Thame United travelled to Milton Keynes on Saturday to take on Milton Keynes Irish in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division One. It was the first time that Thame had travelled to Milton Keynes and were hoping to get revenge on their first ever meeting back in November when MK Irish won by two goals to one. Manager Ben Williams made one change to the starting eleven that were victorious on Tuesday against Hertford Town, with the return of Matty Crowther in goal, while the bench remained the same. After picking up a yellow card in the game against Enfield FC, manager Ben Williams had to serve a one match suspension so would watch the game from the stands.

The visitors got the game underway kicking from right to left it was a cagy opening ten minutes with both team feeling each other out and the first clear cut chance came on 13 minutes for Thame as Jack Tutton played in Harry Alexander behind the right back, he ran onto the ball and cuts it back to Louis Walsh but his effort is blazed over the bar. Thame had another chance on 16 minutes as Ethan Lack clipped a ball into Jack Tutton who’s effort hits the side netting. Captain Mark Riddick picked up an early yellow card for a challenge on 18 minutes, he clearly won the ball with the opposition player coming in late, there was a bit of frustration when the referee branded the card and awarded the free kick to the home side, quite frankly a poor decision.

Thame were playing the better football and were rewarded on 23 minutes, Brayden Daniel picked up the ball in his own half, shrugged off a number of challenges as he drove towards the half way line, and played a pin point pass between the right full back and centre back for Louis Walsh to run onto, he out paced the defender and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper. MK Irish we struggling to get into the game and their first chance came on 33 minutes some good build up play on the left saw ball played across the the Thame box by the number 15, with two attacking players sliding in but could not make any contact. The host should have been level on 34 minutes, the number 9 Meadows out fought Fin Murray on the right hand edge of the box, got to the byline and crossed, only for an unmarked 15 Ben Sheppard to skew his shot wide of the post.

The visitors doubled their lead on 37 minutes, Harry Alexander won a corner after his shot was saved by the keeper. Alexander took the corner from the right hand side and played it short to Louis Walsh who spins his man on the half turn to drive into the box and smash the ball into the back of the net. It was three a couple of minutes later and a hat trick for Louis Walsh, A long throw on the left from Callum Hall was headed into the air at the near post, Jack Tutton managed to head the ball across the goal, for an un marked Walsh to run in and side foot the ball over the line. Thame were running riot and just before the half ended it was four and another for Louis Walsh. Dan West, picked up the ball and ran forward on the right, he crossed the ball into the box and their was Walsh in between the defenders with a delightful header back across goal over the keepers head and into the goal. The referee blew for half time much to the relief of the home side who had been comprehensively outplayed in the first half with Thame going in at the break 4 goals to the good thanks to Walsh’s clinical touch in front of goal.

The second half got under way with the game over as a contest and the question was how many more could the visitors score, and it wasn't long before it was five, Louis Walsh received a ball from Abu Khan who played good pass between two defenders he controlled the ball, turned found himself a yard of space at the edge of the box to rifle the ball into the bottom left corner. The home side were trying to show some fight as the second half progressed with the number 10 looking lively on the left had wing and made a couple of good runs but could get a decent ball into the box. And there were a lot of Ariel balls, which were dealt with by Fin Murray and Dan West who were winning everything in the air. Thame made a double substitution on 60 minutes with Greg Hackett who was making his first appearance since December and Luke Tingey replacing Mark Riddick and Dan West. Abu Khan and five goal Louis Walsh made way for Curtis Brown and Lance Williams on 66 minutes There was a rare chance for the home side on 67 minutes Number 10 Brooks drove down the left hand side into the box and his left footed shot went across the goal just missing the far post.fires

The visitors made their final substitute on 74 minutes with Charlie Stow coming on for Brayden Daniel. The host had there best spell of the game of the game with three chances the number 10 with another good run on the left crossed into the box and it fell to the MK Irish number 5 in the middle of the goal but his shot was deflected. The home side then had a long range attempt over the bar, and finally MK Irish’s best player the number 10 Brook, picked up the ball on the edge of the area, cut in side and shot with keeper Crowther who had had a really quiet game making a smart save down to his right to push the ball out for a corner. Thame wrapped the game up on 86 minutes, Charlie Stow picked up the ball on the left side and drove into the box, beating three defenders and calmly finish placing the ball past the keeper. There were 3 minutes of time added to the 90 with the visitors comfortably seeing out time to record their biggest win of the season, with a five star performance from Louis Walsh with five goals and a completely day at the office out playing the home side with the victory moving Thame up one place to fifth in league.

Goals

Louis Walsh (23, 37, 40, 47, 50 minutes)
Charlei Stow (86 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1 Matty Crowther
2 Callum Hall
3 Abu Khan (Curtis Brown 66 minutes)
4 Fin Murray
5 Ethan Lack
6 Mark Riddick (C) (Greg Hackett 60 minutes)
7 Brayden Daniel (Charlie Stow 74 minutes)
8 Jack Tutton
9 Louis Walsh (Lance Williams 66 minutes)
10 Dan West (Luke Tingey 60 minutes)
11 Harry Alexander

Substitutes

12 Lance Williams
14 Curtis Brown
15 Charlie Stow
16 Greg Hackett
20 Luke Tingey

Attendance 145