It was another match under the lights at The ASM Stadium, as Thame United welcomed Oxford City in the Semi Final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, the two teams have met each other in the later stages of the competition for the last two season, back in 2022 / 2023 Thame beat Oxford City 4 - 1 in the final and last season on the way to retaining the title they defeated Oxford City in the Semi Final 2 - 1 at North Leigh before going on to beat Kidlington in the final.

Manager Ben Williams had made two changes from the starting eleven from the weekend victory away at Aylesbury, Fin Murray who was suffering from a tight hamstring dropped to the bench and was replaced by Jefferson Louis at centre back, while there was a straight swap at full back with Josh Stranks replacing Oscar Lucey who dropped to the bench, their was also a return to the squad for Leo Galpin and Rocko Tamplin retained his place on the bench. Mean while Oxford City fielded the majority of of the team that started in the previous rounds victory over Clanfield.

The visitors started with a lot of energy and were not afraid to get stuck in and were playing a high pressing game, leaving the Thame players little time on the ball. The opening 10 minutes were frantic with neither team creating any openings, the first chance of the game fell to Oxford City with a long ranged shot comfortably saved by Thame keeper Matty Crowther. Thame first chance came when they won a free kick on the edge of the box, but the original free kick from Greg Hackett was blocked then follow up shots also blocked, going out for a corner. There was a good chance for the home side on 15 minutes Ty Deacon hitting the post with an opportunist shot from in side the box. Thame were on top with more possession and shots on goal but the young City side were giving a good account of them selves, and it got better for the visitors on 30 minutes, who won the ball on the half way line and played a ball into the Thame half, only for Lewis Thorn to have adjudged to have handled the ball, stopping it reaching one of the Oxford City forwards. The referee awarded a free kick and showed a yellow card to the Thame defended, from the resultant free kick keeper Crowther tipped the ball over the bar for a corner. The corner was swung in from the right hand side, the ball reached Oxford captain Phil Crocker who rose above Jefferson Louis at the back post to head the ball down and keeper Crowther could only parry the ball into the roof of the net.

The lead lasted two minutes as Thame fought back, Josh Stanks picked the ball up on the left hand side and floated the ball into the Oxford box, the ball was headed out but only to the on running Ethan Lack, who volleyed the ball from just inside the box and over the keepers head into the net. The visitors showed great character to come back again and won a free kick in the Thame half after Jack Tutton brought down an Oxford player and received a yellow card. The free kick in to the box was helped on to the far post where an Oxford forward was first to the ball and steered it into the net, luckily for Thame the Assistant Referee raised his flag for offside. The final action of the half saw Greg Hackett break into the box on the left hand side but his shot fired across the box and went out for a goal kick.

Thame came out after the break and started the stronger Brayden Daniel hit the top of the bar, Jack Tutton then had a free kick into the wall while at the other end a shot from Oxford forward went just wide. Jack Tutton then had another chance this time from a corner which was cleared only for him to pick up the ball turn and shoot but the ball went narrowly wide.Thame were on top at this point with the visitors sitting deep. The corner count was rising for the home side, with a Mark Riddick header going wide, and Fin Murray heading over from another corner. On 63 minutes Jack Tutton was replaced by Dan West, with Josh Stranks and Ethan Lack made way for Oscar Lucey and Fin Murray, with Jefferson Louis moving up front. Brayden Daniel who was having a good game then set up Ty Deacon but his shot was saved. Then Fin Murray had another header over the bar from a corner. Greg Hackett was replaced by Rocko Tamplin on 80 minutes, with Thame now looking for the winner, Byaden Daniel switched from the left wing to the right and almost immediately had an impacted, running past the Oxford City left back into the penalty area and was adjudged to have been brought down. Initially the referee waved away the appeals but the Assistant referee had raised his flag and after a consultation the referee pointed to the spot. After his miss on Saturday Ty Deacon picked up the ball and after a lengthy delay due to the visitors making a substitution, stepped up to take the spot kick. But the attempt lacked pace and not far enough into the corner to beat the keeper who managed to parry the ball away. As the clocked ticked down the home side continued to press for the winning goal, with Curtis Brown launching a number of long range throws into the box, but Thame could not capitalise on.

As the final whistle blew the tie was going to penalties. Thame won the toss and decided to take the first penalty, Dan west stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way placing the ball straight down the middle of the goal. Oxfords first penalty was well saved by keeper Crowther down to his right, but in fairness not the greatest of penalties. Lewis Thorn stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, before Oxford then got onto the score sheet. With a shot into the top corner. Curtis Brown then sent the keeper the wrong way and the Oxford captain then sent the Thame keeper the wrong way, 3 - 2 to Thame. Up stepped Ty Deacon, with the pressure on him after the earlier miss, this time he hit the ball with power giving the keeper no chance. We were now at the point where Oxford had to score to stay in the tie, but their fourth effort although sending the keeper the wrong way, hit the post and bounced out. The game was over and after a battling performance Thame were through to their third successive Senior Cup Final, with a crowd of 218 seeing an entertaining game of football, while a lot of credit needs to go the the Oxford City youngster who fought all the way and made Thame work really hard for their victory.

Thame will be joined in the final by Ardley United who over came a young Oxford United side 3 - 0 in the other semi final, with the final to be played on Saturday 3rd May at Oxford City.

Goals
Ethan Lack (33 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1.Matty Crowther
2.Lewis Thorn
3.Josh Stranks (Oscar Lucey 72 minutes)
4.Jefferson Louis
5.Ethan Lack (Fin Murray 72 minutes)
6.Mark Riddick
7.Greg Hackett (Rocko Tamplin 80 minutes)
8.Jack Tutton (Dan West 63 minutes)
9.Ty Deacon
10.Curtis Brown
11.Brayden Daniel

Substitutes
12.Rocko Tamplin
14.Oscar Lucey
15.Fin Murray
16.Dan West
17.Leo Galpin

Attendance 218