Thame’s FA Cup hopes dashed

THAME United came away from Bristol with their FA Cup hopes dashed for another season after a combination of bad luck and poor officiating saw Bitton win this replay to progress to the next round.
In damp conditions that worsened throughout the game, United continued where they left off in the first game, defending resolutely and looking dangerous on the break. Whilst Bitton had the majority of possession in the first half, Searl was rarely threatened in the Thame goal and, when he was, he was equal to the task. Indeed, it was Thame who had the best chances in the opening period with captain Dave Hocking seeing an effort drop on to the roof of the net, whilst ten minutes before the break an incisive run from winger, Ben Connelly, resulted in a near post cross that striker Matt Miller turned on to the base of the post.

With Thame benefiting from the slope in the second half, they pushed forward and on 55 minutes Luke Ricketts forced the home keeper in to a good save with a 20 yard drive from wide right. Five minutes later and the woodwork came to the rescue of Bitton for a second time, when Rhodes skillfully lobbed the keeper from 20 yards only to see his effort come back off the crossbar.

The turning point of the game came on 70 minutes when, after a series of poor but largely inconsequential refereeing decisions throughout the game, the referee pointed to the spot where left back, Steve Newell, was adjudged to have fouled the Bitton right winger. Whilst that may have been the case, the offence took place outside the penalty area and the Thame players looked on in astonishment to see a penalty awarded. Searl was sent the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.

Bitton extended their lead five minutes later, but only after the assistant referee missed a clear off-side (much to the amusement of the home crowd) and Searl was given no chance from eight yards. Finally, as Thame pushed forward looking to get back in to the game, Bitton scored a third when the unlucky Hocking could only help the ball in to the back of his own net.

Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Newell, Graves, Hocking, Rhodes, Stocker (Bell) Connelly, Miller (Brougham), Ansell (Roberts), Ricketts.