Cookham Dean FC 4
Thame Boys FC 1

Sunshine but cold wind greeted us as we trouped onto the Lord Williams’s School (how many S’s and where should the apostrophes go?) today for a cup game against a team we have played against a handful of times in the teams history.

Anyone remember the horizontal rain of October 08? In that game Thame boys played a physical game with a strong defensive bias and some long pass-and-run tactics that gave them a couple of goals.

In today’s game the conditions were looking playable, despite the strong cross-pitch wind, and with the kick off possession passed between the teams 2 or 3 times in the opening minutes as Thame chased down every ball…and fired the ball up front for some long pass and run tactics for good measure.

Within a few minutes the Cookham lads reacted with some good passing and calling, but as we started to press their goal area the blue shirts tightened into a knot and choked the game into the middle.

Within just a few minutes a long Cookham throw in the Thame half found Luke firing a shot at Goal which was deflected by the keeper and fired in for our first by a hungry and totally concentrated Paul Hubbard.

The setback didn’t seem to throw the Thame lads off their stride at all, and they pushed back at us; but Miles was busy feeding the ball up the flank well for a controlled and skilful game from Paul constantly on it today harrying, hassling and going back for second and third touches.

Lots of shouldering in the middle continued to cramp the Cookham style and frustrate their attempts to finish some promising forward movement. As usual Will wasn’t in the least unsettled by the physical play; pushing through the wall of blue and creating opportunities for Harry and Greg, who crossed, headed, and harried into the goal area.

The early goal created a sense of promise that this might be one of those steam-rollering games – and yet still 20 minutes into the half no more goals had materialised. This seemed to unsettle the lads a little, as a lull in concentration found Thame raising their heads and looking threatening in turn; thankfully Tom was on his game today, confidently charging down some dangerous attacks.

Now Louie threw himself into the melee; dancing past some Blue shirts and popping the ball out to the left where Paul showed some real grit against some bigger and physical lads. Each time the knot of Thame players picked up possession they lobbed and ran again, now with Ollie popping a few passes up front in some neat teaming, creating another few chances in the closing moments of the half.

Two or three minutes of the half remaining, and 3 or 4 shots on goal raised the temperature on the touch lines; with a lovely lay-back to Mikey which he fired at goal on the whistle, to more gasps from the touchline.

The whistle arrived at a perfect moment for Thame. Like a boxer on the bell they went into the break reeling and came out fighting, to loud support from the home fans they had their closest chance; with the ball trickling up to the post and bouncing off for Tom to scoop it up.

Cookham were now reeling, and after some more nervous moments Thame lobbed and ran; and we had conceded.

Thankfully this was the shock we needed, as we pushed up towards their goal mouth, and Miles took a sweet free kick which was closely defended in an unlucky moment for the Cookham lads.

This was the moment that the game turned back into our favour – now the lads were once again muscling their way through the middle – with Luke firing at goal and shouts of “settle down Thame” echoing across the pitch. and re-invigorating the Cookham supporters into full voice.

There was a sudden surge or two up the right with PJ running on, and crossed to Luke, who finished confidently as energy levels continued to rise, paused for the occasional Thame lob-and-run interlude.

Thame weren’t giving up, and now Ben was called into action defending confidently and running the ball up the pitch, where with a superb long throw he found Louie, who crossed to Greg for another shot on goal in just a few dominating minutes.

Now Mikey plunged into the thick of it and some confident passing play was back on the agenda; three or four passes in quick succession culminating in another lovely Luke goal.

In the closing moments PJ was up to his fast paced tricks again passing perfectly to Paul; who fired one of the best goals of the season straight through a phalanx of shirts and powerfully into the back of the net.

Quite a game today, a large, fit, fast, and tight defending team who’s lob and run tactics seemed to have been well practiced and effective; and sometimes choked the Cookham boys smooth and silky passing play – but as soon as they got their kwong back, Thame were outclassed in a well deserved 4:1 victory of fast moving but sometimes nail biting football.