No Consolation For Thame United – Report by Bob Dixon

Ashford Town (Middx) 5 – Thame United 0
These two teams last met in August for Thame United?s first ?home? match at Aylesbury. The result was a 2-2 draw. Since then whilst Ashford have improved their squad, and currently occupy second league place, By contrast, Thame have been forced to slash their playing budget and are bottom of the league. The gulf between the two teams was very apparent.

Ashford controlled the match from first to last whistle. Their first goal came after five minutes when ex-Wycombe Wanderers defender Jason Chewins met a short corner with a well placed near post header. Paul Searl was kept busy in the Thame goal. On 23 minutes he did will to get a hand to a fierce shot, but the ball fell to Gavin Smith who finished from 6 yards.Thame were unlucky when, following a corner, a Joe Da Silva shot hit the crossbar.

Ashford?s third came in the 65th minute the result of a quality run and shot from Anthony Joseph. Smith got his second five minutes later when he lobbed Searl, who was blinded by the low sun, from the edge of the area. With about three minutes remaining Dave Hocking did well to clear a goal bound shot off the goal line. Thame pushed for a consolation goal but it was Ashford substitute Lee Passmore who finished the scoring, in extra time, when he met a cross with a far post tap in.

Thame United: Searl, Hopkins (Morgan), Raja, Eason, Hocking, Groves, Way (Fisher), Da Silva, Moore, Bradley, Boland.

Thame United entertain 18th placed Taunton Town at Aylesbury next SUNDAY 5th March. KICK OFF IS AT 1.00 pm