Thame Utd 3, Oxford City 1

By Richard Tilley JOHN Mitchell hit a first-half hat-trick as Thame cruised to victory in yesterday's Ryman League Division 1 derby clash.

All the goals came in the opening 29 minutes as Andy Sinnott's men confirmed their promotion potential with an impressive performance.

The result moves Thame up from fourth to third, while City drop from 18th to 19th - one place above the relegation zone.

The home side made a sensational start, scoring after just 23 seconds when Oxford Brookes University student Mitchell turned in Jefferson Louis's low, near-post cross.

But City were level in the sixth minute. Thame's defence - on paper the best in the division this season - went missing when Julian Dark swung in a free-kick from the right. Three City players were un- marked at the far post and it was Stewart McCleary who headed past Ian Moores. Thame almost regained the lead in the 20th minute, Mark West's overhead kick from a Nando Perna corner rattling the crossbar.

But it was 2-1 a minute later, the lively Greg Williams bursting between two defenders and Mitchell deflecting his cross past stranded City keeper Alan Foster.

Thame were now looking really comfortable. Their shape was better than City's and their build-up was more composed and purposeful.

City, meanwhile, were finding it difficult to string passes together in midfield, and Thame only looked troubled when Dwaine Strong was running at them.

Mitchell got his third goal on 29 minutes - and it was an absolute gift, Garry Smart letting the ball through his legs and Mitchell calmly clipping his shot over Foster.

It could have been four on 42 minutes. Greg Williams ran half the length of the pitch and slipped a pass to Louis. Foster could only parry the Thame man's shot and Williams sho- uld have buried the rebound, but he bundled the ball wide. City pressed after the break, but while they enjoyed the lion's share of possession, they never looked like getting anything out of the game.

In fact, the margin of victory should have been even greater. City's Matty Hayward brought down Perna in the box, but the Thame man blasted the injury-time spot-kick over the bar.

Thame Utd: Moores, Perna, G Williams, Brown, Tregurtha, A Williams, Louis (Sherwood 74), West, Mitchell (Gascoyne 88), Fontaine (Jones 60), Paul.

Oxford C: Foster, Whitehead (Davy 45), Dark, Smith, Hayward, Smart, Sweeney, Rose (Lee 45), McCleary, Strong (Wise 81), Wimble.

Referee: P Armstrong (Thatcham).

Attendance: 449.

Story date: Tuesday 28 December

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