Author: Sonja Francis

LEAGUE MATCH – 19/11/11 – Thame United 3, Slimbridge 2 – CONTRIBUTED

IN one of the most entertaining games seen at the ASM Stadium this season Thame defeated Slimbridge 3-2 last Saturday. This was United?s fourth Successive win and a good victory for Thame as, at the start of the game, the visitors were six league places above their hosts, having had not lost an away game all season.

Unusually, Thame did not make any substitutions and ended the game with the same eleven players that had lined up at the start.

The first half hour was fairly even with both teams playing attractive attacking football. The visitors took the lead on 35 minutes when a long ball from defence resulted in a mix up between home defender Meredith Mitchell and out coming keeper Nick Bennion, allowing Slimbridge striker Alex Higgs to dribble the ball pass Bennion and hit it in onto an empty net from 20-yards. United equalised just before the break when Stewart rose to head an Aaron Rogers cross, but a defender intervened and fortunately the ball fell to Stewart, who reacted quickly to hit an acutely angled shot home from close range.

The resumption of play saw United attacking and, as a corner was taken, there was the usual amount of jostling near goal, however the referee saw an infringement and awarded a penalty. Stewart took the spot kick well giving the visiting keeper no chance. After a period of Thame pressure the visitors recovered and put the Thame goal under pressure. The on-form Bennion was kept busy and made a brilliant save from point-blank range. The pressure was rewarded in the 77th minute when substitute Dan Holliday hit a strong 20-yard free kick pass Bennion. So it was 2-2 with 13 minutes remaining. Three minutes later, Thame were awarded a free kick on the left and Rogers went one better by hitting a superb, well-placed, shot from 25-yards. Thame were under pressure for the rest of the game and could have conceded seconds before the final whistle when Sam Cowan almost headed into his own goal, but the ball hit the post and Bennion collected.

Thame United: Bennion, Cowan, Hall, Mitchell, Steadman, Hayes, Connelly, D West, Stewart, Rogers, Ricketts.

United are at home next Saturday (26th), when they meet Chalfont Wasps in the Hellenic League Supplementary Cup.

National 3 SW – Saturday, November 19, 2011 – SCORE: Chinnor 21 Vs Bournemouth 15; MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

ON a day when the irresistible force (Bournemouth) met the immovable object (Chinnor) something had to give. And in the end, Bournemouth had to give way to Chinnor who won this top of the table clash by 21-15.

This was never going to be an easy game for either side. However, with an average winning margin of about 50 points in every match this season, Bournemouth came to Kingsey Road with great expectation of preserving their unbeaten record. Chinnor, however, played to a different script and dominated the first half so much that it was difficult to understand the rampant form of the visiting side. After the break, Bournemouth was a different beast and came close to snatching victory against the Oxfordshire side.

After last week?s enforced changes, Chinnor were lucky enough to pick from nearly full strength to match their Dorset visitors first team. 4 minutes after kick off, Chinnor squandered an opening try when a simple pass was adjudged forward with a two man overlap and half the try line left begging.
This was, however, an early indicator of Chinnor?s desire to attack. The first score was not long in coming. From 20m out, and with sure off the top line out ball from Gilbert, Stoop accelerated onto the ball and crossed the visitor’s line for the first try of the match. Cathcart’s conversion gave the home side a 7-0 lead on the 10th minute.

Chinnor kept up the pace and were in the ascendancy for the next 20 minutes but Bournemouth?s lively scrum-half Hardcastle decided to intervene. From a Bournemouth scrum, Hardcastle nipped over for the visitors? first try of the afternoon. With the conversion attempt failing, Chinnor held a narrow 7-5 lead.

From a penalty, Chinnor opted for a catch and drive towards the Bournemouth line. This well organised move ate up the ground and when the ball was released, rapid and accurate passing across the park saw right-wing Seymour over for Chinnor’s second try. With Cathcart’s plum centre conversion from the touchline, Chinnor now led at half-time by 14-5.

The second half started where the first half finished with Chinnor pressure across the park. Putting enormous defensive pressure on Bournemouth in their own 22, Chinnor managed to turn over the ball in the sixth minute. The alert and powerful Waddingham picked up and blasted around the blind side of the ruck to score Chinnor’s third try in the corner. Cathcart, predictably, sent the ball over for the extra points to increase Chinnor’s lead to 21-5.

Bournemouth then began to turn the screw. Chinnor’s flanker Jackman was sin binned and from the resultant scrum, Hardcastle nipped through the empty space left by Jackman’s departure to score Bournemouth’s second try. Searle stepped up to convert and reduce the home side’s lead to 21-12.
Bournemouth continued to press and Chinnor’s defence had to be at its strongest to resist their efforts. Hardcastle’s keenness, however, incurred the wrath of the referee who gave him a 10 minute rest for punching. On the 75th minute, Bournemouth were awarded a penalty in front of the Chinnor posts for Jackman?s second offside offence leading to his red card and decided on the pragmatic choice of taking the penalty goal to retain a losing bonus point. Even so, Bournemouth kept hammering away and with metres to go to the Chinnor line, infringed and allowed Chinnor?s Cathcart to boot deep into touch, hoping to hear the referee’s final whistle. However the referee deemed there was still more time to play. Chinnor, strong in the lineout all afternoon, lost the ball and Bournemouth were once again on the attack. They again battered the Chinnor defence from 15m out for another two minutes until Chinnor turned over ball to allow Cathcart?s boot into touch to end the match with a Chinnor victory by 21-15.

This was an extremely hard fought game between two very well matched sides. Chinnor, unusually, started brightly and played the game at pace and power. This restricted the visitor?s possession and territory in the first half quite considerably. Bournemouth, to their great credit, never gave up and most sides would have caved in to the pressure exerted on the Chinnor defence in the last 20 minutes.

Hardcastle was, as always, a thorn in Chinnor?s side and was helped by a competitive Bournemouth pack. Stoop had a penetrative afternoon for Chinnor but the credit goes to the whole team whose victory was founded on a desire to attack backed by rock solid defence. Cathcart’s boot came in handy too.

Scorers:
Chinnor: Stoop T; Seymour T; Waddingham T; Cathcart 3C
Bournemouth: Hardcastle 2T; Searle C, PG

Chinnor team:
Colver, Seymour (Williams 59), Goode, Stoop, Prinsloo, Cathcart, Jones, Winpenny, Tattersall, Pickett (Whelan 67), Mowbray, Smith, Jackman, Waddingham (Harrison 45), Gilbert
Replacements: Whelan, Harrison, Williams