IT was a bad weekend for south Buckinghamshire's Ryman League clubs.

Only Thame got anything from their match with a win against Windsor & Eton in Division One.

But the 1-0 scoreline against a team languishing at the bottom of the table will have been far from satisfactory for Thame manager Andy Sinnott.

Sinnott said his team were well worth the three points but they could have been made to rue missing a plethora of chances after going ahead as early as the fourth minute.

Justin Merritt grabbed the goal from Justin Lee's corner. Merritt's header was well saved by Windsor keeper Trevor Bunting but Merritt reacted quickest to slam home the rebound.

Jefferson Louis, Merritt and Nando Perna all had good chances to extend Thame's lead and make the game safe.

But despite Thame's domination, Windsor could have snatched a draw, with Lee having to clear off the line in the first half.

Chesham slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the start of a hectic run of four matches in eight days.

In their Ryman Premier match away at Heybridge Swifts, the Meadow Men were two behind within the first half hour thanks to Swifts striker Paul Abrahams.

He scored with a shot after just 14 minutes and then made it two after being played in by Sean Caton.

Chesham fought back in the second half but could not grab a goal until Fitz Hall scored, latching onto a rebound after Matt Greenley had saved Lee Spiller's shot.

But the 90th minute goal came too late for Chesham to fight back and was only a consolation.

Now Chesham have to pick themselves up for Tuesday's game at Basingstoke Town.

The Ryman Premier game, kicking off at 7.45pm, is then followed on Thursday by an Isthmian League Cup Second Round tie, with Chesham playing Enfield at The Meadow at 7.45pm.

In Division Two, Marlow suffered a 4-0 bashing away at Hemel Hempstead Town.

Marlow actually started well and Daniel Pedley fired just wide after eight minutes but it then all went downhill with Hemel scoring through Gary Winks on 14 minutes.

Joe Nartey then made it two on 25 minutes and scored the final goal as well, with Darren Grieves making it three in between with a 20-yard strike on the hour mark.

Marlow now play Cheshunt away tonight at 7.45pm.

New Flackwell Heath boss Neil Catlin had a losing start, with Heath going down at home to Wingate & Finchley in Division Three.

But the side showed improvements with the scores level going into the last ten minutes.

Gregg Murphy had made it 1-1 on 51 minutes from the penalty spot after Robert Donn had opened the scoring. But then substitutes Daniel Berg and Paul Boating scored in the 82nd and 90th minutes to make the scoreline 3-1.

Chalfont St Peter also went down 1-0 to lowly Leighton Town, who had been second from bottom.

The goal came right on half time when a defensive mix-up enabled Leighton to grab a goal and they held on to take the points.

January 22, 2002 10:30