MK Irish suffered another difficult evening as Thame United scored four times at the ASM Stadium to secure a convincing victory.
The hosts made the stronger start and took the lead after nine minutes. The ball fed to the Thame right winger who cut back inside before he was given time and space to pick his spot, firing into the top corner.
Thame continued to threaten and soon created another opportunity when a low delivery from the left found a forward in the area, but his effort was blocked and looped into Tom Ladyman’s arms. A long-range strike then deflected wide of the far post as the hosts maintained their attacking pressure.
The home side doubled their advantage on 18 minutes after an attempted clearance from Irish went astray. Thame recovered possession and worked the ball back into the box, where a forward finished from close range.
The hosts added a third six minutes later. A short corner was worked to the right before a dangerous delivery was sent towards the far post. The ball found its way into the net via a deflection, however it was unclear off who.
Irish did finally create some opportunities of their own. A well-struck effort from outside the box forcing the home goalkeeper into a save, Meadows close to picking up the rebound but just beaten to the ball by the Thame centre back. However, Thame continued to threaten, with Ladyman turning a looping header over the bar and clawing away a dangerous corner under pressure. Another effort from the hosts went high and wide as they continued to control much of the first half.
Irish had a chance to pull one back from a free kick, but the resulting effort was too close to the goalkeeper. At the other end, Ladyman did well to tip a shot from inside the box over the bar.
Thame went into the break with a three-goal advantage after capitalising on Irish’s defensive errors in the opening 24 minutes.
The hosts continued to threaten after the restart, with an effort fired across the face of goal before another opportunity from close range was lifted over the bar. Thame missed further chances as a header inside the area set up a teammate, who could not keep his effort down. A dangerous cross then reached a substitute at the far post, but his volley went wide.
Irish looked to make better use of their possession as the second half progressed, and a free kick from the right presented an opportunity to reduce the deficit. However, the Zawe’s header went over the bar.
Irish then picked up a freekick right on the edge of the area after Meadows spun his defender and was dragged down. The Irish number 9 took the resulting freekick which took a slight deflection to put it just wide of the goal.
Thame continued to create chances, with Ladyman saving from a forward inside the area before producing an excellent stop to tip another effort over the bar.
The hosts eventually added a fourth in the 83rd minute. A low ball was delivered from the right and a Thame man arrived to steer it home, completing the scoring.
Irish were unable to find a response as Thame saw out the closing stages to record a 4–0 victory. The hosts made the most of their opportunities, while early defensive mistakes left Irish with too much to do after conceding three times inside the opening 24 minutes.
