22/08/11…..Thame Utd kick Sandhurst out of the Cup

MATCH REPORT (Contributed) Sandhurst Town 2, Thame United 3, F A Cup – Extra Preliminary Round, 20/8/11

Thame United visited Sandhurst Town on Saturday and returned with a 2-3 win. The score line however flattered the home side, who had several key players absent due to injury. After a few minutes play, it was clear that United were the better side and as the game progressed, they created countless chances, only to see the final effort miss the target or saved by the home goalkeeper. Frustratingly, Thame hit the woodwork three times. Thame will visit Newport Pagnell Town in the next round on 3rd September.

United took the lead after 13 minutes play when, after a Luke Rickets run on the left, the ball was knocked into the area by Mitchell Meredith and Alex Stewart, whist falling managed, to get a foot to the ball and knock it home from 10-yards. Thame were in control and Sam Cowan, Aaron Rogers, Nik Rhodes, and Ben Connelly all went close. At this point, the home manager was heard to shout to his players ?liven up – we could be 4 down?. His call was heeded in the 31st minute, when a good ball from the right found striker Jack Ball who deflected it home giving Thame keeper, Nick Bennion, on chance. The teams went in for the break with the score even, but United ?ahead on points?.

Two minutes after the restart, Dan West hit the upright with a 25-yard shot. A few minutes later Matt Willet ran at goal and hit a shot from the same range to hit the other upright. Both Stewart and Rogers had good chances before United increased their lead, in the 70th minute. Willet collected a goal kick and ran at goal before passing to Rogers, in space, who finished confidently from 15-yards. Within 5 minutes, it was 1-3 after Ricketts delivered a perfect cross from the left and Stewart finished well from close range. With the next attack, Ricketts hit the crossbar from 20-yards. With 2 minutes to play, Bennion was harshly judged to have fouled and the referee awarded a penalty. This was duly converted, leading to a frantic last few minutes but the home side never came close to scoring an equaliser and Thame rightly progressed to the next round.

Thame United: Bennion, Willet, Meredith, Steedman, N. Rhodes, Cowan (Hunt), Connelly, West, Stewart (Mc Donald), Rogers, Ricketts.