Thame United 5 Flackwell Heath 0
United marked ten years under the stewardship of Mark West with a superb display against Flackwell Heath on Tuesday evening.
Going in to the match United sat second in the league, a point clear of third place Flackwell Heath, with both sides looking to maintain momentum going in to the final weeks of the season. With the exception of the returning Henry Craven in goal, United stuck with the side that had beaten Highmoor Ibis on Saturday.
For the first half Flackwell Heath attacked the Aylesbury Road end, playing with the benefit of a strong breeze. And it showed in the opening moments as, after only two minutes, Dan Molloy hit a powerful effort for the visitors that crashed against the bar and, as it transpired, constituted their best chance of the match.
Whilst the visitors continued to enjoy the majority of the possession, United gradually adjusted to the conditions and a header from Matt Johnston went inches wide from a corner on 20 minutes before, a minute later, an effort from Luke Ricketts just cleared the bar. As the half wore on, the match looked to be going in to the break all-square before, a minute in to injury time, Dan West saw a shot blocked for a corner. Lynton Goss delivered the ball towards the near post where West, on the six-yard box, powered a header in to the top corner of the net to give Weait in the visiting goal no chance.
If the first half was fairly even, United – now benefitting from the wind - stepped-up a gear in the second half. And the lead was extended on 55 minutes as Goss collected the ball on the wide right, turning the defender inside before curling an effort from 25 yards with the outside of his foot in to the far corner beyond the despairing Weait.
Ten minutes later and the third goal arrived, good interplay between Goss and West saw the latter thread the ball through to Goss from the edge of the box and he hit a first time effort lower under Weait.
By this stage, United’s constant pressing of the Flackwell back-line was reaping rewards and, on 73 minutes West won a corner that Goss floated over and, with the breeze helping, the ball floated in to the top corner to complete his hat-trick.
Goss was not done by this stage and he claimed his fourth, and United’s fifth, on 77 minutes. David Lynn instigated the move down the Thame left, delivering the ball to Goss, who calmly nutmegged Weait from close range.
By this stage it was game over and, whilst Craven was twice called in to action by shots from Liam Tack and Jamie Essex, it was Goss who had the opportunity to score his fifth, with Weait blocking his effort from 12 yards.
The result takes United back to the top of the table, two points clear of Bracknell Town, who have a game in hand.
United: Craven, Evans, Lynn, Hercules, Johnston, Ashworth, Connelly, Goss, Morris, West, Ricketts
