Holyport (1) 3 Thame United (1) 1

United started brightly, and within 2 minutes a Stuart Barr lob forced a good save from the home keeper. United took the lead in the 7th minute when James Faulkner hit a speculative 40-yard lobbed shot from the wide left, over the keeper’s head, the ball bouncing as it crossed the line. Four minutes later, and against the run of play, the home side equalised when a ball from the right was knocked home from 12-yards. Louis Cordice then went close before a few minutes later; Luke Ricketts was badly fouled as he made a penetrating run down the Thame left. The majority of the crowd expected a red card to be shown but, inexplicably, the offender received a surprising friendly warning from the referee. Thame were on the back foot for the remainder of the first half but it was still 1-1 at half time.

Possession was fairly even in the second half although chances were few. Twenty minutes after the restart Dan West forced an excellent save from the home keeper, before he was substituted following an off-the-ball incident that left the Thame player on the ground. Holyport then increased their lead from a corner with a simple far post header in the 70th minute, before United were denied a penalty when a home defender handled in the area. With about 15 minutes to play Thame were reduced to 10 men when substitute Mitchell Meredith was dismissed for a sliding tackle which was not as severe as the earlier, unpunished offence on Ricketts. The home side increased their lead with a minute remaining when a 15-yard shot took a deflection, giving debut keeper Cockerill no chance.

Thame United: Cockerill, I Pykett, Hall, Barr (Meredith), N Rhodes, Willett, Connelly, West (Wakelin), Cordice (Gray), Faulkner, Ricketts.