Thame United were on their travels for the first time this season as they made the long journey to Westbury United in the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy. The competition is for National League sides down to Step Four, with the Preliminary Round involving only the Step Four teams. Westbury are members of the Southern League Division One and, although it is still early days, sit third in the league. However, they were knocked out of the FA Cup on Tuesday, losing 1–0 at home to AFC Portchester.
Thame got their season up and running on Saturday with a 7–1 victory at home against Brislington FC. Manager Ben Williams made a number of changes to the team that started last time out. Centre-back Luke Tingey was out through injury, while Dan West was rested with the Bank Holiday Monday game in mind. Callum Hall moved into the centre-back position, with new signing Aydin Ulas coming into the side at left-back and Josh Stranks switching to the right. Ed Daffern also returned to the starting line-up, and there was a debut start for Roger James, who had come off the bench to score two goals in the last game.

The Westbury pitch was looking in good condition, with Thame kicking off and playing from left to right. However, the game got under way in a torrential downpour, which made the playing conditions challenging. Thame went straight on to the attack, with Roger James picking up the ball on the right wing and running across the Westbury 18-yard box. He passed to Ed Daffern, whose shot from the right-hand edge of the box went over the bar. The home side were playing with a back three, which Thame found it easy to get in behind. The visitors broke at pace down the left-hand side, with new signing Aydin Ulas linking up well with Ed Daffern and creating two more chances for the winger, both of which were off target. Harry Alexander then had a shot into the side netting after more good work on the left. The home side thought they had taken the lead against the run of play when a ball from the right was played into the box. It went over goalkeeper James Callen’s head and into the net, but the referee had spotted one of the Westbury players pulling the keeper down and awarded a free kick.

The visitors continued to dominate and won a free kick inside their own half. Keeper James Callen launched the ball into the Westbury box, where it was flicked on. Ed Daffern then crossed the ball from the left-hand side across the six-yard box, but neither Curtis Brown nor Roger James could reach it. New signing Aydin Ulas then picked up the ball on the left inside the Westbury half, drove towards goal and unleashed a shot. The keeper could only parry the ball back out, but Harry Alexander was unable to get a shot on goal from the rebound. Thame took a deserved lead on 40 minutes, with the move once again coming from the left. The full-back picked up the ball on the left and laid it off to an unmarked Ed Daffern, who cut inside and fired a right-footed shot from the edge of the box into the right-hand corner of the net. The half ended with Thame well worth their lead, although they could have been further ahead.

The second half got under way with the visitors continuing to dominate play. They won an early corner from the right, which found Mark Riddick at the back post, but his header went over the bar. Minutes later, Thame won the ball back in midfield and worked it to Jack Tutton on the edge of the box, but his shot went just wide. Westbury won a free kick very near the goal line on the right-hand side, on the edge of the box, as they tried to put some pressure on the Thame goal. The ball was fizzed into the box, but the keeper pushed it away and it was cleared upfield. Thame should have doubled their lead on 64 minutes when the ball was played out wide to Roger James on the right. He cut into the box, but his fierce shot was well saved by the Westbury keeper.

Thame made their first substitution on 64 minutes, with Greg Hackett replacing Curtis Brown, who had worked hard in the number nine position. Roger James moved into the central position, with Greg Hackett moving to the right wing.

Another chance fell to the visitors on 68 minutes from a corner. The ball found Greg Hackett, but his shot went over the bar. At the other end, a Westbury break down the right saw a cross played into the box. It was met by the number nine, but his header was well wide of the goal. Another chance was then created when the ball was worked across the Thame box, with a shot coming in from the left-hand side of the area. However, it went well over the bar. Westbury were finding it incredibly difficult to maintain possession in the middle of the park. Thame allowed them to play the ball around the back, but pressed them when the ball was played into midfield and, in most cases, won it back.

More chances followed. Ed Daffern hit the bar with a shot from the left-hand side, Mark Riddick had a header cleared off the line, and Jack Tutton’s header was brilliantly saved by the Westbury keeper. There was also an incredible sequence of events in which Thame had four shots in a matter of seconds, all of them being blocked, with the final shot going over the bar. Ed Daffern was replaced by Charlie Bacon, while impressive debutant Aydin Ulas made way for Hayden Beadle as Thame looked to close the game out. They did just that, with the referee blowing the final whistle and Thame advancing to the next round. Overall, the 1–0 victory did not reflect the dominance and number of chances created by the visitors. It was a very good team performance, but we have to mention Callum Hall, playing out of position at centre-back, and Fin Murray alongside him, as they did not allow the Westbury forward line a sniff at goal. The side got their tactics spot on and completely nullified Westbury as an attacking threat. It is a quick turnaround, with an away trip to Marlow on Bank Holiday Monday awaiting the Red Kites.

Attendance 184

Goals

Ed Daffern (40 minutes)

Team
1. James Callan
2. Callum Hall
3. Josh Stranks
4. Finn Murray
5. Aydin Ulas (Hayden Beadle 84 minutes)
6. Mark Riddick (C)
7. Ed Dattern (Charlie Bacon 79 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton
9. Curtis Brown (Greg Hacket 64 minutes)
10.Roger James
11.Harry Alexander

Substitutes
12.Greg Hackett
14.Dan West
15.Jamie Davies
16.Hayden Beadle
17.Charlie Bacon