Thame 3-3 Exmouth | FA Cup | 19 September 2026

A breathtaking FA Cup tie at Thame produced six goals and a dramatic late equaliser, as Exmouth snatched a share of the spoils deep into stoppage time to deny the hosts what would have been a memorable victory. The 3-3 draw ensures both sides will have to do it all again in a replay, and both managers — Ben Williams and Kevin Hill — will be left with plenty to reflect upon.

Match Analysis

Thame made the perfect start to this FA Cup encounter, breaking the deadlock as early as the 17th minute to set the tone for an entertaining afternoon. That early advantage gave Ben Williams' side confidence and a foothold in the contest, and for much of the first half they appeared to be in control of proceedings.

However, the second half told an entirely different story. Exmouth emerged from the interval with renewed energy and purpose under Kevin Hill, and it was they who dominated the opening exchanges of the second period. Exmouth struck twice in quick succession, pulling level in the 56th minute before taking the lead for the first time in the match with a second goal on 66 minutes. The momentum had shifted entirely, and Thame found themselves behind and chasing the game.

What followed was a remarkable spell of home football. Thame refused to capitulate, and in a dramatic two-minute burst they turned the tie on its head once more — equalising in the 72nd minute and then striking again just two minutes later to retake the lead at 3-2. The home crowd, who had watched their side fall behind, were now dreaming of an FA Cup victory and progression.

Yet Exmouth had other ideas. With the match deep into four minutes of added time, Hill's side conjured one final moment of quality to level at 3-3 and ensure they would leave Thame with a point — and a second chance. It was a cruel moment for the hosts, who had done so much right in those crucial 72nd and 74th-minute strikes, only to see their lead evaporate at the death.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match analysis favoured a Thame home win at 51% probability, with a predicted scoreline of 2-1. The model assigned just a 23% probability to the draw, making this outcome one our forecast did not strongly anticipate. With a confidence rating of only 53/100, however, there was always acknowledgement that this was a finely poised contest, and the eventual result reflects just how competitive and unpredictable FA Cup football at this level can be. The prediction is marked as incorrect, with the draw falling outside our primary forecast.

Key Takeaways

• Exmouth's resilience was the defining feature of this contest — coming from behind twice and scoring a 90+4' equaliser demonstrates significant character under Kevin Hill's management.
• Thame's inability to see out the match will be the key talking point for Ben Williams, particularly given the strong platform they had built with the 74th-minute goal.
• Both sides scored three goals, highlighting an open and attacking approach from each team — a positive sign for the replay.
• The tie remains perfectly alive, and a replay will be needed to determine which club advances in the FA Cup.

Neutral fans should mark the replay date in their calendars — if this first encounter is anything to go by, more goals and drama are virtually guaranteed.