For the first time in their history, Thame United have made it through three rounds of the FA Trophy, defeating Worthing 1-0 on Saturday.
Worthing, playing at a level above Thame in the pyramid, came in to the game on the back of a four game winning streak, but were unable to trouble a resolute United side for much of the match, with United running out worthy winners.
The only change from the side that had drawn the previous week at Aylesbury saw Dan West return in place of Adam Morris. And from the outset United showed their intent when, inside the first minute, Lynton Goss went on a mazy run culminating in a shot that deflected off a defender and on to a post. Shortly afterwards Tom Ashworth saw an effort go over the bar before Craig Hill was called in to action in the Thame goal, tipping an effort from close range over the bar.
United then forced a number of corners on 18 minutes, the second for which was met at the back post by Ellis Hercules, who put the ball back across goal where James McGowan swivelled and in acrobatic fashion drove the ball goal-wards, only for the ball to come back off the post and in to the grateful arms of Cavagnari. As the half wore on United continued to create the better of the opportunities with a Goss shot saved and West seeing an effort go wide.
The second half started in similar vein and, after Goss had seen an effort well-saved on 55 minutes, United eventually took the lead on 58 minutes. West won a free-kick 25-yards from goal and, stepping forward, curled the ball around the wall and in to the bottom corner of the net. It was no less than United deserved at this stage, and the lead was almost doubled three minutes later when a Luke Ricketts cross from the left was headed towards the bottom corner by West only for Cavagnari to somehow claw the ball to safety.
As the half progressed the visitors enjoyed increasing possession, but the clearest chances were still falling to United. Again Cavagnari pulled off an excellent save to deny Hercules from a corner before Adam Morris, who had just replaced Luke Ricketts, forced Cavagnari to save low to his left on 79 minutes.
The final ten minutes of the match saw the visitors pressing for an equaliser and, on 86 minutes, United supporters held their breath as a shot from Jared Rance from the edge of the box crashed against the bar and was eventually cleared to safety. However, United held on and progress to the Third Qualifying Round, with games to be played on 25 November.
United:
Hill, Harrison, Lynn, Hercules, McGowan, Ashworth, Mepham, Goss, Sturgess, West, Ricketts (Morris).
