Oxfordshire Senior Cup – Thame Utd through to the third round

THAME United progressed to the third round of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening (12/11) when they defeated AFC Hinksey 2-1. Hinksey are currently top of Hellenic Division One East, having only lost two league games this season. They are a decent side and it was a close run thing as the game was drawn until the final minute of stoppage time. But with seconds to play, United scored a spectacular goal to clinch their victory.

Thame started brightly and within two minutes Nik Rhodes deflected a corner towards goal but, unluckily, the ball hit the Hinksey keeper. United looked more dangerous and created several chances but, as the half progressed the visitors grew in confidence and just before the break, Lee Farrow was forced to make an outstanding save. The game was goalless at half time.

Hinksey scored two minutes after the restart. Thame conceded a free kick which was only partly cleared and the ball fell to Kieran Davis who hit a strong 20-yard shot which went in off the underside of the crossbar. The visitors went down to 10 men a few minutes later when Davis made a dangerous tackle and was, perhaps harshly, dismissed from the pitch. United’s equaliser was scored on 76 minutes. Thame won a series of corners and the third was knocked out to Ollie Lynch who hit a well placed 20-yard shot through the crowded penalty area low into the left corner.

Thame were in control as they laid siege to the visitors’ goal in search of the winner. Several chances were created with Luke Ricketts and Shannon Jesson both forcing good saves from the keeper. As the game entered injury time, half an hour of extra time seemed likely, but in the 93rd minute defender Ellis Hercules surprised everyone by hitting a 35-yard thunderbolt into the top left corner. It was a quite remarkable strike, by a player who rarely strays far into the opponents half during open play. The final whistle blew 10 seconds after the game restarted.

The third round is scheduled for mid December. The draw has not yet been made.

Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules, Rhodes, lynch, Connelly, Jesson, Hodgkins, Collins, Ricketts.

United play at Flackwell Heath next Saturday (16th) whilst the reserve team face Finchampstead Reserves at the ASM Stadium. The next first team home fixture is on Saturday 7th December when Abingdon Town are the visitors.