FA Cup: Brooks on form as Ardley move into next round

Kelvin Mcintosh’s header from a Jon Gardner free-kick was well saved by Lee Farrow before Kevin Brock’s side broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute. Ryan Brooks saw his shot parried by Farrow and Darren Beckett followed up to gratefully accept the chance.

Thame looked threatening on the break and shortly after the restart Ollie Lynch tried a speculative shot which caused Ardley keeper Jack Harding little problem.

Brooks was causing problems for the visitors defence and he set up Troy Bryan to give Ardley a two-goal lead in the 57th minute. Brooks was involved again in the 66th minute when he worked his way into the box only to be upended by Ellis Hercules and he gave Farrow little chance from the resulting spot-kick.

With the three-goal advantage, Ben Thomas returned from a long-term injury when he came on for the tiring Brooks. Ardley made it 4-0 in the 84th minute when a cross from substitute Harry Brock found Ollie Stanbridge at the far post and he played in Thomas who made no mistake.

Three minutes into time added-time on Matt Leach grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors following a goal mouth scramble.

Ardley will look to progress further when they host Hanworth Villa from the Combined Counties in the preliminary round.