October 17, 2026
Two weeks ago, these diaries covered Thame’s FA Cup tie against step 3 Eastbourne Borough, when they fell to an 89th goal to exit the competition.
Having been narrowly defeated in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy to step 3 opposition, there was an expectation that Thame would replicate that good form and start progressing up the Southern League Division One Central table with their games in hand.
However, in their two subsequent league games they had suffered two defeats, firstly going down 2-3 at home to lowly Leverstock Green, before then suffering a 0-4 loss at bottom of the table Flackwell Heath, for which Thame’s Twitter account used phrases such as “shocking performance”, “lost for words” and “a very painful watch”.
Consequently, Thame were now in 16th place in the table with a 3-1-3 record, albeit with games in hand on the sides above them, but a visit from Welwyn Garden City was far from being the ideal next opponent to reverse the bad run.
Not only were Welwyn Garden City arriving in 4th place in the league table, but they had also been a bit of a recent jinx on Thame at the ASM, winning 1-0 in desperate dire matches on their last two visits.
Welwyn Garden City Background
Welwyn Garden City is a city in Hertfordshire and is unique in being both a Garden City and a New Town. Its population has been estimated at being just under 50,000.
The town’s football side were founded in 1921 and are known as The Citizens. They play at the 3,000 capacity Herns Way.
After winning the Spartan South Midland championship in 2017/18, Welwyn GC have stayed in the Southern League Division One Central, with their best season being in 2021/22, when they finished in 5th place but were denied a place in the play-offs on ground grading criteria. They were in 4th place when the 2019/20 season was terminated due to Covid. Last season they ended up in 8th position, missing out on the promotion play-offs on goal difference.
Previous Meetings
In the last two seasons, The Citizens have come out on top at the ASM, winning both games 1-0, and Fatbear reported on both. The double was achieved last season with a 4-3 home victory.
In total, results between these two sides in eight seasons they have been together in the Southern League Division One Central had given Welwyn a slight edge, with 7 wins for Welwyn, 4 wins for Thame and 4 draws in their 15 meetings.
Welwyn Garden City This Season
Welwyn came in to today’s fixture with a 6-2-2 record in the league. They started the season with three away wins, 3-1 at Hadley and Barton Rovers, and 3-0 at Ware. Their first home match saw a 1-4 loss to Didcot, after which a 1-1 draw was played out at Biggleswade Town, before a 5-0 home crushing of Stotfold.
These results were followed by a 1-1 home draw against Royston Town, a 3-2 victory at Flackwell Heath, before an unexpected 1-2 home reverse to Winslow United. In mid-week, Welwyn returned to form with a 5-3 home win over London Lions.
The Citizens crashed out of the FA Cup in their opening game of the season, losing 0-2 at step 5 Enfield FC. However, two ties were won in the FA Trophy, eliminating sides from the step 4 Isthmian North Division, Mulbarton Wanderers 3-0 and Walthamstow 2-1, both at home. In the next round Welwyn travelled to step 3 Eastbourne Borough and exited the competition after a 2-4 defeat. A week later Eastbourne knocked Thame out of the FA Cup !
Welwyn Garden City Squad
Gavin Kelsey was appointed the coach of Welwyn Garden City during the summer after having been in charge of Cockfosters, where he led the step 5 Spartan South Midlands side to an FA Vase Final at Wembley, where they lost on penalties to Hampshire side AFC Stoneham after a goalless draw.
Kelsey had brought a number of players from Cockfosters with him up to step 4, including forward Kendall Gyamfi, midfielder Luca Gordon, winger Tyreece Robertson, midfielder Teddy Stacey, keeper Connor Sansom and defender Jay Lovell. Defender Reece Mosanya joined in the summer from Wormley Rovers, but was previously with Cockfosters, and midfielder Malik Nosike also had Cockfosters on his CV.
The four top scorers in the league for Welwyn were all with the club last season. Portuguese forward Evaristo Mendes, ex-Cockfosters winger Ethan Rookard and ex-St Albans City striker Nick Ralfe had all found the net four times, whilst ex-Real Bedford midfielder Eddie Corbit had scored three times.
Defender Keiron Gaulthier and forward George Sippetts had signed from St Albans City, centre-back Frankie Impey had been in the academies of Hull City, Millwall and Stevenage Borough, and midfielder Ryan Hayes played last season at Barwell Town.
Midfielder Luis Cantello was the grandson of West Bromwich Albion legend Len Cantello, and had played for Bury, Chadderton and Droylsden.
Matchday Information
The journey from Welwyn Garden City to Thame is just over 45 miles and should normally take an hour via the A1M and the A41. Around 25 Welwyn supporters were in attendance to swell the spartan crowd.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was cloudy with the temperature a chilly 13 degrees.
Attendance was £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and £3 for Under 16s. The programme was online but free team-sheets were available at the turnstile. A cup of tea cost £1.50.
Thame made two changes from the side that crashed badly at Flackwell Heath with Curtis Brown and Roger James replacing Ethan Lack and Ed Daffern.
Welwyn Garden City made just one change from midweek as Cantello came in for Corbit.
Welwyn were playing in turquoise shirts, with blue shorts and socks whilst Thame were in their usual red and black stripes.
Match Report
Welwyn kicked off attacking the ring-road end, and almost immediately Robertson was put clear down the left but the linesman’s flag was raised for off-side.
Welwyn keeper Sansom quickly established a reputation for being ridiculously gobby after loudly complaining to the linesman in his half about two decisions not given to Welwyn deep inside the Thame half, for which the linesman would have no ability to influence the referee !
Thame keeper James Callan was nearly embarrassed in the 7th minute when his attempted clearance was charged down by Robertson, and with the keeper out of his goal, the Welwyn winger attempted to cross to Mendes rather than go for goal from a narrow angle, but Thame centre-back Fin Murray made a vital interception.
Two minutes later Sansom needed to come out of his area to head away to prevent Thame winger Greg Hackett from getting to a long cross-field ball from James. A minute later Sansom again had to venture out of his area to stop James getting on the end of a through ball from Harry Alexander and conceded a throw in.
As Thame attacked, the influential Nosike robbed Thame midfielder Jack Tutton just outside the Welwyn area and made a strong run into the Thame half, and spread the ball wide to Robertson, but Tutton redeemed himself by cutting out the low cross into the Thame area, and then sent a long ball forward for Brown to run on to. Sansom was caught in no-mans-land as Brown got to the ball first but rather than going for a chip over the stranded keeper, the Thame forward opted to try and drill the ball into the far corner, but put his effort horribly wide.
The visitors should have taken the lead in the 13th minute. Thame centre-back Dan West carelessly lost possession and Robertson ran clear into the Thame area but with just the keeper to beat, his left-footed effort was screwed wide of the far post. It was a great chance squandered.
The referee was trying to let play flow and both sides were frustrated as a few potentially soft fouls were not given, but the man in black was at least being consistent.
The referee did award a free-kick to Welwyn when Robertson was brought down close to the left-hand touchline, but Mosanya’s free-kick was met by Hayes, whose header from the edge of the Thame area went harmlessly wide.
Welwyn right-winger Moses forced a corner off Thame left-back Joshua Stranks, but the delivery was a regulation catch for keeper Callan. Hayes then went down easily on the edge of the Thame area, and again the referee allowed play to continue.
Robertson pressurised Thame right-back Callum Hall to concede a corner at the left-hand byline, but Welwyn were penalised for a foul at the set-piece.
Welwyn were getting on top butfailed to creating anything with their possession, and Mosanya sent a cross from the left-wing into the hand of the Thame keeper.
The first shot on target finally arrived in the 33rd minute. After Tutton brought down Cantello, the referee played a good advantage as Moses ran clear down the right-hand channel and then cut-back inside, but his fierce left-footed drive was straight at Callan, who fisted away.
Shortly after Robertson scythed down Hall near the half-way line, but the only sanction was a free-kick to Thame.
Tutton won the ball near the half-way line and charged forward, then released James down the right wing, but the cross from close to the corner flag was just to high for Hackett at the far post.
A few spots of rain were starting to fall and although Tutton fell to the floor, the free-kick was awarded to the visitors. Thame cleared the ball into their area, and when it fell to Hayes his shot was blocked on the edge of the penalty area.
Out of the blue, Welwyn took the lead with a move of real quality out of keeping with the game so far. Hayes played a delightful pass to Nosike, who was clear on goal, and he calmly rounded Callan as he came out to narrow the angle, and placed the ball into the empty net. 0-1 with 38 minutes played.
Shortly after, Mendes headed on a long throw but Callan made an easy save. Thame were then awarded a free-kick close to the half-way line after Brown was fouled, Tutton spotted keeper Sansom out of his goal, but his long range attempt sailed a couple of feet over the bar.
With half-time approaching Impey head a long ball off for a throw-in, then put his arm around the neck of Hackett and threw the Thame winger to the floor. Other referees may have brandished a red card to the Welwyn centre-back for this action, but play continued with just the throw-in to Thame.
The game was now very niggly but the referee continued to let the game flow rather than be whistle happy, until Tutton brought down Cantello, after which Alexander and Ntege had a minor flare-up. A minute later Cantello hit the deck far too easily, and again the referee waved for play to continue.
With the last play of the first half, Tutton attempted to run into the Welwyn area but the ball struck the arm of a Welwyn defender. Thame appealed for a penalty but the referee rightly ignored the claims as it was ball to arm rather than arm to ball.
At the half-time whistle, Welwyn headed to the dressing rooms with a one goal lead, which on the balance of play was fully deserved, as they had looked the more dangerous, whilst their keeper had not yet been called upon to make a save.
After their dismal first half performance, Thame started the second half much brighter. Hall and Tutton exchanged passes to send Hall racing down the right-wing but the cross from the byline was cleared. Robertson then chopped down Hall wide on the right, although the Welwyn supporters sitting near to Fatbear didn’t agree with this straightforward decision. The free-kick was sent to beyond the far post which Welwyn defended well, but the clearance hit the referee, who then tumbled to the floor as he lost his balance. Sadly, the official didn’t give himself a yellow card for simulation, and play restarted with a drop-ball to the visitors.
Alexander then played a cute chip over the Citizens back line for Brown to run onto but again his shot across goal went wide of the far post.
Confusion then arose as Welwyn attempted to take the goal-kick. The linesman flagged for an offence and the referee, not having seen the incident himself, went over to consult with his assistant, and then awarded a penalty to Thame. Fatbear did not see the incident but according to one of the Welwyn supporters, the ball was on the ground inside the six-yard area and keeper Sansom passes the ball across the goalmouth to Gaulthier, who then stopped the ball with his hand so he could take the goal-kick.
If this description was accurate, it was a clear and obvious handball, identical to those awarded against Tyrone Mings for Aston Villa against Club Brugge in the Champions League in 2024, or against Leah Williamson for Arsenal Women against Paris FC earlier this month in the Women’s Champions League, and a few others in the past couple of seasons. Clearly the golden rule of always stopping the ball with your foot rather than with the hand had been ignored.
Play was held up for over 5 minutes as the furious Welwyn players argued against the decision, and a few of the Welwyn supporters shouted it would be embarrassing when the match video was reviewed, but according to the way the incident had been described, the embarrassment was more likely the lack of understanding of the laws by the Welwyn captain. Obviously Fatbear will retract these statements if the video actually reveals the action was different to how described !
Despite the fury of the Welwyn players, bench and fans, play eventually continued, and Alexander stepped up to send Sansom the wrong way from the spot. It was now 1-1 with 54 minutes on the clock.
Welwyn seemed to be in a state of shock after conceding the penalty and Cantello was lucky to escape any sanction after a wild lunge on James after the Thame player had failed to keep the ball in play.
Mendes then had a flicked header from a long throw easily saved by Thame keeper Callan, then the Welwyn players and supporters were further incensed when a handball was not given against Hackett when the ball rose from his foot and struck his hand, but just like Thame’s penalty appeal in the first half, and in line with current guidelines, the referee allowed play to continue. Hackett was then cynical fouled but the referee again kept his cards in his pocket.
Thame thought they had taken the lead when West stole in at the far post to head home a free-kick, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside, and at least one of the Welwyn supporter had the good grace to say “Linesman, I take everything back !“.
Moses showed good skill to control a cross-field pass on the right-wing touchline, but spoilt it all by sending his cross sailing harmlessly well wide of the far post.
James became the first player to see a yellow card after late tackle on Monsanya.
In the 68th minute Brown, was able to get to a long ball out of the Thame defence ahead of Sansom, who had charged outside of his area, only to be bundled over by the Welwyn keeper. As Brown had been heading away from the goal, only a yellow card was shown to the Welwyn keeper, which was again incredulously received by the Citizens supporters. The free-kick was struck low, but cleared after a bit of a scramble.
Two minutes later a Welwyn long throw was cleared by the Thame defence and Tutton made a 60-yard break, but his low cross was cut-out.
After the first round of substitutions, Alexander played a flick over the Welwyn back-line which James latched onto but with Sansom charging off his line, the attempted lob drifted wide of the near post.
A few spots of rain were again falling, but the Thame substitutions were having a bigger impact on the game than Welwyn’s.
Riddick’s flick put Hayden Beadle clear down the left, but his first-time cross was cleared, then Alexander played a smart pass for Hall to run on to, but his first touch was poor and Welwyn cleared. Daffern then tried to wriggle his way into the Welwyn area, and the rebound flew up for Lack to volley from 18 yards, but Sansom produced a smart save at the base of the goal post diving to his left.
Welwyn’s Ralfe was tackled just outside the Thame penalty area, and the home side set-off on a swift counter-attack as Lack made yards, then released Daffern on the left, whose low cross was met by the on-rushing Alexander at the near post to slam past the helpless Welwyn keeper for a splendid goal. A few Welwyn supporters claimed there had been a foul of Ralfe, which were quite laughable. 2-1 with 84 minutes on the clock.
Welwyn made further changes but as they pressed forward, but Thame’s pacy youngsters were exploiting the gaps, and it looked more likely that Thame would score the next goal. Lack won two corners as Thame broke from inside their half, and Impey saw yellow for bringing down Charlie Bacon after another sizzling break by Thame..
Daffern, Lack and Bacon then exchanged passes on the edge of the Welwyn area, and with many of the crowd expecting Daffern to head towards the corner flag, he cut-back inside the area and passed to Lack, whose shot from 10 yards was blocked on the goal-line, and then cleared.
Welwyn had one last good move, but a ball across the 18-yard line saw a shot go closer to the corner flag rather than the target.
At the final whistle Thame had deservedly taken the three points. Although Welwyn were the better side in the first half, Thame improved after the break to dominate the second period. Whilst the opening goal for Thame may have been controversial, Welwyn only had themselves to blame for their careless play.
Sansom and Gaulthier surrounded the referee at the end of the game and launched a tirade of abuse at the official, which only made them look even more pathetic given their lack of knowledge of the laws ( assuming, of course, the description of events by the Welwyn supporter was indeed accurate ! )
One final mention has to go to some of the Welwyn supporters, whose one-eyed and ignorant comments were comedy gold. It is a long-time since I had laughed so much at a game of football.
Thame United : Callan – Hall, West, Murray, Stranks – James ( Bacon ), Tutton ( Beadle ), Riddick, Hackett ( Lack ) – Alexander ( Ulas ), Brown ( Daffern )
Welwyn Garden City : Sansom – Ntege, Impey, Gaulthier, Mosanya ( Dixon-Smith ) – Moses, Cantello ( Barrett ), Hayes ( Sippetts ), Nosike, Robertson ( Ralfe ) – Mendes ( Rookard )
