Thame United welcomed step five side Brislington FC to the ASM Stadium in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. The visitors this weekend play in the Western League and came through the extra preliminary round with an away victory against fellow step-five team Thornbury United, winning 1-0. This is the home side’s first involvement in this season’s competition, with last season’s league position meaning that they avoided the extra preliminary round. Manager Ben Williams made a number of changes to the team that drew with Ware in the last match. Into the side came Luke Tingey, Charlie Bacon and Jamie Davies, with Fin Murray, Ed Daffern and Hayden Beadle dropping to the bench. Greg Hackett returned to the squad and there was also a new addition to the team with Roger James, who was signed from Evesham United the previous day, also on the bench.

The Thame pitch was again looking in good condition, with the visitors kicking into the sun towards the ring-road end, the home side got the game underway and going straight onto the attack, forcing an early corner. The ball delivered into the box was met with a free header over the bar. From the goal kick, the ball was played into the Thame half. The home side won the ball back and it fell to centre-back Luke Tingey, who from inside his own half played a delightful pass inside the left-back and centre-back for Curtis Brown to run on to, taking the ball into the box on the right-hand side and firing past the advancing keeper. It was the perfect start for the home side after two minutes. Thame continued to pile on the pressure with first Jamie Davies miscuing a shot inside the box, then from a free kick on the left Jack Tutton picked out Harry Alexander on the edge of the box, but his shot had no power and was easily saved. Thame were on top and playing the ball around neatly; the opposition were struggling to gain a foothold in the game. Harry Alexander then had a long-range shot from the edge of the box, but it was high and wide. Full-backs Callum Hall and Josh Stranks were having a field day and finding plenty of space on either flank. Thame went further ahead on 16 minutes. Having won a corner on the right, Harry Alexander played a short ball to Curtis Brown, who played it back, and the cross was met by Mark Riddick to head into the net. There was a blow to the home side on 34 minutes when Luke Tingey came down awkwardly after a headed chance. It appeared that he had pulled a hamstring and was substituted, with Fin Murray coming on. Charlie Bacon then had a chance, picking the ball up on the halfway line and running directly at goal, shooting from the edge of the box, with the keeper pulling off a good save to keep it at 2-0. Jack Tutton then had a free kick in a central position 30 yards out, but his shot was deflected off a Thame player out for a goal kick. The first half came to an end and the surprise was that the score was only 2-0. The home side had been totally dominant, with keeper Callen a spectator for the whole of the half.

The home side made a half-time substitute with Roger James coming on to make his debut, replacing Dan West. Curtis Brown moved to right back, with Josh Stranks moving into central defence to partner Finn Murray, and it was more of the same with the home side dominating the ball. It wasn’t long before Thame had a third and a debut goal for new signing Roger James. Brislington briefly had some respite from the Thame onslaught, winning a free kick high up the field, but the free kick was cleared and Thame were soon back up the other end, continuing to attack the Briz goal. Charlie Bacon was having a good game, causing the full-backs all sorts of problems. Harry Alexander then had a chance to extend the lead, but his shot was just wide of the right-hand post. Roger James then had a shot blocked, with the rebound falling to Charlie Bacon, whose shot was wide. Greg Hackett replaced Jamie Davies on 70 minutes. But it was only a matter of time before Thame added to the scoreline, and they continued to press forward. This time the impressive Charlie Bacon picked up the ball on the left, drove at the Briz defence and shot low to the left of the keeper, who had no chance. Seventy-two minutes gone and it was 4-0 to the home side. Industrious Harry Alexander was replaced by Hayden Beadle on 75 minutes.

The visitors finally had something to cheer about on 76 minutes. A poor clearance from the Thame defence fell at the feet of the Brislington number four. He ran towards the Thame area with the ball, played a one-two and curled a right-footed shot into the right-hand side of the goal from the 18-yard line, a good finish but a poor goal to give away. The home side got back into their stride and went close with a couple of efforts from Fin Murray, Greg Hackett and Curtis Brown. Thame’s fifth came on 78 minutes. A long ball from keeper Callen was controlled by Roger James in the Briz half. He flicked the ball up and over a defender and ran in on goal to slot the ball past the keeper. Charlie Bacon, who had had a good game on the left wing, was replaced by Ed Daffern shortly before Thame made it six a few minutes later, with Greg Hackett picking the ball up on the left-hand side and running into the box. He looked to have been held up but managed to turn and dink the ball over the keeper into the right-hand side of the goal. And there was time for Ed Daffern to get a seventh and his third of the season, with a run on the left. He cut in and let fly with a right-footed shot into the top-right corner, a great goal to finish off a totally dominant display from the home side. The final whistle went straight after the restart and Thame advanced to the first qualifying round to be played on 6 September, with the draw taking place on Monday 25 August.

Attendance 124

Goals
Curtis Brown (2 minutes)
Mark Riddick (16 minutes)
Roger James (52 & 78 minuts)
Charlie Bacon (72 minutes)
Greg Hackett (88 minutes)
Ed Daffern (94 minutes)

Team
1. James Callan
2. Callum Hall
3. Josh Stranks
4. Charlie Bacon (Ed Daffern 80 minutes)
5. Luke Tingey (Fin Murray 34 minutes)
6. Mark Riddick (C)
7. Jamie Davies (Greg Hackett 70 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton
9. Curtis Brown
10.Dan West (Roger James 46 minutes)
11.Harry Alexander (Hayden Beadle 75 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Greg Hackett
13.Dan Starkey
14.Charlie Stow
15.Ed Daffern
16.Fin Murray
17.Roger James
18.Hayden Beadle