Cup run continues for Thame United (Contributed)

F A Cup Preliminary Round – Thame United 2, Wootton Blue Cross 0; 29/08/09 – MATCH REPORT

THAME United?s F A cup run continued of Saturday when they defeated Bedfordshire based, Wootton Blue Cross at Wallingford. The game was closer than the score suggests with possession fairly even. The difference was that United created more chances and took two, whilst the visitors squandered theirs.

Wootton had the better of the first few minutes but then Thame settled and both sides looked dangerous. Thame?s first goal came in the 22nd minute, from a well-executed set piece. Luke Ricketts, who had an outstanding game, took an in-swinging corner from the right, hitting it hard and low. Mark Jones broke away from his marker and met the ball just inside the near post, volleying home from close range. Thame grew in confidence and had their best spell of the game creating, but not converting, several half chances. The teams went in for the break with Thame leading 1-0, a fair reflection of play.

Wootton came out fired up for the second half and, for a while, United were forced to defend in numbers relying on occasional counter attacks. The visitors hit the bar and wasted several good scoring opportunities by missing the target. Although Thame?s goalkeeper, Lee Orkney, was kept busy, he was rarely tested. Thame fought back and in the 70th minute, Aaron Rodgers forced a good block from the visiting keeper then collected the rebound, but was unlucky to see his shot hit the bar. United scored a minute later and once again, Ricketts was the main provider. This time he made a good run on the left, cut in to the by-line, and played a ball to Rogers who found Jones in space 15-yards from goal. Jones hit the post with his shot. The ball could have gone anywhere, but amazingly, it came back to Jones?s feet and he buried his second shot. It was effectively ?game over?, and although the visitors pressed, forcing a first-rate save from Orkney, United also continued to attack, with substitute Stuart Braun also forcing a good save.

Thame will face stiffer opposition in the next round, when they will meet undefeated Southern League Division One side, Burnham. The game will be played at Wallingford on 12th September.

Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Wakelin, N Rhodes, Hocking, El-Kassir, Connelly (Hoskin), A. Rhodes, Rogers (Braun), Jones, Ricketts

United do not have a game scheduled for next Saturday 5th September.