On a warm Saturday afternoon at the picturesque Alfredian Park, home of Wantage Town, it was in-form Wantage who scored a late equaliser to deny Thame a deserved three points in their battle against relegation in the Hellenic Premier Division.
Thame started brightly with top goal scorer Nathan Jack winning a corner in the first minute that the Wantage keeper, who had a tortuous opening 45 minutes, struggled to deal with.
With Thame continuing to press and nullify the short passing game o
f Wantage, it was no surprise when, in the 14th minute, Jack raced on to a through ball to coolly lob the stranded keeper and give Thame the lead.
Ten minutes later and it was 2-0. Jack received a pass from Adrian Smith on the left hand edge of the box and struck a firm shot beyond the diving keeper.
Thame were now in control and after further efforts from Jack and Smith, Thame thought they had scored a third goal in the 42nd minute, only for a well-placed header from James Saulsbury to be ruled out for an infringement against the keeper.
The second half opened in the same vein, with Thame pushing for a third goal.
In the 46th minute, after a foul on Darren Moore, Adam Rhodes delivered a perfect free kick that was deflected inches wide of the goal.
This let off for Wantage proved to be a turning point in the game.
With the slope in their favour, they began to push Thame back and, whilst the defence was well marshalled by centre-backs Matt Graves and Matt Higgs, Wantage pulled a goal back in the 65th minute with a well struck volley from Jones beating Thame keeper Milan Barisic.
With injuries forcing Jack, Saulsbury and Smith to all leave the field, Wantage continued to press for the equaliser.
Just as it looked like Thame would leave with the points, substitute Chris Watkins was harshly adjudged to have fouled the Wantage left back on the halfway line.
The resultant free kick looked to be harmlessly floating in to the box but, with Barisic stranded, Swann nipped in to head the ball over the keeper for the equaliser.
It was rough justice for a Thame side who once again displayed the battling qualities that would have seen them safe from relegation had it not been for the demise of Hounslow Borough two weeks ago, with a consequent loss of six points.
Thame United: Barisic, Ansell, Steadman, Saulsbury (Watkins), Graves, Higgs, Rhodes, Hocking, Jack (Da Silva), Moore, Smith (Ricketts).
Thame are without a game tomorrow (Saturday), but face Fairford Town at home (Hithercroft Stadium, Wallingford) on Tuesday (April 24, 7:45pm kick off).
The full article contains 457 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
