20/04/11….Thame bow out of the Cup in last Home game

SUPPLEMENTARY Cup – Quarter Final – 19/04/11 – Thame United 1, Ascot United 5;

UNITED lost their last home game of the season on Tuesday evening when they were defeated 1-5 by Ascot United. It was United’s 10th game in 22 days. The one plus from this defeat is that their elimination from the Supplementary Cup avoids a potential two further games.

The game saw the welcome return of Lee Thompson who was brought on as a substitute midway through the second half. It was Lee?s first appearance in two years following a multiple leg fracture whilst playing for Thame at Penn & Tylers Green.

Possession was even throughout the game but the home team were 0-4 down at the break. The difference between the teams was that whilst United went close to scoring, Ascot?s finishing was clinical, particularly that of visiting striker Jon Bennett, who completed a hat trick before half time. Bennett scored in the 13th, 34th and 42nd minutes and they were all well worked goals; no flukes. Sam McIntyre headed Ascot?s other first-half goal on 27 minutes.

Two first-half decisions did not go Thame?s way. A certain penalty was ignored when Ben Connelly was brought down in the box, and an Alex Stewart header which was apparently cleared ?off the line?, had in fact crossed it.

Thame?s goal came in the 50th minute. A Connelly cross from the right which beat defenders and forwards alike fell to Luke Ricketts, who finished well from a seemingly impossibly acute angle. Ascot?s final goal, and Bennett?s fourth, came from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute after Mitchell Meredith was judged to have fouled in the box. Shortly after visiting keeper, Chris Grace made two outstanding saves, one from an Aaron Rogers 30-yard thunderbolt, the other from an Alex Stewart free kick.

The final 10 minutes saw both Stuart Braun and an Ascot player dismissed for dissent.

Thame United: Barisic, Barr, Meredith (Thompson), N Rhodes, Saulsbury, Hayes, Connelly, Braun (Hoskin), Stewart (Hunt), Rogers, Ricketts,

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