After an exhausting 120 minutes in the Senior Cup on Tuesday evening, United returned to league action with a trip to fifth-placed Thatcham Town.
With Andy Gledhill still feeling the effects of that midweek match, United returned to a 4-4-2 formation with Calvin Evans coming in at right back. And it looked like it was going to be a busy afternoon for the United defence as Thatcham spent much of the first 15 minutes in the ascendancy, forcing a number of corners but, apart from a few long range efforts, Craven in the Thame goal was rarely threatened.
After the slow opening, United grew in to the game, with the first opportunity arriving on 15 minutes when a Lynton Goss corner was poked goalwards by Ellis Hercules, with the ball comfortably collected by Rackley. Two minutes later and another corner saw Dan West head just wide. Shortly afterwards, Tom Ashworth went on a mazy run in to the penalty area, before playing in West whose effort from an acute angle appeared to roll along the goal line before being cleared to safety. With the pressure building, United eventually took the lead on 25 minutes when another Goss corner was met with a deft header from West, with the ball carefully placed in the far corner.
Leading 1-0 at the break, United started the second half in similar fashion, but gradually the home side started to win more possession in the centre of the pitch and started to get balls in to the box. These were, generally, well-marshalled by a Man of the Match performance from Ellis Hercules, although Craven got down well to push a couple of drives over the bar and wide of the post. It was not all one-way, with United causing some problems on the break with, on 65 minutes, Goss scythed down by Rackley on the edge of the box, with the resultant free-kick coming to nothing.
A similar pattern ensued, but it was United who extended their lead on 81 minutes. A simple through ball saw Goss racing through on goal and, as he pushed the ball wide of Rackley, the home keeper hauled him down. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, with Goss dusting himself down to drive the ball powerfully in to the roof of the net.
The remainder of the match saw United soaking up pressure from the home side, but without Craven being called in to action.
United: Craven, Evans, Lynn, Hercules (Bailey), Johnston, Ashworth (Gray), Connelly, Goss (Nsomi), Morris, West, Ricketts
