Big Ben strikes again

In a repeat of the last weekend of last season, Kempston Rovers won by three goals to one at Thame United, with young winger Ben Acquaye again stealing the show. His two late goals earned Kempston their third away league win of the season.

The game began in glorious autumn sunshine in the sleepy little Oxfordshire town of Thame. The pitch was absolutely pristine, a credit to the ground staff of United. There was very little in the way of action in the early exchanges of the match as both sides engaged in a wary sparring duel in midfield. With a quarter hour gone, Thame had the first chance. Harry Scott volleying wide from the edge of the box. Five minutes later, Shane Bush seized on a poor back pass by Mepham but any chance at goal was smothered by the onrushing figure of Hill in the Thame goal. Lynton Goss had two great chances to put the hosts ahead around the half hour mark, heading over from a free kick and then skewing wide at the near post when he had options to cut back to. The deadlock was broken by the hosts seven minutes from the break, a cross floated in from the right hand side was met by Tom Ashworth, stooping at the far post to head back across goal and into the net. Rovers managed to level matters right on half time with a high cross by Mason Spence being met by Shane Bush, who did what all good centre forwards should and headed the ball back in the direction from whence it came to find the corner of the net. One all at the interval.

The second half began much brighter than the first, the hosts testing Martin Conway through Sturgess and Goss before Luke Heneghan had a free kick for Kempston in his ideal range. His effort flew to the top left corner of the goal, unfortunately for him, so did Thame keeper Hill, producing a magnificent full stretch save to keep the score level. Thame will feel that the game changed midway through the second half, as Ashworth burst through from a knock down and took the ball around Conway. There were very loud shouts from both players and fans that the Rovers keeper had clipped the Thame man as he went past. Sub Robbie Goodman cleared the ball off the line as most Thame players were looking at the referee. On another day, a different referee may have pointed to the spot. Goss wasted another chance for Thame with fifteen minutes to go, shooting wide after getting the better of Alfie Powell in his first game back since his injury at Woking. Two minutes later, Kempston hit the front for the first time. A lovely flowing move, started by Mason Spence cutting in from left full back, found Seb Simpson in the centre. The laid back Simpson then weighted a perfect ball to the overlapping Acquaye, who held off his man to poke a right foot effort between the legs of Hill and into the net. Seconds after the re-start Rovers could’ve extended the lead, Acquaye threaded a through ball to substitute Ty Deacon, but this time Hill was off his line very sharply to smother the danger. With seven minutes left to play, Kempston wrapped things up, Shane Bush feeding Acquaye, who had the composure to shift the ball onto his left foot and slide it into the far corner across Hill. Things could have got worse in stoppage time as Ben Shepherd forced a great save from Hill, Luke Heneghan was quickest to the loose ball and hit the post with his follow up, seeing the ball trickle agonisingly along the line. Thame did have some late pressure, but it was too little and far too late with the game already safe.

The result, Rovers third away league win in four away games this season, lifts Kempston up to tenth ahead of this Tuesday’s trip to Sutton Coldfield Town. The next home game is on Saturday when Rovers play host to last season’s league Champions Beaconsfield Town in the FA Trophy.