Following the dramatic end to the second qualifying match on Saturday at the ASM Stadium, which saw an injury-time equaliser, Thame made the 360-mile round trip to Devon for the evening kick-off, leaving their home ground at 1pm.
Despite the early start to the day, Thame travelled with a full squad. Manager Ben Williams made one change to the starting line-up, with Curtis Brown replacing Roger James in the number nine position.
Thame got the game under way, kicking from left to right, but Exmouth Town made a bright start against Thame United, creating the first opportunity inside the opening minute. Ben Steer’s cross found Matt Wright, who flicked the ball across goal towards Slater, but the forward pulled his effort wide.
Thame goalkeeper James Callan produced an excellent save in the fourth minute. Owen Johnson’s cross fell to Ross Edwards, whose fierce drive was well kept out. Town continued to look dangerous, with Johnson firing narrowly over from distance in the eighth minute.
Their pressure paid off moments later when a free kick was launched into the box. It was partially cleared, but the ball was then delivered towards the far post, where No. 19 Matthew Wright rose to challenge for it. It appeared that he had pushed Thame captain Mark Riddick in the back, but the ball went into the net and, despite the protests, the goal stood.
Thame came close to an equaliser in the 12th minute when a cross reached the back post and a header from captain Riddick struck the upright before being cleared. Aydin Ulas then sent an effort over the bar, but Callan remained the busier of the two goalkeepers, making another outstanding point-blank save from Denny after the striker had flicked the ball past Hall.
Exmouth almost doubled their advantage in the 21st minute. A corner caused chaos in the Thame penalty area, and Edwards saw his shot cleared off the line before the visitors survived another scramble. More chances came the hosts’ way, first through Murray and then Cairo, but Callan was again in inspiring form to keep the home side out.
Exmouth were forced into an early substitution in the 29th minute, with No. 11 Ben Steer forced off and replaced by No. 8 Callum Shipton.
Thame were starting to get themselves back into the game, with Harry Alexander testing the Exmouth goal with a shot in the 32nd minute. Wright produced a brilliant save to tip the effort over the bar.
Moments later, another corner created a goalmouth scramble in the hosts’ box, with Owen Johnson clearing the ball just in time as the visitors appealed for a goal. However, the linesman waved away their appeals that the ball had crossed the line.
Exmouth were then forced into another change in the 40th minute, with No. 10 Tom Bath replacing No. 7 Aaron Denny.
The visitors had forced their way back into the game and were the dominant side during the latter stages of the half. They almost found an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Hackett won the ball on the left-hand side, drove towards goal, cut inside and saw his shot towards the near post saved by Wright.
The ball fell kindly to captain Mark Riddick, who was unmarked in the six-yard box and had an easy tap-in, but his shot struck the post.
Despite the home side’s strong start to the game, Thame goalkeeper James Callan had been in excellent form, pulling off a string of good saves before Thame grew into the game. The half ended all square.
The second half got under way with Thame starting the stronger of the two sides and pressing the home team higher up the pitch. They deservedly took the lead in the 52nd minute.
Exmouth’s clearance from inside their own half on the left was played back to Greg Hackett, who drove at the centre of the defence. As he reached the edge of the box, he was brought down, and the ball fell to Harry Alexander, whose left-footed drive went under the diving home goalkeeper. It was a good advantage played by the referee.
The visitors had upped their game, and the home side’s defence was struggling to deal with their pace. Greg Hackett had a shot well saved in the 56th minute.
Exmouth made another change, with Louis Morison being replaced by Ollie Knowles. Another injury then forced Tom Bath off, with No. 9 Ace High coming on in his place.
James Callan was forced into further action in the 71st minute. No. 19 Matt Wright got a shot away from a cross into the box. It was blocked, but the ball fell to Ethan Slater, whose shot was well saved.
At the other end, Harry Alexander forced the home side’s goalkeeper into another good save to deny Thame a third goal.
In the 73rd minute, the hosts thought they had equalised. A free kick into the box was punched into the air, and a header from Ross Edwards looked as though it was going to loop into the far side of the goal before two Thame players managed to scramble the ball off the line.
Curtis Brown had a chance in the 75th minute when Callum Hall did well on the right to reach the byline and cross the ball, but Brown’s shot went wide. Moments later, Brown was booked for a series of fouls.
Thame made their first substitution in the 77th minute, with Josh Stranks replacing Aydin Ulas after a good performance from the left-back.
Thame were looking comfortable now, with the home side appearing to have run out of steam and struggling defensively to keep the visitors’ front three under control.
In the 84th minute, Thame made it three. Harry Alexander caused havoc in the Exmouth defence as the ball ran wide. It was picked up on the left edge of the box by Greg Hackett, who turned back towards goal and smashed the ball past the goalkeeper at his near post.
The home players appealed that the ball had gone out of play, but it had not, and the goal stood.
Charlie Bacon came on for Curtis Brown late on as Thame comfortably saw out the remaining minutes, including four minutes of added time, to progress to the next round.
It was no more than Thame deserved on the basis of their second-half performance. They now go on to face a home tie against Step 3 side Eastbourne Borough on Saturday, 3 October.

Attendance 465

Goals
Mark Riddick (45 minutes)
Harry Alexander (54 minutes)
Greg Hacket (84 minutes)

Team
1. James Callan
2. Callum Hall
3. Aydin Ulas ( Josh Stranks 77 minutes)
4. Finn Murray
5. Hayden Beadle
6. Mark Riddick (C)
7. Greg Hackett
8. Jack Tutton
9. Curtis Brown (Charle Bacon 84 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Harry Alexander

Substitutes
12.Jamie Davies
14.Josh Stranks
15.Ed Daffern
16.Charlie Bacon
17.Roger James
18.Luke Tingey

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