Author: Sonja Francis

FA Cup First Preliminary Round – Thame United 2, Lydney Town 1 – Saturday, 28/08/10 MATCH REPORT by Bob Dixon.

THAME United progressed to the next round of the FA Cup at Wallingford on Saturday when they defeated Gloucestershire based Lydney Town 2-1. They will play away to either Thatcham Town or Witney United, who drew on Saturday, in the next round. The game is scheduled for Saturday 11th September.

Thame had the better of the opening exchanges and took the lead in the 7th minute. Following good work in midfield, the ball was played to Nik Rhodes on the left and he hit a perfect low cross to Luke Ricketts, on the edge of the area, whose first-time shot found the back of the visitors net. At this stage, Thame had about 70% of ball possession, were looking dangerous and It seemed that the home side would record a comfortable victory. Lydney, of course, had other ideas and as the half progressed they grew stronger and, just before half time, had two good scoring chances which, fortunately for Thame, they squandered.

The second half was fairly even. On 50 minutes, the visiting goalkeeper miss-kicked a back pass in the 6-yard box, but managed to recover milliseconds before Aaron Rogers pounced. The equaliser came on 54 minutes. The visitors took a corner on the right which a Thame head nodded out to midfielder Jon Kear who hit a well-placed shot from 15-yards giving goalkeeper Milan Barisic no chance. Thame were on the back foot for a while, before recovering and creating some good chances themselves. It looked as if a replay was likely but, with 5 minutes to play, a goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball coming out to Stuart Braun who hit a strong 20-yard shot through a crowded penalty area into the net. The goal was awarded, and a visiting defender was booked for handling the ball on the goal line. The final few minutes saw the Thame goal under siege but the visitors were a spent force, and united held on comfortably until the final whistle.

Thame United: Barisic, Cowan, N Rhodes, Saulsbury, Brown (Jones), Braun, Connelly, A Rhodes, Stewart, Rogers, Ricketts.

ARDLEY UNITED 0 vs THAME UNITED 2 – Away game 30/08/10; MATCH REPORT by Jake Collinge:

THAME put in their most complete display of the season on Bank Holiday Monday when they comprehensively beat the previously undefeated Ardley United.

The game, which saw the United squad stretched due to player injury and absenteeism, started in end-to-end fashion, with Thame playing down the pronounced slope and gradually gaining the upper hand. However, the first chance, which perhaps owed more to luck than judgment, came to Ardley after 10 minutes when a flighted cross from the right dropped on to the cross bar and, fortunately for Thame, away from danger. It was then Thame?s chance to press and following some half chances, striker Aaron Rogers fashioned an opening on the half hour and from 25 yards saw his effort beat the keeper but come back off the outside of the post. Five minutes later and a corner from Adam Rhodes was met by FA Cup hero Stuart Braun whose powerful header from six yards appeared to cross the line before being cleared by an Ardley defender.

With the score line goalless at half time, United perhaps expected to be under pressure for most of the second half given that they were now playing up the slope. However, with Nik Rhodes and Martin Brown solid at the back, Ardley failed to impose themselves and instead it was Thame who found themselves with the chances. Ten minutes in to the half and United looked to have twice gained a penalty when Man of the Match Alex Stewart was hauled back in the penalty area when clean through. With Stewart staying on his feet, his shot hit the bar and he received the same treatment when looking to score from the rebound. The referee, unlike the majority of the crowd, failed to see either offence and Thame started to wonder if it was to be one of those days. However, they only had to wait a further five minutes before taking the lead. Nik Rhodes swung over a free kick from the left that Stewart met with a powerful header 12 yards from goal, directing the ball in to the far corner and giving the home keeper no chance.

Ten minutes later and United doubled their lead when winger Ben Connelly went on a trademark run down the right, pulling the ball back for Stewart to drill the ball beyond the keeper. At 2-0 Thame looked reasonably comfortable and, despite Ardley having more possession, the United defence was rarely threatened, the nearest Ardley coming to getting a goal back being a 25 yard drive that Barisic turned round the post. Instead it was Thame who had the chances, with Stewart going close to a hat trick and substitute Thomas Hoskin causing the home defence problems.

In the end United held out for a 2-0 win and, in a game where all the players contributed, emphasised the strength of the squad.

United face Slimbridge at home (AFC Wallingford) on Saturday in the FA Vase, 3pm kick off.

Thame United: Barisic, Barr, J.Way, Brown, N.Rhodes, Braun, A Rhodes, Connelly, Stewart, Rogers (Hoskin), El Kassir (Wakelin).