Thame United held off a late Reading City fightback to progress in the FA Cup after a chaotic, end-to-end contest in Oxfordshire. The Red Kites led 3-1 before Lewis Hayden pulled one back, and both sides missed penalties in a second half packed with drama. Manager Ben Williams made a one change to the starting eleven from the team that started against Marlow on Bank Holiday Monday with Greg Hackett replaced by Ed Daffern and Curtis Brown replacing Hayden Beadle. Reading City got the game underway, kicking towards the Ring Road end and into the sun. They started on the front foot and, in the opening ten minutes, took the game to the hosts. The visitors had the first chance of the game, with Combined Counties League leading goalscorer Riley Denny firing just wide from a Lewis Hayden lay-off in the ninth minute.

Thame were looking out of sorts and struggling to cope with the visitors’ high press. They were losing out in midfield, with Reading City on top. However, out of the blue and against the run of play, Thame took the lead in the 15th minute. Jack Tutton picked up the ball on the halfway line, moved forward and passed out to Roger James on the right. James took the ball towards the goal line and crossed into the middle. Harry Alexander’s mistimed shot bounced around and fell to an unmarked Tutton, whose first-time effort found the back of the net, beating the keeper at his near post. City responded well to going behind. A well-worked move down the channel involving Dan Williamson and Valentin ended with Denny stinging the palms of Thame keeper Callan. Ed Daffern then had a chance after working with Aydin Ulas on the left. He picked up the ball inside the 18-yard box and cut inside, but his right-footed shot was easily saved by the City keeper. Dan West went close in the 29th minute, heading just wide of the left-hand upright from a Harry Alexander corner.

The visitors created another chance in the 35th minute after battling to win the ball back deep in the Thame half and breaking forward. However, a shot from just outside the area did not trouble keeper Callan. City drew level in the 40th minute, and it was no more than they deserved. It came from a devastating counter-attack after Thame lost the ball near the City 18-yard box. The centre-back was able to move forward unchallenged with the ball before reaching the halfway line. He laid it off to the number 10, who shrugged off a challenge, drove towards goal and shot from 20 yards. The keeper dived to his right, but the ball went underneath him. It was level for just two minutes before Thame retook the lead in the 42nd minute. Jack Tutton picked up the ball in the Thame half and played a long ball over the top of the City defence for Roger James to run on to. James collected the ball and crossed into the box for Curtis Brown, who had pulled away to the back post before running across to the front post and tucking the ball away.
The hosts had one final chance, with Harry Alexander laying the ball off to Jack Tutton on the edge of the D, but his shot was well over the bar. The half ended with Thame leading 2–1, but the visitors had given a good account of themselves and were by no means out of the game.

Thame made a change at the interval, with Ed Daffern being replaced by Greg Hackett. They then won an early free kick on the edge of the visitors’ box after Greg Hackett was brought down. Jack Tutton stepped up, but his shot was along the ground and was comfortably saved by the City goalkeeper. It was not long before the home side went further ahead. City had won a free kick on their right, and the ball was launched into the box. It was picked out of the air by Callan, who quickly rolled the ball out to Greg Hackett on the left. He looked up and launched a long ball across the field, over the head of the left-back, allowing Roger James to collect it and run through on goal before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 3–1 after 52 minutes.

The hosts should have put the game to bed five minutes later when Harry Alexander won a penalty after being brought down. Having scored from the spot against Marlow in the previous game, he stepped up to take the kick. However, it was a poor effort to the goalkeeper’s left and was easily saved, as the shot had no pace on it. Thame made their second substitution, with Hayden Beadle replacing Roger James. The penalty miss seemed to spark the visitors into action, and they came back into the game with a second goal. The home side will not be happy with the defending, as it was far from convincing. A free kick was floated into the box and headed back towards the centre of the Thame area. Two defenders failed to deal with the ball, allowing Hayden to poke it home from inside the six-yard box and make it 3–2 in the 73rd minute. Moments later, City had a chance to equalise after winning a penalty. It appeared to be a rather soft decision, as their number nine tussled with Dan West while entering the box before going to ground. It looked like a case of six of one and half a dozen of thother, but the referee pointed to the spot, much to the annoyance of the Thame players. The number nine stepped up and placed the ball to the goalkeeper’s right, but Callan guessed correctly and pushed the penalty away.

There were three late substitutions for the home side, with Jamie Davies, Josh Stranks and Charlie Bacon coming on for Aydin Ulas, Harry Alexander and Curtis Brown.
The visitors continued to push for an equaliser, hitting the post with one shot before a goal-line scramble in the Thame box. The hosts eventually managed to clear the ball after several attempts had been blocked.
At the other end, Thame had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed when Charlie Bacon found himself one-on-one with the visitors’ goalkeeper, but his shot was saved. Jack Tutton then saw a shot from a central position just shave the top of the bar.
The hosts managed to see out the six minutes of added time to secure a hard-fought victory and advance to the next qualifying round. Reading City, who had progressed earlier in the competition, exited despite a spirited display and several near misses. Both goalkeepers, Callan for Thame and Mussilhy for City, produced important saves that helped shape the result.

Attendance 182

Goals
Jack Tutton (15 minutes)
Curtis Brown (42 minutes)
Roger James (52 minutes)

Team
1. James Callan
2. Callum Hall
3. Audis Ulas (Josh Stranks 82 minutes)
4. Finn Murray
18. Ed Daffern (Greg Hackett 45 minutes)
6. Mark Riddick (C)
7. Curtis Brown (Charlie Bacon 78 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton
9. Roger James (Hayden Beadle 60 minutes)
10.Dan West
11.Harry Alexander (Jamie Davis 80 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Jamie Davies
13.Dan Starkey
14.Charlie Bacon
15.Greg Hackett
16.Josh Stranks
17. Hayden Beadle