Thame Utd 2, Arlesey Tn 1

Thame United extended their unbeaten run to five games in Ryman Division 1 North with a hard-fought victory over Arlesey at Windmill Stadium on Saturday.

The home side should have taken the lead after just six minutes when Mark Jones found Jon Gardner unmarked ten yards out, but he shot wide with just keeper Martin Patching to beat.

Arlesey took the lead against the run of play on 12 minutes. Marvin Samuel's cross was met at the far post by the lively Dean Harding, who beat keeper Alan Foster with the aid of a deflection.

Gardner and Jones both saw goalbound efforts blocked on 14 minutes as the home side looked to get back on level terms.

A minute later, Foster produced a tremendous save when he pushed Shaun Marshall's powerful header on to a post.

The equaliser arrived in the 22nd minute when Patching brought down Dave Thornton in the box and referee Ricky Matthews pointed to the spot. Patching almost redeemed himself with a fine block from Jones's penalty, but Gardner was on hand to slam home the rebound.

What proved to be the winning goal came just three minutes into the second half. Kamran Abbasi found Rob Smith just inside the box and his spectacular volley flew into the far corner.

As the game flowed from end to end, both sides had chances to add to the scoreline.

Harding saw his drive clip the bar from just outside the box as the visitors pushed for an equaliser, while at the other end, substitute Enzo Silvestri should have made the game safe for the home side but he was denied twice by fine saves from Patching when put clean through.

In injury time, the visitors almost took a share of the points, but Samuels was unlucky to see his header rebound to safety off the bar.

Thame Utd: Foster, Abbasi, Joyce, Saulsbury, Williams, Smith, Avery, Ferreira, Gardner (West), Jones (Silvestri), Thornton. Subs not used: Freeman, Chowns.