FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Saturday 12 September 2009

THAME UNITED 0 BURNHAM 2

The Blues progressed to the draw for the nextrt round of the FA Cup with a comfortable victory over Hellenic League side Thame United.  The match was played on a very difficult bumpy surface at AFC Wallingford.  Burnham gave a debut to Dan Hicks at fullback in place of Terry O’Connor who had struggled to be fully fit.  Both goals, alike to the previous round, came early in the first half.

On 6 minutes a throw from the left saw Oli Godwin pas to Rob Saunders whose shot was helped home by Dean PAPALI from close range.  Burnham kept the pressure yp and 5 minites later it could have been 2-0 when a Godwin through ball saw Papali race in only for Thame keeper Lee Orkney to do well, saving at the strikers feet.  The second goal came on 14 minutes when some good build up play saw Paul Coyne and Ryan Bird set up Papali who cut in and then pulled thje ball back to SAUNDERS who duly doubled the lead.  Thame did win a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas, Luke Ricketts test Paul McCarthy and then on the half hour Adam Rhodesshot was parried onto the crossbar by McCarthy and out for a corner.

Burnham had more chances before the break as they dominated the first half with Papali going close and Saundersunleashing a power shot that Orkney managed to turn round the post for a corner.

Thame did up thei game in the second half although within just two of the re-start Papali had the chance to put the match beyond doubt when he hit the upright.

A clash of heads between Ricketts and Blues defender Tom Willment saw the United player come off worse and have to make a trip to hospital for treatment.  After the enforced delay the game lost a little.  Burnham had a big shout for a penalty when Papali looked to be fouled only for the referee to wave play on.  Burnham did keep pressing away but were happy to come away with a win, a clean sheet and more importantly a place in the draw for the next round on Monday.    

Thame United: Lee Orkney, Sam Cowan (Mitchell Meredith) Matt Wakelin, Nik Rhodes, Dave Hocking, Laurence El Kassir, Stuart Barr, Adam Rhodes, Mark Jones (Gavin Way) Aaron Rogers, Luke Ricketts (Tom Hoskins) Subs not used Oliver Gascoigne, Mark West and Paul Searl.

Burnham: Paul McCarthy, Dan Hicks (Terry O’Connor) Daryl Jones, Dave Tilbury, Tom Willment, Adrian Sear, Paul Coyne, Robert Saunders, Dean Papali,  Ryan Bird (Jordan Dowdican) Oli Godwin (James Galvani)  Sub not used Jamie Jarvis and Chay Morris.

Referee: Kyle Kirkbride

Attendance: 113

Entertainment value 4/5

Man of the Match: Adrian Sear (Burnham)