Thame United lose last chance for silverware (Contributed)

March 22 – WANTAGE TOWN: 4, THAME UNITED 1 – MATCH REPORT.
The last chance of silverware this season for Thame United disappeared on Saturday with a disappointing defeat to Premier Division Wantage Town in the Supplementary Cup. In freezing conditions played in a gale force wind with regular snow showers, Thame were unable to find any rhythm and, in the end, were well beaten by a solid Wantage Town.

However, the result could have been very different had Nathan Jack done better in the 9th minute when his quick turn was followed by a drive from 18 yards that shaved the right hand post. Five minutes later and it was Wantage who broke the deadlock when a move down the Thame right resulted in a low cross that the on-rushing forward Paul Day slid home from 6 yards. Thame then pressed for an equaliser and the best chance fell to striker Paul Searl in the 25th minute whose shot on the turn from 8 yards sailed narrowly over the bar.

With a 1-0 scoreline at half time and the wind behind them in the second half, Thame looked set to place the home defence under pressure. However, Wantage extended the lead within 5 minutes of the re-start when the ball fell kindly to former Thame striker, Danny Keen, who placed the ball beyond keeper Mike Higgs. Keen scored his second and the third for Wantage 15 minutes later, forcing the ball home after Higgs had done well to save a fierce free kick from 25 yards. 20 minutes later and it was 4-0 as Nathan Hall stroked the ball home from wide right.

To their credit Thame continued to press forward and scored a consolation goal in the 87th minute when a through ball from Adam Rhodes was met by player manager Mark West, who squared the ball for skipper Dave Hocking to drive in to an empty net from 6 yards. In the end though it was too little too late, leaving Thame to wait until next season for potential cup success.

Thame United: Higgs, N.Rhodes, Graves, Hocking, Watkins, Cowan, Thompson (Hoskin), A.Rhodes, Searl (Leach), Jack (West), Ricketts