Thame United 0 - 1 Eastbourne Borough

Thame United bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup in the third qualifying round after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Eastbourne Borough at the ASM Stadium. An 89th-minute strike sealed victory for the Step three side in front of Thame’s largest home crowd of the season, with more than 400 people in attendance. Manager Ben Williams made two changes to the starting eleven from the midweek victory over Beaconsfield. One was enforced, with Ethan Lack cup-tied and unable to play, resulting in Hayden Beadle coming into the starting line-up. Greg Hackett also returned in place of Ed Daffern. Thame were also without the recently departed Jamie Davies.Eastbourne made a couple of changes but were almost at full strength.

Thame got the game underway, kicking into the sun towards the ring-road end. The early stages saw the visitors on the attack, going close on a couple of occasions, with goalkeeper James Callan forced into making several saves. Thame’s first chance came when Harry Alexander crossed into the box, but Roger James could not get enough on the ball to test the Eastbourne goalkeeper. At the other end, the visitors had two chances in quick succession, both headers, with one going wide and the other over the bar.

Eastbourne continued to dominate possession for the next 10 minutes and had several shots, although they were unable to find a way past the home goalkeeper. Greg Hackett’s run towards the visitors’ box midway through the first half was ended by a foul, giving Thame a free kick in a dangerous position. Hayden Beadle stepped up and struck the ball well, but the Eastbourne goalkeeper parried the effort away from goal. Josh Stranks was shown a yellow card for a late tackle. The game then descended into something of a stalemate, with neither team creating many chances. The final effort of the half fell to Eastbourne, but the shot was blocked. The half ended with the scores level, with the visitors having created the better of the opening chances. Thame had done well to stifle the opposition and looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

The second half got underway with Thame starting the brighter. They had a chance a couple of minutes into the half when a long ball found Harry Alexander, who outpaced the defence and found himself through on goal. However, good work from the Eastbourne goalkeeper forced Alexander wide, preventing him from getting a shot on target. During the opening 10 minutes of the half, Thame were on the front foot and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Greg Hackett was booked on 60 minutes for a foul. The decision looked dubious, with the Eastbourne player appearing to go down easily.

Eastbourne appealed for a penalty on 68 minutes when number seven Kai Corbett went down in the box, but the referee waved away the appeals. The visitors’ best chance of the half came a few minutes later. A long ball into the Thame half was followed by a shot on goal that looked destined to go in, but James Callan stretched and managed to get a hand to the ball, pushing it away. Dan West was booked on 69 minutes following a foul on Corbett. Corbett took the resulting free kick, but once again James Callan made an excellent save to keep Thame in the game. Dan West became the third Thame player to enter the referee’s notebook after sliding in late on Corbett. This time, Corbett’s free kick was on target, with keeper Callan making a sprawling save as he dived to his left. Carter was first to the rebound, but his shot from a narrow angle was saved by the body of the Thame goalkeeper, at the expense of a corner. From the resulting set piece, Carter headed over the bar. Thame continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack. Harry Alexander advanced into the visitors’ area after a quick Thame throw-in, but his run was well defended. Roger James then played in Greg Hackett, whose cross was just too high for the advancing Aydin Ulas, who could not get his head to the ball.

Another break down the left saw winger Ed Daffern cut inside onto his right foot and send a right-footed shot just wide of the right-hand upright. As the second half progressed, Eastbourne created the better chances, with James Callan becoming the busier of the two goalkeepers. Thame also appeared to be tiring. Jack Tutton was booked on 81 minutes after tripping an Eastbourne player who was driving towards the box. As the final minutes ticked down, Eastbourne looked the more likely side to score. In the final minute of normal time, the visitors got onto the scoresheet when three of their substitutes combined to play the ball down the left-hand side before crossing into the box. Eastbourne’s Terrell arrived at the back post and managed to force the ball over the line from close range. It was heartbreaking for Thame, who had done so well to hold out against a side from a higher level. During the remaining minutes, Dan West moved up front, but the visitors managed to see the game through. At full-time, Eastbourne Borough came away with the victory after a battling performance from the home side had taken them right to the final moments. The home side can be proud of their cup exploits five games and sixteen goals scored, they will no look to catch up in the league starting with Leverstock Green this Saturday.

Attendance 415

Team
1. James Callan
2. Callum Hall (Charlie Bacon 85 minutes)
3. Josh Stranks (Aydin Ulas 65 minutes
4. Finn Murray
6. Mark Riddick (C)
7. Greg Hackett (Curtis Brown 80 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton
9. Roger James
10.Dan Wes
11.Harry Alexander
18.Hayden Beadle (Ed Daffern 75 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Aydin Ulas
14.Charlie Bacon
15.Ed Daffern
16.Curtis Brown
17.Dan Starkey