04/04/13…No ‘giant killing’ dream for Thame Utd

OXFORDSHIRE Senior Cup – Semi Final: Thame United 0, Oxford City 5 – Played: 3/04/13: IN their 130 year history, Thame United have won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup several times, the most recent being in 2002. They met Oxford City at the ASM Stadium on Wednesday evening in the semi final of this season?s competition and conceded five goals to a team which plays its football three leagues higher than Thame.

Any thoughts of a giant killing were dispelled after the first few minutes when it became apparent that City were by far the stronger side. Despite this, Thame can be proud of their gutsy performance as heads did not drop, and they continued to fight to the final whistle.

City?s first goal came on eight minutes when Nick Stanley volleyed home from 10 yards. It was 0-2 in the 21st minute when the talented Felipoe Barcelos lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Lee Farrow?s head. It was not all one-way-traffic but United attacks were closed down quickly and their efforts on goal were either too close to the on-form goalkeeper or wide of the target. It was 2-0 at the break.

Three minutes after the restart Barcelos struck again when he hit a wayward Thame clearance into the corner of the goal from 15-yards to make it 0-3. Mark Bell scored the final two goals with well placed 15-yard shots, the first on 72 minutes, and the second in the 84th minute. The United players should not be disheartened by the result. They gave it all they had and their supporters cannot ask for more, but in the end it was a case of amateurs being outclassed by professionals.

Thame United: Farrow, Wittett, Pyket, Hercules, Rhodes, Hayes (Gray), Connelly, Meredith (Jewell), Hodgkins (Johnson), Hall, Ricketts

SOURCE: Contributed by Bob Dixon