Ardley United 0 Thame United 2

With Adam Morris and Dan Jones sidelined due to injuries picked-up against Reading Town on Saturday, manager Mark West brought in Calvin Evans on the right hand side, with Matt Hall moving in to midfield.

The opening period saw Ardley, playing down the pronounced slope, with the majority of possession but rarely threatening Cockerill in the Thame goal. Indeed, the first chance of the half fell to Conor McDonagh in the fourth minute who picked-up a back pass only to see his effort pushed around the post for a corner by Ardley keeper, Jack Harding. Former Thame player, Jon Gardner then had an effort saved by Cockerill before United took the lead in the 38th minute. A cross field ball from Dan West towards the edge of the box caused indecision between Harding and right back Darren Beckett, allowing Luke Ricketts to nip in and head the ball in to the back of the net. Ricketts nearly doubled the lead three minutes later when, after a run from the halfway line, his shot across goal was saved by Harding. The last action of the half saw Joe Eyre head over for Ardley from six yards out.

The first chance of the second half fell to United on 51 minutes as McDonagh made space on the left only to see his shot from a narrow angle parried by the keeper. Five minutes later and an effort from Ollie Lynch sailed over the bar from 20 yards, before, on 59 minutes, Dan West forced Harding to make another save. The second goal eventually arrived on 74 minutes when West pounced on a defensive error after a corner, and his cross was hit in to the roof of the net by Matt Hall.

For the remainder of the game Ardley pressed forward with United content to hit the opposition on the break. For all their possession, however, Ardley were unable to trouble Cockerill and United held on for their third away win of the season, and a welcome six points over the Bank Holiday period.

United: Cockerill, Willett, P Pykett, Hercules, Burrows, Lynch, Evans, Hall (Hurley), McDonagh (Gledhill), West, Ricketts.