It was another important weekend in the Pitching In Southern League Central Division one, for Thame United as they travelled to Chesham to play Aylesbury United in what has become a big local derby, with the two teams only a few miles apart and many connections with players and the management team. Thame were looking for a clean sweep of victories in the matches with their three closest opponents this season having already one seven out of the seven encounters so far, and already having beaten Aylesbury twice this season, without conceding a goal. Manager Ben Williams, who spent a number of years as Aylesbury Manager had a few selection issues ahead of the game, Leo Galpin had picked up an injury in training so wasn’t in the squad and Dan West was nursing a slight back injury so was only able to make the bench. Into the starting eleven came Ethan Lack and Curtis Brown, and there was a return to the bench for Rocko Tamplin.

Thame won the toss, and decided to take the advantage of having the sun behind them in the first half, kicking from right to left. The opening few minutes saw the visitors come out with a high press and high level of intensity not letting Aylesbury settle on the ball. And it didn't take long for Thame to open the scoring, the home side were finding the pace of Brayden Daniel difficult to handle and on 5 minutes he had earned a free kick just out side the box on the left had side. Jack Tutton stepped up and floated a lovely cross into the box, to be met by Ty Deacon who rose above the Aylesbury defenders to head into the net. The game was being played in the home sides half with the midfield three of Mark Riddick, Jack Sutton and Ethan Lack, winning first and second balls, as Aylesbury struggled to get out of their half and create anything meaningful. Jack Tutton saw an attempt just go wide on 17 minutes, just before Thame were awarded a penalty, Greg Hackett picked up the ball on the right hand side, drove into the box and was bought down. The referee had no hesitation and pointed to the spot. Up stepped Ty Deacon to take the kick, but didn't make a clean connection and looked like a scuffed shot to the keepers right who he managed to get down and push it away for a corner, on the Thame left, this was cleared for another corner on the right. The ball was delivered into the box, and was met by Fin Murray with a free header at the back post to make it 2 - 0, Ethan Lack then went close with an effort saved by the Aylesbury keeper.

Thame were so dominant in the opening 30 minutes there was a double substitution for the home side, and their first chance came a few minutes later after winning a free kick on the left hand side, the ball was swung in only to be headed over, moments later there were shouts for a penalty after the number 9 goes down under a challenge from the Thame keeper Matty Crowether, but the referee waved it away. Aylesbury then had their best chance of the half, a corner from the left was floated into the box, the ball wasn’t cleared and it bounced around in the box, with one shot blocked and the rebound also block before being cleared. Thame won another free kick just outside the box after another run from Brayden Daniel, was ended with a reckless challenge, Jack Tutton stepped up but the kick was well over the bar. Thame won another corner, and another chance went begging as Mark Riddick, saw his free header go just wide with the goal at his mercy. As the half ticked into added time Thame had their third a great through ball from Greg Hackett found Brayden Daniel one on one with a defender on the edge of the box, he outpaced him ran in on goal and cooly tucked the ball under the advancing keeper to make it 3 - 0 and a well deserved first half lead.

The second half got under way with Aylesbury winning an early corner, which was cleared then a long range shot was pushed away by keeper Crowther, at the other end a good run for Greg Hackett and a shot from outside the box bought a good save from the Aylesbury keeper. The home side were showing a bit more fight, aggression and were getting a lot more possession in the second half but Thame were keeping them at arms length and controlling the game. There was another penalty should for a challenge in the box on one of the Aylesbury strikers but again the referee wave it away, moments later a dangerous looking cross into the Thame box was headed over by the number 9. Thame made their first substitutes of the afternoon on 76 minutes with Jefferson Louis and Rocko Tamplin replacing Jack Tutton and Brayden Daniel who had both had a good afternoon. Thame had a penalty should when a good run from Greg Hackett was stopped by what looked like contact on the ball rather than the ball, but the appeals were waved away and a goal kick given. Mark Riddick then had another headed chance but again put the ball wide and at the other end a similar chance for the home side number 9 went wide, Josh Stranks replaced Oscar Lucy in the 85 minute who had received some treatment a few minutes earlier after going down. The final meaningful action of the half saw yellow cards for Curtis Brown and the Aylesbury number 11 for a bit of handbags in the corner after a coming together.

After 4 minutes of added time the referee blew the final whistle a comfortable win in the end for Thame without really being put under too much pressure, it means a clean sweep in local derbies this season and with Hadley FC going down to Real Bedford, moves Thame back into the play off spots into fifth place.

Man of the Match
Greg Hackett

Goals
Ty Deacon (5 minutes)
Fin Murray (20 minutes)
Brayden Daniel (45 minutes)

Starting Eleven

1.Matty Crowther
2.Lewis Thorn
3.Oscar Lucey (Josh Stranks 85 minutes)
4.Fin Murray
5.Ethan Lack
6.Mark Riddick
7.Greg Hackett
8.Jack Tutton (Jefferson Louis 63 minutes)
9.Ty Deacon
10.Curtis Brown
11.Brayden Daniel (Rocko Tamplin 63 minutes)

Substitutes
12.Jefferson Louis
14.Josh Stranks
15.Rocko Tamplin
16.Dan West

Attendance 202