Exmouth Town 1-3 Thame United: FA Cup Match Report

Thame United advanced in the FA Cup with a controlled 3-1 away victory over Exmouth Town on September 24, 2026. In a tie that demanded patience and composure, Thame scored either side of an Exmouth equaliser and then sealed the result late to book their place in the next round of the draw.

Match Overview

Exmouth Town began with energy in front of their home support, pressing high and looking to force mistakes in the Thame half. That early intensity created a few half-chances, but Thame United weathered the storm and gradually imposed their passing rhythm. The visitors opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Kieran Sanders arrived at the edge of the box to convert a low cross with a first-time finish.

Exmouth responded well. Their best spell of the first half produced an equaliser four minutes before the break, with Jordan Casey rising highest from a corner and directing a header beyond the Thame goalkeeper. At 1-1, the tie was finely balanced, and the home side went into half-time with renewed belief.

Key Moments

• 18th minute: Kieran Sanders gives Thame United a 1-0 lead with a crisp finish.
• 41st minute: Jordan Casey heads Exmouth Town level from a corner.
• 63rd minute: Luke Ricketts restores Thame's advantage with a low drive from 18 yards.
• 84th minute: Substitute Aaron Jewell seals the 3-1 win on the counter-attack.
• 90+2nd minute: Thame goalkeeper stands firm to deny Exmouth a late consolation.

Tactical Story

Thame United lined up in a flexible 4-2-3-1 and looked to overload the wide areas, drawing Exmouth's midfield out of shape before switching play. Their two holding midfielders kept the game compact, cutting off central passing lanes and forcing Exmouth into longer balls that were comfortably dealt with by the visiting centre-backs.

Exmouth's 4-4-2 had moments of effectiveness, especially when they pressed in pairs and won the ball high. However, after taking a 2-1 lead, Thame dropped their block slightly deeper and invited pressure before striking on the break. The third goal was a perfect example of that plan: a quick turnover, a direct run, and a composed finish from Jewell.

Standout Performers

Kieran Sanders was central to Thame's best attacking moments, combining intelligent movement with sharp finishing. Luke Ricketts produced the decisive second-half strike and controlled the tempo from midfield. For Exmouth, Jordan Casey was the brightest spark, scoring the equaliser and causing problems with his aerial presence. Thame's captain also deserves credit for organising the defensive line through a tense final 20 minutes.

What It Means

The result sends Thame United into the next stage of the FA Cup, where they will await the draw with growing confidence. For Exmouth Town, the cup exit is a disappointment, but the performance offered enough positives to take into their league campaign. The final score of 1-3 reflects Thame's greater cutting edge in the decisive moments, even though Exmouth made the tie competitive for long spells.