Due to non availability, suspension, and injuries United were forced to make six changes from the side that played mid week, fielding three reserve players and even bringing Club Chairman Jake Collinge on as a substitute in the final minutes. It was difficult to play quality football on the uneven playing surface and, as assistant manager Frank Thompson remarked at half time ‘the pitch had more bobbles than a woolly hat shop’.

After an encouraging start, Thame took the lead in the 15th minute when Brad Chalmers did well to rise above defenders and head in a Luke Ricketts corner from an acute angle. Thame had slightly more possession for the remainder of the half but there were few chances at either end, although Ricketts went close just before the break.

United controlled the second half. Their second goal came in the 50th minute when Ben Gray met a ball from his left with a glorious 20-yard volley, the ball hitting the far post before crossing the line. Then Nik Rhodes, Gray, and substitute Jacob Davis all went close to increasing the lead. It was however Adam Rhodes, recently returned to fitness after a lengthy spell out with an injury, who got Thame’s final goal, 15 minutes from time. Ricketts made the goal by beating his marker and running to the left by-line before playing a superb cross to Rhodes whose hurried shot hit the same post before crossing the goal line.

Whilst Fairford are one of the league’s weaker teams this was a good performance by Thame. The players who stepped-up from the reserves were impressive, and have good prospects of many more first team appearances.

Thame United: M Higgs, I Pykett (Davis), P Pykett, Chalmers, N Rhodes, Barr (Hunt), Connelly, Grey (Collinge), Hall, A Rhodes, Ricketts.