19th August 2024
Thame United, were back in cup action with the visit of fellow Southern League Southern Division One side Beaconsfield Town in the preliminary round of the FA Cup. After beating Aylesbury United in the previous round Thame were drawn agains Beaconsfield who entered the competition for the first time.
After the midweek league loss to Berkhamsted, manager Ben Williams made a number of changes to the starting line up. Oscar Lucy was back in at left back for the injured James Towell, Fin Murray replaced Jefferson Louis at centre back and Fabian Garcia came in for Curtis Brown who dropped to the bench. Rocko Tamplin was still injured and Tom McElroy was only fit enough to make the bench. We welcomed back Matty Harriot who played for Thame last season now with the visitors.
Thame got todays game under way kicking from left to right, Beaconsfield started the game well and were unlucky in the opening 5 minutes when a break on the left was crossed into the box and the goal bound shot was deflected over the bar and out for a corner. The opening goal came a few minutes later a long ball from Leo Galpin into the Beaconsfield box, was met by Jack Tutton, who tried to cross the ball back to the on running Reece Cameron only for it to hit the defenders raised hand. The referee pointed to the spot, up stepped Harry Alexander who calmly slotted a low shot to the keepers right. 1 - 0 to Thame after 9 minutes. Although going behind, Beaconsfield came back well and were causing the Thame defence problems attacking from the wide areas and had several half chances in the first half. Fabian Garcia went into the referees book on 43 minutes for a late tackle, Matthew Crowther then made a good save from a long range free kick, parrying the ball away.
With the first half going into added time, Thame broke on the left, Garcia and Ollie Hogg had some neat interchanges before eventually crossing the ball into the box where it was met by an unmarked Mark Riddick who headed the ball back across the keeper and into the net. Alexander then had a chance on the left but his low shot avoided everyone in the box and just went past the far post. The half ended with the home side 2 - 0 rather flattering with Beaconsfield in the game for long periods of the half.
Beaconsfield got the second half under way, and within 2 minutes were in trouble when Grant went into a tackle on Riddick, both feet off the ground and caught the Thame player. The referee had no hesitation in producing a red card for a dangerous and reckless tackle and an early exit from the game for the Beaconsfield number 11. Immediately from the resultant free kick the ball was played to Alexander on the right who’s cross found Cameron in the box, he turned a fired a shot across the face of the goal just wide of the far post. The visitors weren’t giving up and shortly after some neat play resulted in a long range shot just going over the bar, but Thame started to take control, and were creating more chances firstly an interception from Alexander was played through to Ollie Hogg who's shot from inside of the box, hit the side netting and on 60 minutes had their third, Garcia won the ball on the left flank, passed to Tutton who played a lovely ball into the box to find Cameron who took one touch to control the ball and slotted it past the advancing goalkeeper.
Thame made their first Substitutes on 63 minutes, Craig Alcock and Jefferson Louis replacing Jack Tutton and Reece Cameron, then on 70 minutes Curtis Brown and Alfie Tucker came on for Ollie Hogg and Fabian Garcia. The home side were looking comfortable and were controlling the ball, playing some neat football, and creating more chances. Galpin played a long ball to Jefferson Louis who controlled the ball turned but his shot was high and wide., Alexander had a shot across the goal and just past the far post But against the run of play the visitors were unlucky not to pull a goal back when a free kick into the Thame box fell to one of the Beaconsfield forwards who was one on one with keeper Crowther, who reacted well to the shot and push it away, and the ball was cleared out of play.
From the resultant throwing the ball was played back to a Beaconsfield defender in their half who’s clearance was charged down by Alfie Tucker, some neat play saw Craig Alcock play the ball through to an unmarked Curtis Brown, who picked the ball up ran into the box and fired a right footed shot past the keeper and the ball went into the net off the under side of the bar.
Brown scored his second and Thames fifth in added time, a brilliant individual goal, picking the ball up on the half way line and running at the visitors defence, shrugging off the defenders to fire in a powerful shot from just inside the box, to put the icing on the cake for the home side.
5 minutes of added time, were played before the referee blew for full time, On the second half performance no more than the home side deserved, with a professional second half display against the 10 men of Beaconsfield.
They now enter the first qualifying round draw to find out who they will play on 31 August.
Goals
Harry Alexander (Pen) (9 minutes)
Mark Riddick (45 minutes)
Reece Cameron (60 minutes)
Curtis Brown x 2 (88, 90 minutes)
Team Sheet
1.Matthew Crowther
2.Josh Stranks
3.Oscar Lucy
4.Leo Galpin
5.Fin Murray
6. Mark Riddick (Captain)
7.Fabian Garcia (Alfie Tucker 70 minutes)
8.Jack Tutton (Craig Alcock 63 minutes)
9.Reece Cameron (Jefferson Louis 63 minutes)
10.Ollie Hogg (Curtis Brown 70 minutes)
11.Harry Alexander
12. Jefferson Louis
14.Curtis Brown
15.Craig Alcock
16.Tom McElroy
15.Alfie Tucker
