Report by Jools Thomas

As the game entered injury time, FC were still trailing to a howitzer Lynton Goss blast and as a last throw of the dice, central defender Jordan Jenkins was sent from the substitute’s bench to try and rescue a point. A minute later, Jenkins had risen above both his marker and the goalkeeper to send a guided ball into the bottom of the corner of the net and grab a share of the points. FC players and supporters will certainly see the final score as a point gained but Thame, on the other hand, will view the result as two dropped.

The first attempt of note at the SRD Stadium saw FC captain Ben Stevens bravely blocking a shot from Thame’s Ben Sturgess, with the ball finding its way to Luke Ricketts whose shot was expertly beaten away by Moles’ keeper Ashley Jenkins.

Stevens was then unlucky not to meet a well-placed Shayne Almond cross as a defender stole the ball away at the very last moment. From the resultant corner, player manager Davis Haule glanced his header a foot wide with the goal at his mercy. United’s Ellis Hercules had an almost identikit chance a few moments later and once again the outcome was an effort wide of the target. This early sparring was the best spell of the half with the only other action of note being former FC striker Lynton Goss whipping in a dangerous free kick that Jenkins was once again equal to.

Kieron Schmidt had an all action game in midfield and, in the opening move of the second half; he delivered a delicious ball to Ty Deacon with the striker unlucky to see his effort hit a defender’s leg. Schmidt had his own effort blocked as the Moles tried to break the deadlock. Brian Haule made way for Jeanmal Prosper in an attempt to inject some more pace into a team that looked to be tiring on a boggy pitch.

That didn’t quite work to plan as the visitors stepped up a gear. Firstly, James McGowan tested Jenkins with a flicked header and then Thame took the lead with a strike of the highest quality. Lynton Goss latched on to the ball and with an incredible turn of pace, pushed the ball forward before releasing a venomous right hand drill that give the keeper no chance. Eight minutes later, the same man almost broke the FC post with a powerful 25-yard drive that cannoned away to safety. Jenkins pulled out a terrific stop to deny full back David Lynn and at this stage, it seemed inevitable that Thame would not only win but would increase the score line.

FC again tried to change things. To add some midfield steel, Harry Scott was replaced by Michael Barima and finally there appeared to be some pressure on the Thame defenders. Joe Fitzgerald sent in a teasing right hand cross that Thame keeper Craig Hill was grateful to gather but there still was not the final killer pass to truly worry the visitors. Garry Jones could consider himself lucky to receive only a yellow card for a crunching 88th minute tackle and over six minutes later, Ben Stevens lofted in a cross allowing JJ to claim his goal and make himself hero of the day.