28/08/12…..Thame United ‘blown away’ by North Leigh

FA cup Preliminary Round – 25/08/12 – North Leigh 6, Thame United 0 – MATCH REPORT

THAME United were ?blown away? by a more skilful side at North Leigh on Saturday when they were defeated 6-0. The hosts are mid table in the Southern League division one (South and West) which is a league higher than Thame. Fairy tales do happen in the FA Cup, when a higher league team are defeated by minnow but, on Saturday, Thame were simply outclassed by a better team.

Although Thame started brightly the home side soon started to gain control and went ahead in the 16th minute when a soft penalty was awarded. Ellis Hercules was harshly judged to have fowled in the box and Stuart Hole buried the spot kick. After 24 minutes a sloppy Thame pass was intercepted near the halfway line, and after a brief passing move, John Mills hit a well placed 15-yard shot pass Thame keeper Lee Farrow. With ten minutes of the first half remaining it was 3-0 when Jimmy Deabill headed in a cross from the right from 5-yards. Up to this point United had been playing with only one striker, but after the third goal Mark West brought the hard working Cameron Lagan on to partner Alex Stewart. Just before the break Ben Connelly played a ball to Lagan whose acutely angled shot was just wide.

United came out fired up after the break but it was business as usual for the home side in the 59th minute when the impressive Mills beat two Thame defenders to score the home team?s fourth. Deabill got their 5th goal from 12-yards a few minutes later. North Leigh went down to 10 men with about 5 minutes to play when, having used all their substitutes a defender limped off the pitch. With 2 minutes left Lewis Coyle completed Thame?s misery by scoring the home side?s 6th goal.

It must be said that goalkeeper Lee Farrow was not at fault for any of the goals. In fact he made some fine saves which minimised the damage.

Thame United: Farrow, Willett, Hall, Meredith, Hercules (Evans), N Rhodes, Connelly, West, Stewart (Rantle), Wakelin (Lagan), Ricketts.

United play in the FA Vase at the ASM Stadium next Saturday (1st September), when they meet Hampshire Premier League team Clanfield.