Thame Utd 1, Oxford City 0: Thame United cemented their position as the top Ryman league League side in Oxfordshire with a hard-fought local derby victory over Oxford City at Windmill Stadium on Saturday.

Former Oxford United defender Mike Ford bagged the only goal, which means Thame finished eighth in Division 1 North with 72 points.

City, who lifted the Oxfordshire Senior Cup last week, were 15th, but had the satisfaction of losing only one of their last ten matches.

The visitors dominated the opening stages. Danny Wise had a great chance to put them in front after ten minutes when he nipped in between Ford and Alan Foster, only to shoot wide.

Two minutes later, Shaun Wimble saw his shot well saved by ex-City man Foster, after a good break by Jemaine Ferreira, and on 17 minutes Foster denied Wise with a fine save.

Tempers frayed when former Thame captain Martin Brown's tackle on Enzo Silvestri sparked a flare-up in the centre circle, with both Brown and Thame's Justin Merritt being booked.

As the half wore on, the home side began to get on top. Danny Keen and Merritt went close, before City keeper Steve Benbow denied Keen with a fine reflex stop.

Tony Joyce forced Benbow to produce three good saves early in the second half, which led to man-of-the-match Ford scoring the only goal of the game on 48 minutes.

The City keeper could only parry Joyce's free-kick and Ford was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range.

On 55 minutes, Wise was unlucky to see his right-foot shot come back off a post with Foster beaten, but that was the closest City came to equalising.

Gardner, Mark West and Joyce all had chances to increase Thame's lead.

City threw everything forward for the last ten minutes, but never looked like penetrating the home side's well organised back line of Saulsbury, Ford and Joyce.

Thame Utd: Foster, Jones (Abbasi 73), Joyce, Saulsbury, Silvestri, Merritt, Keen (Stewart 65), West, Gardner, Ford, Thorton. Subs not used: Freeman, Hedger, Oyelowo.

Oxford C: Benbow, Farley, Dark, Brown, Craker, Lee, Ferreira, Ballard, Cruse (Charles 60), Wise (Simms 60), Wimble. Sub not used: Whitehead.

Referee: J Farries.

Attendance: 352.