Following two encouraging away performances, including knocking Premier Division Redditch out of the Red Insure Cup last Saturday, the Ducks returned to Thame hoping to progress in the FA Trophy and just as importantly, looking for their first home win of the season. Manager Tony Joyce chose to restore Billy Adcock and Lee Grace to the starting line-up, with Ash Farmer dropping to the bench and Greg Williams unavailable. The visitors arrived in similar form, bottom of the Ryman League Northern Division with just 4 points to show from their opening 9 league matches and having changed their management team in the week.

Perhaps unsurprisingly with 2 teams desperate for a win, the start of the match was a scrappy affair, with no real fluency from either side. The home side were first to threaten, a free kick from wide on the left was cleared as far as Nathan Tshikuna, who whipped a dangerous cross which Eoin Casey just failed to get a touch on as it flashed through the penalty area and just wide of the far post. Two minutes later, Stacey Field won the ball from visiting captain Daniel Barber in the right channel, swivelled, and fired in a first time shot which was too close to the keeper. Shortly afterwards, the muscular Josh Fagbohun shrugged off Jack Wood on the right and squared the ball to striking partner Billy Hunt, however his first time shot was wide of the goal.

The away side were in the ascendancy at this stage, taking the game to the Ducks; Gayle won the ball in midfield and found Hunt clear of the defence; however, as with his previous effort, the striker fluffed his lines with just Tokarczyk to beat. In the 15th minute, Tshikuna made a surging run down the left flank, but was well tackled by Thomas at the expense of a corner. Tshikuna’s delivery was cleared, but his cross back in was met by Jack Wood, whose header crashed against the post and away to safety. Three minutes later, Field fired a Crossfield ball to Lee Grace, who cut inside the full back and curled a shot from 25 yards which was just wide of the far post.

On the half hour Billy Adcock picked the ball up in midfield and advanced towards the penalty area. His shot from 25 yards was well struck and had the keeper beaten, unfortunately like his skipper previously the ball cannoned off the post. Stacey Field following up miskicked and sent the ball wide of the gaping target, but would have been relieved to see the Assistant’s flag signalling that he was offside. The last action of the half saw Pinto feed Barham down the left. He found Hunt on the right side, who beat his man, but fired the ball across goal and away to safety with no one to apply the finishing touch.

The second half started with the Ducks on the attack. A free kick was awarded 25 yards out, which Bewley stepped up to take. His quality delivery was whipped in but again, there was no one in an advanced enough position to get a touch and the ball went out for a goal kick. Two minutes later and the Swifts had a great chance to open the scoring. Hunt fed Barham in through the centre, clear of the defence; it took a last ditch tackle from Tokarczyk just inside the penalty area to deny the wide man the chance to score. On the hour mark, Tshikuna, who was the Ducks’ brightest spark throughout, cut inside off the left wing and made space to get a shot away; however it lacked the pace and direction to trouble Cowler in the Swift’s goal.

On 63 minutes it was the away team that took the lead in controversial circumstances. Fagbohun seemed to unfairly shove Jack Wood to the ground on the right flank, but the officials waved for play to continue; the centre forward advanced into the penalty area and placed a shot across Tokarczyk into the far corner of the net. 0 - 1

Going behind forced the manager’s hand, with Tony Joyce bringing on Taylor Collins and Lewis Osborne for Jordan Frederick and Stacey Field. It was Collins who created the opening which led to the equalising goal in the 68th minute. A long ball from Jack Wood found Collins wide on the left. He beat his marker and crossed the ball. Casey’s header fell to Lee Grace who scrambled the ball home from close range. 1 - 1

The scores remained level for just 8 minutes, as again Fagbohun was the tormentor of the Ducks’ defence. A ball through the centre saw him challenge Tokarczyk on the edge of the area. As the Ducks appealed for a foul, the ball fell to Hunt who calmly stroked the ball home to restore the lead. 1 - 2

Three minutes later the overtly physical Fagbohun finally overstepped the mark. He challenged Jack Wood wide on the left and as the Ducks skipper fell to the ground the striker kicked him in the head, leaving the referee no other option than to send him from the field.

With the opposition down to 10 men, there was renewed hope that the Ducks could get back into the tie in the time that was remaining. However, it was the visitors that almost extended their lead. Another miscommunication in the Ducks’ defence saw

substitute Andrews chase a ball through the middle. Tokarczyk did well to block his first shot, with Collard getting back to block the follow up and clear the danger.

The final roll of the dice saw Ash Farmer replacing Shane Wood; in the 86th minute a long free kick from Tokarczyk fell to Osborne who fed Collins in the area, whose shot was deflected into the arms of Cowler.

Despite there being over 5 minutes of added time, the Ducks couldn’t breach the Swift’s defence, and another home defeat was confirmed, a result which raises more questions than there appear to be answers for.