The opening stages of the game were relatively scrappy with neither side appearing comfortable in the damp conditions. The first opportunity fell to Goss on 4 minutes but his effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Skyers in the home goal. Gledhill then went close, whilst the home side continued to press down the flanks without creating any real goal scoring opportunities.

The opening goal eventually arrived on 23 minutes when Luke Ricketts progressed down the left flank before being felled on the edge of the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, with Gledhill stepping-up and sending the keeper the wrong way. It was 2-0 only five minutes later when, for the second time, Ricketts went on a mazy run down the left, beating a number of retreating defenders, before passing to the unmarked Goss, who had the relatively easy task of placing the ball in to the back of an unguarded net.

The goal seemed to ignite the home side who, for the remainder of the half, put United under pressure and came close to pulling a goal back on 42 minutes when a cross-cum-shot across goal appeared to be dropping in to the net, only for Dan West to clear from under the bar. Still, it was United who had the best chance to extend the lead when, with almost the last kick of the half, West floated a free kick in to the box that Derek Feyi headed over when well-placed.

The second half started with Brimscombe again increasing the pressure but they we unable to penetrate the well-marshalled Thame defence. At the same time United were looking threatening on the break and it was following such a move that the lead was extended further. The ball eventually found its way to Goss who from 25 yards, lobbed the ball over Skyers and, whilst the majority of the crowd thought the ball had also cleared the bar, it nestled in the back of the net. Goss completed his hat-trick five minutes later after being put through by Tom Ashworth and side-footing the ball wide of Skyers.

The home side did not give up and, from a series of corners, rattled the bar a couple of times. However, it was United who extended their lead 10 minutes from the end, when Goss received the ball in the penalty area with his back to goal, turned quickly and hit a powerful left footed drive beyond the despairing dive of Skyers.

The consolation goal that the home side deserved arrived five minutes from the end when, following another corner, the ball was cleared before being driven back across goal and, whilst it may have been deflected, the ball found its way in to the back of the United goal giving Craven no chance.

The win consolidates United’s position in the top four with games in hand on those teams around them.

United: Craven, Dugmore, Lynn, Harrison, Ashworth, Feyi, Connelly, Goss, Gledhill, West, Ricketts.