Uncomfortable defeat by Ascot for Thame

FORMER Wycombe Wanderers striker Damian Markman gave Thame United a lesson in finishing on Friday, as Ascot United won comfortably at the ASM Stadium, in a Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division match.

Whilst United made a number of changes to the side that had beaten Highmoor Ibis in the FA Cup last weekend, few could have anticipated a first half hour where Ascot scored four without reply. First Damian Markman finished well after seven minutes, before Joe Grant capitalised on hesitation in the Thame defence to make it two after a quarter of an hour. A few minutes later Dan West almost got United back in the game, rounding keeper Chris Grace only to see his effort cleared. It was three on 22 minutes as Markman scored his second, completing his hat-trick ten minutes later.

It was not all one way traffic though, as Jordan Davis and Ben Connelly went close, before two good penalty appeals for incidents involving Jordan Davis and Dan Jones were waved away.

United played the better football for much of the second half, with Ascot content to sit back, and as the game wore on United created some good goal scoring opportunities without really testing Grace. With Adam Morris, Dan Jones and Adam Hazell all having efforts on goal, the best chance fell to Ellis Hercules, whose downward header bounced up and against the bar.

Final score: Thame United 0 Ascot United 4

United will have the opportunity to quickly put the match behind them on Tuesday night as they travel to Holyport, and will be looking for a measure of revenge when they visit the Racecourse Ground in 10 days time.

United: Cockerill, Johnson, Hall, Hercules, Coverley (Hazell), Lynch, Connelly (Dugmore), Morris, West, Davis, (Evans), Jones