16/11/11…Another Cup match win for Thame United

OXFORDSHIRE Senior Cup ? Round 2 – Thame United 3, Old Woodstock Town 2; 15/11/2011 – MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

THAME United defeated Old Woodstock Town 3-2 at the ASM Stadium on Tuesday evening in the 2nd round of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup. Thame were in control for most of the game and with ten minutes remaining were leading 3-0, but the visitors managed to pull 2 goals back, and the final few minutes saw them searching for an equaliser with United forced to defend. For the first time this season Thame started the game with the same line-up as their last game.

After a fairly even opening few minutes the home side began to win more of the ball and both Dan West and Ben Connelly went close. Thame?s first goal came on 30 minutes when Alex Stewart met a West corner with a near-post header from close range. United increased their lead just before the break when both Aaron Rogers and the visiting keeper went to meet a long throw-in from Stuart Barr, but Rogers was sharper and headed the ball home.

The visitors were stronger in the second half and on-form Thame keeper, Nick Bennion was far busier than he had been before the break. United scored their third goal in the 81st minute when a superb ball from midfield found Alex Stewart, who ran at goal before hitting a strong, well-placed, shot from 20-yards, giving the visiting keeper no chance. Woodstock replied within a minute with a 35-yard thunderbolt from defender Mike Spall, which surprised both Bennion and the spectators. Barr went close for Thame, but with 3 minutes of normal time remaining the visitors scored their second when short corner was played to Nick Murray who hit a 30-yard shot through a packed penalty area. The final minutes saw Woodstock striving for an equaliser but United held out and will progress to the 3rd round.

Thame United: Bennion, Barr, Hall, Cowan, Meredith, Keeble (Steadman), Connelly, D West, Stewart, Rogers (M West), Ricketts.