Tuesday 4th April 2006
Southern League Division One West
Thame United 0 Bromsgrove Rovers 4
by Phil Baker

As the scoreline suggests, this was a comfortable win for Rovers playing against a demoralised Thame United side who had gone down 8-0 to Sutton Coldfield the previous Saturday and only one goal scored in their last eight league games. With Rovers stuck in mid-table going nowhere and their hosts needing a win in every remaining match plus a PhD in mathematics to escape relegation, there was in effect nothing really to play for.

However, manager Rod Brown made it plain before the match that there was no room for complacency if players wanted to stay both in contention for the errea Cup matches and a place at the club next season.

All players in the squad would be given a chance to prove themselves in the three games before the first leg against Hitchin so the line up necessarily changed since the last match against Rushall. Phil Male returned to the centre of defence after his brief sojourn to Willenhall along with Chris McHale. Steve Hillman took up position on the left of midfield whilst Luke Reynolds partnered Paul Moore up front.

Rovers had most of the play for the first 45 minutes with nearly every outfield player having a chance at some point during the half. The only goal came from the boot of Paul Moore who struck home following a neat knock-on from Wayne Dyer after Matt Johnson made a fine pass with the outside of his boot down the right wing. Rovers were clearly not going to stretch themselves and risk injury otherwise they may have played a little harder and gained more from it but they appeared to be happy moving the ball around and looking for chances.

The best effort from the limited opportunities Thame were allowed was on 30 minutes when Gavin Lane headed over from a corner. Striker Darren Moore looked to be quite lively and skilful but he had little support up front and posed no real threat to a well-organised Rovers back four.

Matt Johnson got Rovers second on 56 minutes when he received the ball out on the right, beat two defenders and fired into the top right-hand corner past a helpless Paul Searl.

Rod Brown then pulled a masterstroke bringing off Luke Reynolds and replacing him with Exodus Geohaghan. With half a dozen defensive players already on the pitch the only space for him was up front. He was in action pretty quickly easily outpacing a rather flatfooted Thame defence and got on to the score sheet on 64 minutes when Joe Williams hit the pass of the season from deep inside Rovers half over the midfield which Exodus ran on to half -volley over Paul Searl from the edge of the box.

Paul Moore got his second and Rovers' fourth nine minutes later when he saw a gap in a crowded penalty area and fired through into the bottom right corner.

A useful run out for Rovers which should keep up match fitness and give Rod Brown a few dilemmas as to his starting line up next Tuesday.

However, a sad night for Thame who are consigned to life outside the Southern League after a thoroughly miserable season that started badly and never really improved. Let's hope they manage to revive their fortunes and the property developer who fiddled them out of their delightful Windmill ground gets what he deserves at some point in the future.

Rovers (4-4-2): Tim Clarke, Matt Johnson, Joe Williams, Phil Male, Chris McHale,
Riad Erraji (John Snape 72 min), Steve Hillman (Capt), Wayne Dyer (Mark Benbow 76 mins), Luke Reynolds, Exodus Geohaghan Paul Moore, Kevin Banner
Subs not used: Neil Davis, Lee Evans

Thame United (4-4-2): Paul Searl, Dave Hocking, Nik Rhodes, Adam Bradley, Gavin Lane (George Harriman 72 mins), Rob Hopkins (Gavin Way 67 mins), Ben Connelly (Capt), Adam Rhodes, Darren Moore, Anthony Hamilton, Steve Groves
Subs not used: Ben Freeman, Jake Collinge, Ben Marshall

Attendance: 92
Referee: Mr G Russell