Thame’s FA Cup ended by Burnham

SOUTHERN League Premier Division side Burnham brought Thame’s FA Cup run to an end on Saturday, with a 2-1 victory at the ASM Stadium.

Dan West, who scored Thame’s goal against Burnham on Saturday

The game got off to the worst possible start for United when, after eight minutes, and with goalkeeper Josh Cockerill already called in to action twice, United were reduced to ten men when Ellis Hercules was adjudged to have handled on the goal line. Hercules was immediately dismissed from the field of play with Burnham captain, Nathan Poulton, despatching the penalty.

The sending-off forced manager Mark West to re-organise, with Dan West moving to Centre Back from Midfield. Whilst, as a consequence, Burnham maintained the bulk of possession, they were unable to break-down a well organised defence, with the best chance for Thame falling to Luke Ricketts in the 34th minute whose drive from an acute angle was saved by the Burnham keeper.

With no change in the score line at half-time, United thought they had earned a penalty of their own in the 52nd minute when an Adam Morris cross hit the hand of a visiting defender, but the referee waved away the appeals. Burnham, however, continued to enjoy the bulk of possession without threatening Cockerill, and indeed it was United who almost equalised in the 66th minute when a 20-yard drive from Ollie Lynch was tipped over the bar. Five minutes later and Burnham extended their lead when a cross of the right was met by Lockhart-Adams, who scored from close range.

United were left hoping that lightening would strike twice and that they would again come back from two down in the FA Cup, and a Dan West effort from close range in the 89th minute suggested this may be the case. Alas, it was not to be and it is Burnham who progressed to the next round.

United: Cockerill, Willett, Jones, Hercules, Hall, Lynch, Connelly (Evans), Morris, Mealing, West, Ricketts