United confidently progressed to the next round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 win at Uxbridge on Saturday.
Going in to the match, fellow Southern League side Uxbridge had won both of their opening league fixtures, whilst United were looking for an improved performance following the midweek defeat to AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Manager Mark West made a number of changes, with Harry Mepham, Liam Smyth, Luke Ricketts and Dan West all coming in to the side.
Uxbridge had the better of the opening exchanges and could have taken the lead after only 3 minutes, when a mix-up in the United backline allowed a clear shot on goal that Henry Craven did well to push wide for a corner. Both sides then cancelled each other for a period, with the first chance for United being a shot from Dan West on 15 minutes that the keeper saved comfortably. This started a period of possession for the visitors, with Luke Ricketts and Lynton Goss both going close, between which Craven had to be alert to keep United in the game.
With further chances for Goss and Ben Connelly, the opening goal eventually arrived on 36 minutes when Adam Morris found Goss in the centre of the field. Goss held the ball up well before feeding Ricketts who hit a first time, angled drive across the home keeper and in to the far corner.
The second half started within the home side in the ascendancy, and Craven had to be alert on a number of occasions to maintain the lead. Then, on 65 minutes, the lead was doubled, with Luke Ricketts finding space on the left before a low centre along the six-yard box was met by the sliding Goss to finish well. Four minutes later and Ricketts was bundled over on the edge of the box, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Goss stepped up and finished low in to the bottom corner for 3-0.
United were not finished and, with ten minutes to go, a mix`-up between home defender and goalkeeper, some 30 yards from goal, allowed Goss to race clear and finish unchallenged. The final moments of the game passed without incident, save for an effort from Ben Sturgess that cleared the bar, as United secured their passage to the next round.
Thame United: Craven, Mepham, Lynn, Smyth, Johnston, Sturgess, Connelly (Murray), Goss (Onokwai), Morris, West (Ashworth), Ricketts.
