22/10/12….No walk-over as Thame beat bottom tablers, Rotherfield

OXFORDSHIRE Senior Cup – 1st round – 20/10/12; Rotherfield United 0, Thame United 2 – MATCH REPORT:

Thame United travelled to Rotherfield, near Reading, on Saturday (20/10) where they progressed to the next round of the Oxford Senior Cup, by defeating Rotherfield United 0-2. Recently Thame supporters have become used to the team recording good results against sides at a similar level. Rotherfield however are bottom of the Senior Division of the Reading Football League, having lost all of their seven league fixtures this season. The visitors therefore should have had a comfortable win, but in this lacklustre game, Thame struggled to penetrate Rotherfield?s 10-man defence.

Several regulars where missing due to injury, whilst Nik Rhodes and Dan West were ?on the bench?.

Thame had the bulk of possession with 70% of the game being played in their opponents half. They took the lead after 15 minutes when Luke Rickets hit a low cross from the left and, after a scramble, Niall Hodgkins, forced the ball over the line. There were few Thame chances in the remainder of the half, whilst goalkeeper Lee Farrow was mainly a spectator, not making a single save.

The first part of the second half was similar but then the home manager switched formation to play with two strikers and, the game became more open. Farrow was more involved, and dealt well with the occasional goal-bound shot. Thame, on the other hand seemed unable to find the target, with numerous blocked shots and near misses. Thame?s second goal came seven minutes before the end when Ben Connelly made a run on the right, beat his marker, and hit a cross from the by-line which hit a defender?s chest to rebound into the goal.

With three minutes remaining Chairman, Jake Collinge, who is sometimes on the away sub?s bench but is rarely used, came on. He soon saw action and had a goal-bound shot saved when he got on the end of a low pass from the tricky Connelly.

Thame United: Farrow, Barr, P Pykett, Johnson, Hercules, Jewell, Connelly, Rogers, Hodgkins, Gray (Collinge), Ricketts.

United are away at Holyport next Saturday 27th. Their next home game is on Saturday 3rd November when a League Cup game brings Newbury to the ASM stadium for the third time this season.