. Fine rain fell throughout the game and gusty winds were blowing along the pitch, which was muddy but held up well. Hithercroft had their full complement of twelve players with Sam in his customary position on the touchline at the start.

The game kicked off at 12 noon with Clive Chard in charge and the visitors having the advantage of the wind at their backs. The first goal came after 13 minutes when Thame took the ball down the middle and the No. 15 hit a diagonal shot into the Hithercroft net. Shortly after this Thame were unlucky not to score again when they sent a corner in from the right, which was headed from player to player before the final header hit the crossbar. Thame were later awarded a free-kick and their No. 7 fired a fierce shot at the Hithercroft goal but Dan Reading managed to get his hands to the ball and push it up into the air and a defender then clearing the descending ball from the goal-line. Another free-kick from Thame was hit directly over the crossbar by their No. 7. Then Hithercroft were awarded a free-kick, also for pushing an opposing player in the back, and Tyrone Francis sent a high ball into the goal area but both Dan Biggs and Dan Davy went up for the ball, obstructing each other and allowing the Thame keeper to gather the ball. Then Tyrone sent a long ball forward to Dan Davy but the goalkeeper came running out and gathered the ball as Dan attempted to lift the ball over his head. At 12.29 Thame took the ball down the right and crossed it into the centre but, although Tyrone pushed the ball out to Mark Sadler the latter player sent the ball back across goal where a visiting player intercepted it and put it into the Hithercroft net to put Thame 2-0 ahead. At 12.40, just before the end of the first half, Thame crossed the ball from the wing and a Thame forward pushed the ball through a group of Hithercroft players into the net for a 3-0 lead at the break.

At 12.45 the game resumed, this time with the home team having the advantage of the wind. Hithercroft’s Frank Smith tried a shot from about 20 yards out but the ball went just wide of the post. Thame, from another free-kick, sent the ball into the 18-yard box and their No. 10 hit a well-struck shot that had Dan Reading diving to his left to push the ball over the crossbar. Thame then sent the ball into the box where two of their players were standing completely unmarked and Dan had no chance to stop the ball as it was hit into the net for Thame’s 4th goal at 12.53. Six minutes later the visitors played the ball down the middle and, as Dan raced out, the No. 15 beat him to the ball and pushed it past him to score Thame’s 5th goal. Sam then came on to replace Luke Tadgell for the remainder of the game. At 1.04 Thame extended their lead when an attempt to clear the ball from the Hithercroft goal area saw the ball go to the Thame No. 10 who hammered the ball back into the net. Seven minutes later Thame attacked down the right wing and sent the ball into the centre. A race between three defenders, the Hithercroft keeper and the Thame No. 10 ended with the attacking player getting his foot to the ball first and sending the ball gently into the back of the home side’s goal to give Thame a 7-0 lead. At 1.17 the final goal of the match was scored by the visitors when the ball was played back into the 18-yard box following a clearance by Dan Reading, and the very quick No. 10 raced in to put the ball past the Hithercroft keeper.

Thame had been a lot sharper than the home team and had played with more determination and teamwork, thoroughly deserving their 8-0 win. Hithercroft now go on to play Bedgrove Dynamos in the semi-final of the League Cup in April and Thame have a further six games remaining in the League competition.