Thame Utd through to next FA Cup round

THAME United progressed to the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday (16/08), beating Cove 1-0 in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, ending their hosts 100% start to the season.

Despite the M25 traffic doing its best to disrupt the team, it was United who started the stronger of the two sides, with the home team unable to find any rhythm. Indeed, the only goal of the game arrived after 11 minutes when Conor McDonagh turned on the halfway line and fed a ball through to Luke Ricketts who beat his marker before calming sliding the ball under the advancing home goalkeeper. It was nearly two five minutes later when Ricketts this time found McDonagh who put the ball in the back of the net only to be called back for off-side.

Manager Mark West was then forced in to making changes as Ian Pykett fell awkwardly and was replaced with Phil Pykett, but the changes did little to disrupt the match, with the only other significant action before half-time being another Ricketts effort that the home keeper parried for a corner.

As expected, the home side started the second half on the front foot but continued to be met by a resolute Thame side. In fact, outside of set pieces, Cove were largely ineffectual although mid-way through the half they went close with two headers from corners. United themselves were always dangerous on the break with McDonagh again feeding Ricketts whose effort was skewed just wide with 15 minutes to go. Whilst Cove continued to press, they created few opportunities and it was United who held on and progress to the next round, where they will face Highmoor Ibis at the ASM Stadium on August 30.

United: Cockerill, I Pykett (P Pykett), Hall, Hercules, Rhodes, Mealing, Jones (Evans) , Morris, McDonagh (Burrows), West, Ricketts