Looking to bounce back after three defeats, facing Thame United was probably not the opposition manager Dave Tuttle would have chosen. He was forced to change his defence, with skipper Jack Wood missing his first game since the away match against the same opponent on New Year's Day last season. Fortunately Kian Henry was able to replace the skipper in the centre of defence after completing his concussion protocol lay off. Other changes saw new signing from Kidlington Powfil Raposo make his debut in place of Kajetan Halatyn and Liam Batchelor-Morgan returning in place of Ben Peters.

Thame came into the match with the upper hand over the Ducks in recent times, winning 6 of the last 7 matches, and unbeaten against the Ducks since Aug 2021. They started well, a foul by Sonny French on Brayden Daniel saw Jack Tutton take the free kick which found ex Duck Ty Deacon 10 yards from goal, who steered his header past Jack Hopwood. 1-0 Thame

In the 10th minute, Daniel did well on the left side of the penalty area, before playing the ball inside to Tutton on the edge of the penalty area, who hit a swerving shot that forced Hopwood into a good save. Ten minutes later, Deacon won the ball in a challenge on the edge of the penalty area with the ball falling to Greg Hackett; he passed to Tutton, who shot wide of the near post.

Soon after Hackett was fouled in the penalty area by French, with referee Simon Kavanagh quick to point to the penalty spot. Deacon stepped up himself but saw his penalty well saved by Hopwood with his legs; the ball rebounded into play and after a scramble, Tutton saw a shot deflected wide for a corner. Daniel took the corner short to Hackett and when the ball was crossed into the penalty area, Finlay Murray rose unchallenged to head home and double the lead. 2-0 Thame

The Ducks made a double change on the half hour, Gianni Massi and the injured Charley Tuttle replaced by Haziz Kone and Dan Lodovica. The change saw Tom Cove move to left back with Lodovica taking up a role on the left side of the attack. Four minutes after coming on, Lodovica dribbled infield and was fouled by Ethan Lack; Cove took the free kick, which was met by Henry, but his header was too high to trouble Matt Crowther in the visitor's goal.

Five minutes before the break, a long ball forward was chased by Raposo, who outpaced Murray to get a touch to the ball as Crowther came out to collect the ball; however, the ball seemed to get stuck under his feet, allowing Murray to get back and clear the ball.

As the half drew to a close, the visitors extended their lead; Hackett lifted a ball over the defence for Daniel to run on to, who controlled the ball and slotted it under the advancing Hopwood. 3-0 Thame

Half-time: Aylesbury 0-3 Thame

Into the second half and the home side started well; a pass infield found Will St Clair-Burton, who saw his shot from 20 yards fumbled out for a corner by Crowther.

Shortly afterwards Batchelor-Morgan lost possession; the ball was moved quickly to the left to Hackett who cut inside St Clair-Burton and shot, but saw his effort saved by Hopwood.

Another change for the Ducks saw Harry Stratton join the fray in place of French in the 54th minute. He was straight into the action, taking a free kick on the left; the ball was headed back to him and his second cross was headed narrowly wide by Raposo. Five minutes later, a ball forward was headed on by Raposo to Lodovica who saw his effort drift across the face of the goal. Lodovica had another good chance shortly afterwards, when a ball forward by Cove was collected just outside the penalty area, but his shot was deflected by Lewis Thorne and saved comfortably by Crowther.

With 15 minutes remaining, Lack hooked the ball forward to Deacon, who looked suspiciously offside, but he was allowed to go on, before seeing Hopwood save his shot. With 7 minutes left on the clock, Hackett played a free kick into the penalty area, where Jefferson Louis headed across goal; the ball was recycled by Hackett to Mark Riddick at the far post, who saw his goal bound header blocked at point blank range at the expense of a corner. That was the end of the meaningful action, with the visitors running out comfortable winners, despite a better second half showing from the Ducks.

A break of 10 days now lies ahead, due to the blank Saturday caused by the odd number of teams in the League this season, before they return to action with another tough assignment at Flackwell Heath on Tuesday 18th March.