They came with a plan, implemented the plan, took three points and went top of the league.
That was pretty much the story for United on Bank Holiday Monday as they maintained their 100% league record against Aylesbury United.
Manager Mark West made a couple of changes from the side that had been beaten in the FA Cup the previous Saturday, with Dan James coming in at Centre Back for Aaron Jewell, and Harry Scott replacing Tom Ashworth in midfield, as United moved to a 4-4-1-1 formation. An injury in the warm-up for Liam Tack also meant a start for Andy Gledhill up-front.
The game was slow to get going as both sides probed without creating any real goal scoring opportunities, with Craig Hill perhaps the busier of the goalkeepers, collecting a number of low crosses in to the penalty area. The only goal of the game arrived on 26 minutes when, following an Aylesbury United attack, Harry Scott found himself in space on the right and, with the Aylesbury defenders retreating, delivered a cross that Marcus Mealing cleverly dummied for Andy Gledhill who, in space, calmly drove wide of Davis in the Aylesbury goal.
Having scored, United maintained their defensive discipline for the remainder of the half and, despite Aylesbury enjoying more possession, they were unable to penetrate a well-marshalled visiting defence.
The second half start in similar vein, with a resolute United holding firm and limiting any goalscoring opportunities for the home side. That said, the nearest Aylesbury came to finding an equaliser was in the early stages of the half when the effective Aaron Berry found half a yard of space and poked an effort from 8 yards that came back off the near post and was cleared away from danger. That, really, was as close as the home side came to finding an equaliser as efforts were generally from long range and did not trouble Craig Hill.
Indeed, such was the defensive organisation and focus throughout the half that the nearest United came to scoring a second was in the final minute of the game when Aston Goss was put through on goal by Tom Ashworth, only to be hauled down by Davis just outside the box. Davis was immediately shown a red card but the resultant free kick, which turned out to be the final action of the game, did not find its way beyond the Aylesbury wall. Nevertheless, it was three points as United went top of the league on goals scored.
United are at home on Saturday looking to maintain the 100% start to the league season when they welcome Yaxley. 3pm kick off.
Thame United: Hill, Mepham, Lynn, Essex, James, Martin (Murray), Scott (Ashworth), Sturgess, Gledhill (Jewell), Mealing, Goss.
