United edged a closely fought match on Saturday against play-off chasing Cambridge City thanks to an early Dan West strike.
The only change from the side that had been beaten the previous week at Bedford Town saw Harry Mepham come in at right back. And it was Mepham who nearly opened the scoring on 12 minutes when the ball fell kindly in the box and his drive was parried wide by Bannister for a corner. The resulting corner was initially cleared by the Cambridge defence but collected by Adam Morris who shot just wide.
With United gradually gaining the upper hand, the only goal of the game arrived on 16 minutes. A poor clearance from Bannister was collected by West just inside the Cambridge half and he raced clear, holding off a defender, before slotting just wide of the keeper for his 20th league goal of the season. Whilst the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession, the well drilled home defence simply did not give Cambridge an opportunity whereas, and by contrast, United looked like they could create something in the final third, and the second goal almost arrived on 32 minutes when a Mepham cross was met by the head of Luke Ricketts but the ball floated just wide.
1-0 at half-time nearly became two inside the first sixty seconds of the second half as Lynton Goss worked himself space in the penalty area only for his shot to be smothered. Again the visitors pressed, enjoying plenty of possession, but generally playing in front of United and, when balls did come in to the box, they were confidently gathered by Craig Hill in the Thame goal. Lynton Goss and Dan West were, however, always dangerous and good inter-play between the two on 70 minutes gave Goss an opportunity, but Bannister got down low to his right to save. Five minutes later and Lynton Goss crossed from the left for brother Aston, but his header flashed just wide.
For the final fifteen minutes Cambridge piled on the pressure, with the United defence getting deeper and deeper. However, the defence continued to be superbly marshalled by captain James McGowan and, with the exception of a Jordan Gent header from a corner that just cleared the bar on 83 minutes, City were unable get a meaningful shot on goal.
The win maintains an eleventh-place spot in the table for United but, with games in hand on those above them, they continue to focus towards the top half of the league.
Thame United:
Hill, Mepham, Lynn, Essex, McGowan, Ashworth, A.Goss, L.Goss (Johnston), Morris, West, Ricketts
