03/10/11…Battling Thame crash out to Oxford City

FA cup Second Qualifying Round: Saturday, October 1, 2011; Thame United 1, Oxford City 3. MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

THAME united were defeated 1-3 in the FA Cup at the ASM Stadium on Saturday, by on-form Oxford City. Thame?s opponent?s play in the Evostik Southern League where they currently occupy second place, having won seven of their 10 games. United play two leagues lower and have won two from six. Nevertheless it was Thame who were leading at half time.

Several Key players were missing for United due to injury, suspension and holidays forcing five changes from the team that defeated Brackley in the previous round. The game, which attracted 426 spectators, was played in a temperature of 29 degrees, and understandably, the pace was slow at times.

After an even first five minutes the visitors started to threaten the Thame goal but United keeper Nick Bennion was in superb form making several quality saves. Thame defended well, and at times had 10 players in their penalty area, leaving Alex Macdonald as the sole striker. It was one-way-traffic for a while with the home team making the occasional foray into the City half. Then, on 29 minutes an overhead ball from Ian Pykett found a city player on the right touchline but the Thame?s tricky winger Ben Connolly robbed him and travelled before playing a delightful ball to Macdonald putting him through on goal until he was clattered by a city defender.

The referee rightly pointed to the penalty spot. Thame captain Jon Stedman comfortably converted the spot kick, giving the keeper no chance. Thame continued to contain the City threat for the remainder of the half.

The ?writing was on the wall? when City hit the woodwork with their first attack after the restart. The equaliser came in the 49th minute when a long goal kick which somehow eluded the Thame defence, was allowed to bounce, and City striker Steve Basham headed the ball over the oncoming Bennion. The visitors struck again within a minute when enough space was created on the left for Felipe Barcelos to finish well from 20-yards. The visitor?s third goal came on 66 minutes with a 15-yard strike from Darren Pond. The remainder of the match saw Thame trying to counter attack but the visitors snuffed out any chances and the visiting keeper was not really tested.

The exhausted Thame side left the pitch knowing they were out of the cup but also knowing that, at times, they had played above their level and had given it their all.

Thame United’s clash with Oxford City was filmed by FATV and appeared on The FA.com website and on www.YouTube.com/FATV.
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Thame United: Bennion, I Pykett, P Pykett, Steadman (Hocking), Brown (N Rhodes), Cowan, Connelly, Hayes, MacDonald, Rogers, Hall (Barr)

PICTURE: Courtesy of pitch-side-stories.blogsport.com