Thame United 2 Longlevens AFC 0
Extensive work on the pitch on Saturday morning ensured that this match could go ahead, and United will be thankful that it did.
Save for Aiden Bailey replacing the unavailable Matt Johnston in defence, United set up as they had done in their last outing, a 5-0 win against Flackwell Heath.
The opening exchanges saw both sides trying to adapt to the soft conditions underfoot, with the wind blowing straight down the pitch. Whilst United were playing in to that breeze, they were the quicker to settle and opened the scoring on five minutes. Dan West received the ball in the centre of the pitch, before neatly turning and playing in Lynton Goss, who raced through on goal and placed the ball wide of Merchant.
United continued to press, with Ben Connelly seeing a header clear the bar and Goss again forcing a save from Merchant. However, it was by no means one-way traffic, with the visitors not only disrupting the United play, but also creating goal-scoring opportunities. The best opportunity fell to Shaun O’Connor on 23 minutes, striking an effort from the edge of the box that Henry Craven in the Thame goal superbly pushed on to the post, with the danger then cleared.
Shortly before the break United had a great opportunity to extend their lead, when West found himself with time only six yards from goal. However, his goal bound effort was cleared off the line.
The second half started with United pressing their opponents and, ten minutes in to the half, the second goal arrived. Neat inter-play down the Thame right saw Goss pull the ball back to West on the edge of the penalty area and he side-footed the ball in to the far corner of the goal, giving Merchant no chance.
The remainder of the match saw few goal scoring opportunities for either side, with Goss going closest for United with a drive that cleared the bar whilst, in the final few moments, the visitors thought they had secured a penalty, only for the referee to wave play on.
United: Craven, Evans, Lynn, Hercules, Bailey, Ashworth, Connelly, Goss, Morris, West (Gray), Ricketts
