For the third consecutive season Thame United were in the final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, where they came up against Combined Counties side Ardley United, at Oxford City’s M Group Stadium. With the game being played on a Saturday a big crowd had turned out, with a special attraction of the Premier League Trophy on display.

Manager Ben Williams made three changes to the team which started the last league game against Real Bedford. Lewis Thorne, Curtis Brown and Ethan Lack returned to the starting line up replacing Oscar Lucey, Jefferson Louis and Rocko Tamplin all three reverted to the bench, Leo Galpin returned to the squad replacing Greg Hackett who wasn’t available. Dan West started at centre back alongside Fin Murray in a back four, with Mark Riddick playing as the holding midfielder, with Ethan Lack and Jack Tutton playing further forward. Brayden Daniel started on the left wing and Curtis Brown on the right wing and Ty Deacon down the middle.

Ardley United got the game under way, kicking from left to right in the first half, the first real chance of the game fell to Thame when Brayden Daniel broke on the left and pulled the ball back for Ethan Lack who’s shot was saved by the Ardley keeper. On 12 minutes, Thame thought they had taken the lead, a cross from Jack Tutton, into the box had the keeper attempting to punch the ball away, he missed and Mark Riddick who was challenging got his head on the ball and it flew into the net, but the referee blew for a foul on the keeper, a harsh decision as the keeper jumped into the Thames captain. Ardley had a great chance on 17 minutes, when a shot from Lewis Gabbidon was well saved by keeper Matty Crowther who pushed the shot out for a corner. The resultant ball into box caused panic in the Thame defence and as the ball bobbled about Lewis Gabbidon was first to react at the back post and stabbed the ball home to take an early lead.

Ardley were playing some neat football and were looking dangerous with another shot on target blocked and the rebound being fired just wide. Thame responded and had a chance to equalise from a Jack Tutton free kick played into the box, it was met by an unmarked Dan West but his header was inches wide. While at the other end another break into the Thame box saw a goal bound shot block by the Thame right back Lewis Thorne, going out for a corner, the ball into the box was fired across the face of the goal, but there was no Ardley player near to get a touch on the ball.

It was becoming a difficult game for the referee as it was starting to get a bit fractious with a number of challenges coming in from both teams making the game stop and start with a number of free kicks being given. Curtis Brown's long throws were causing the Ardley defence some problems, after a header was cleared Ethan Lack played the ball back into the box, with Mark Riddick meeting the ball on the volley but his shot was over the bar. Another attack from Ardley saw the ball cleared to the edge of the box, but a shot from an Ardley player was high and wide.

Centre-forward Ty Deacon did well on 35 minutes to get away from one of the Ardley defenders on the left and drover into the Ardley box but his low ball across the goalmouth from a tight angle had no-one to get on the end of it. Shortly after Thame won another free kick, Jack Tutton's ball into the box was met by Finlay Murray, but the header was high in the air, and the Ardley keeper had an easy save. At the other end, Ardley came close again when a free-kick was headed across the Thame area to the Ardley forward Gabbidon, but his low drive was blocked. It looked as if Ardley were going to go into the break in the lead, as the clock ticket onto 45 minutes Thame equalised, Another free kick from Jack Tutton on the left was headed back by an Ardley defend and he played the ball back into the box, where Mark Riddick headed on to Ty Deacon in the penalty who area held the ball up, turns and his attempted shot is blocked but the ball falls to Dan West who pokes the ball home.

Ardley had the final chance of the half a shot from out side the box was saved by keeper Crowther and then a free kick from the right hand side was headed clear. The referee blew the half time whistle it had been an entertaining end to end first half with Ardley edging it and looking dangerous when the broke forward and were unlucky to be level at the break.

Thames manager Ben Williams, reacted to a fairly lack lustre first half by bringing on Leo Galpin to replace Ethan Lack, with Dan West moving into the number 10 role and Galpin slotting in alongside Fin Murray at centre back.Thame started the half strongly, an attack on the right had side found Ty Deacon who played the ball into the box, it was headed out but Curtis Brown picked up the clearance and fired a shot from the edge of the box which was well saved by the Ardley keeper. It was only a matter of minutes when Thame took the lead, a Leo Galpin free kick from inside his own half was headed across goal by Ty Deacon, it was headed away by an Ardley defender only for the incoming Brayden Daniel to volley the ball into the roof on the net from the edge of the right hand six yard box. Two minutes later Thame had a third, Brayden Daniel, picked the ball up inside the Thame half on the right, he drove forward and crossed the ball from the edge of the 18 yard box, it reached Dan West, who’s first time shot was well saved by the Ardley keeper, but the ball fell to Curtis Brown on the six yard box and he fired it into the roof of the net.

The Ardley players were getting frustrated and a nasty tackle from Ardley number 11 on Jack Tutton caused a furious reaction from the Thame players and the bench and earned the Ardley player a yellow card. Thame were completely in control and dominating play, with Ardley struggling to play much football in the Thame half. The forth goal came on 68 minutes, Thame won another free kick midway in the Ardley half on the left, Jack Tutton played the ball over the Ardley defence and Brayden Daniel running in at the right hand post had an easy finish to slot the ball past the keeper. Ardley continued to try to get back into the game and had a chance from the edge of the Thame 18 yard box, but the shot was well over the bar. Back at the other end Rocko Tamplin was brought down right on the edge of the box, Dan West stepped up but his shot just missed the right hand post and was into the side netting. From the resultant goal kick the ball was headed straight back over the Ardley defence by Mark Riddick, Rocko Tamplin picked up the ball, and his cross was met by an un marked Dan West, but his first time shot just missed the left hand post.

Ardley had another long range effort way wide of the Thame goal, the subsequent goal kick set up another chance as the ball was played onto Tyrone Lewthwaite who ran in on goal on the right hand side of the box, but his shot went straight across the goal and was inches wide of the left hand post. A few minutes later it should have been five, Thame won the ball back in their own half on the right, the ball was played into Brayden Daniel who drove to the by line and crossed into the box, for an unmarked Jefferson Louis to put his first time shot was over the bar with just the keeper to beat. At the other end Ardley managed to play the ball down the right and into the centre of the 18 yard box, but the shot by the number 15 was well wide. Thame got their fifth on 89 minutes with a goal kick from Matty Crowther flicked on by Jefferson Louis for Tyrone Lewthwaite to beat the Adrley defence and run in on goal and neatly finishing past the keeper. Ardley had one more chance, with an attack broken up by a good tackle from Leo Galpin but the ball rebounded to an Ardley player who’s shot from the edge of the box was well over the bar. After three minutes of added time, the referee blew the final whistle and Thame had won their third consecutive Senior Cup and were well worth it with a devastating second half performance which Ardley had no answer too. In the end the quality of Thame came out on top but credit to Ardley who had put up a spirited performance, especially in the first half.

Captain Mark Riddick stepped up to collect the trophy and celebrate with the players and the fans who had been excellent all afternoon with their singing and support for the team. And that brings the season to an end a sixth place league finish and a cup win has meant a very successful season for the red kites.

Man of the Match
Brayden Daniel, two goals and an assist.

Goals
Dan West (45 minutes)
Brayden Daniel (48 minutes, 70 minutes)
Curtis Brown (50 minutes)
Tyrone Lewthwaite (89 minutes)

Team
1.Matty Crowther
2.Lewis Thorne (Oscar Lucey 80 minutes)
3.Josh Stranks
4.Fin murray
5.Ethan Lack (Leo Galpin 45 minutes
6.Mark Riddick (C)
7.Curtis Brown (Rocko Tamplin 75 minutes)
8.Jack Tutton
9.Ty Deacon (Jefferson Louis 75 minutes)
10.Dan West (Tyrone Lewthwaite 78 minutes)
11 Brayden Daniel

Substitutes
12. Oscar Lucey
14. Tyrone Lewthwaite
15. Jefferson Louis
16. Rocko Tamplin
17. Leo Galpi