THAME UNITED 3 AYLESBURY UNITED 1
United got the New Year off to a winning start with a 3-1 victory over near neighbours Aylesbury United – a win that pushes United to seventh in the table.
The only change from the defeat at AFC Dunstable on Boxing Day saw Adam Morris come in to a central midfield role for Tom Ashworth. The match also saw the final appearance for Club Captain Ellis Hercules who, after over 200 matches since the 2012/13 season, is leaving these shores for a job opportunity in New Zealand.
The match got off to a quick start, with United opening the scoring after only two minutes when a Ben Connelly ball put Lynton Goss through on goal and he calmly placed the ball wide of Jack Sillitoe. Shortly afterwards United created another opportunity when the visitors failed to clear and Ben Sturgess hit an effort from 18 yards that came back off the crossbar. Whilst, at this stage, possession was fairly even, the pace of Goss was causing problems for Aylesbury and, on 13 minutes, another probing Goss run down the left was curtailed by foul means. Goss picked himself up and delivered the free kick on to the head of Dan West who beat Sillitoe via the underside of bar for two nil.
With United in control at this point, the remainder of the half became something of a midfield battle, with neither side creating any further meaningful efforts on goal.
The second half started, as anticipated, with the visitors controlling possession and United happy to utilise their pace on the counter attack. Despite the possession, Aylesbury were unable to deliver in the final third and, on the few occasions they did, Craig Hill in the Thame goal was in good form, tipping one goal bound effort over the bar on 61 minutes.
However, it became 2-1 on 69 minutes when a corner from the left was whipped-over to the near post where Tre Mitford confidently headed home from close range. The set back did not unduly distract the home side, and they reinstated the two-goal cushion five minutes later. Goss, who gave the Aylesbury defence a difficult afternoon throughout, went on a mazy, cross field run before turning on the left and delivering an inch-perfect cross in to the box that West again headed wide of Sillitoe and in to the back of the net.
That was the last significant goalmouth action of the game since, whilst Aylesbury again enjoyed the majority of the possession, solid defending from United restricted any opportunities.
Next up for United is a long trip to Portsmouth on Saturday to face Moneyfields, who currently sit fifth in the table.
Thame United:
Hill, Evans, Lynn, Hercules, Essex, Morris (Ashworth), Connelly, Goss (Harrison), Sturgess, West, Mepham (Ricketts).
