22/12/11….Thame beat Oxford City in re-arranged match

Oxford City Nomads 0, Thame United 1(MATCH REPORT – Contributed): 21/12/11 – Oxfordshire Senior Cup 3rd round: THAME were due to play this 3rd round Oxfordshire Senior Cup tie away but, due to a waterlogged pitch, the game was switched at short notice from Oxford to The ASM Stadium. The club emailed its database and a crowd of 53 saw the game, most of whom had changed their plans. They were not disappointed as it was an entertaining game between two evenly matched teams playing fast attractive football.

Thame started well and forced four successive corners in the first few minutes. Nomads however soon recovered to put Thame ?on the back foot? for much of the half. On 25 minutes Nomads had a good chance when, with the Thame defence appealing for offside, the linesman kept his flag down allowing two strikers through on goal. Thame keeper Milan Barisic however came out to meet the threat and made a fine save with his legs. Ten minutes later, another striker was in a 1 to 1 with Barisic who dived his feet, bringing him down. A penalty was awarded and Barisic was shown a yellow card. The penalty kick was however too close to the keeper, allowing him to make a good save. Although the visitors were perhaps ?ahead on points,? the game was goalless at half time.

Thame came out fired up for the second half and immediately put the visitor?s goal under pressure. Eight minutes after the restart, United were awarded a free kick 25-yards from goal which Alex Stewart took, hitting a superb shot and forcing an excellent save from the Nomads keeper. Dan West took the resultant corner which the keeper went to collect but dropped the ball; Stewart won the ensuing scramble to knock the ball home. Although Nomads tried to come back, United defended well and, apart from a header grazing the post, their chances were few. Thame were playing well, and Luke Ricketts, Lewis Cordice, Stewart and Ben Connelly all went close. The final few minutes were nerve racking but Thame held out, and will be in the 4th round draw.

Thame United: Barisic, Barr, Hall, Meredith, N Rhodes, Hayes, Connelly, D West, Stewart, Cordice, Ricketts (Little).