August 15, 2026
Today’s Southern League Division One Central match was a
meeting between the sides that finished 5th and 7th last
season, so a close encounter was potentially in prospect.
Thame Update
Since these diaries reported on Thame’s 2-3 home defeat to
Uxbridge in a pre-season friendly, Thame finished their pre-season with a 3-2
home win over step 4 Bedfont Sports, although no other details were published.
Thame started their league campaign last Saturday with a
home match against Royston Town, who had been relegated from the Southern
League Premier Central, and were many people’s favourites to return to step 3
this season. As it turned out, Royston proved to be too strong, and Thame went
down to a 0-3 defeat in front of a crowd of 156, a result left Thame bottom of the
table at this early stage.
Thame’s scheduled mid-week game against Aylesbury United was
postponed as Aylesbury had to replay their FA Cup tie against Flackwell Heath as
the first attempt to play the match had been abandoned after a floodlight
failure at half-time.
Thame had retained eleven of the players from last year’s
squad, although top scorer Louis Walsh had gone to Slough Town, midfielder Ethan
Lack had moved to Potters Bar Town, striker Lance Williams had joined Ardley,
Braydon Daniel had returned to Oxford City, keeper Matty Crowther and centre-back
Leo Galpin were now at Kidlington, and wing-back Abu Khan had signed for
Winslow United.
Incomings this season included ex-Hertford Town keeper James
Callan, winger Ed Daffern had joined from Stotfold, winger Jamie Davies had
signed from Beaconsfield, whilst forward Lucas Wynn played for Flackwell Heath
last season. Midfielder Charlie Bacon was also with Flackwell Heath last
season, having started at Oxford City before moving to Kidlington.
Full-back Josh Stranks had rejoined Thame after a season away
at Beaconsfield and Risborough Rangers, whilst midfielder Hayden Beadle had
returned after a spell at Aylesbury United.
Ware Background
Ware is a town in Hertfordshire with a population of just
under 20,000 and its football team are a non-league trivia quiz question, as
not having a suffix eg Town, United, Rangers etc, they have the joint shortest
name of all English football clubs. Bury is another with just four letters !
Founded in 1893, home is the 3,300 capacity Wodson Park, and
their nickname is The Blues, although their Twitter account regularly uses the
term Wareboys.
Ware had been almost perennial bridesmaids in recent seasons
in their efforts to escape from step 4. In 2019/20 Ware were 6 points ahead of
second placed Hanwell Town in the Isthmian South Central Division after 30
games, but the season was terminated due to Covid so they were not promoted.
In 2020/21 they were third after 7 games in a Covid
interrupted season, and were then level transferred to the Southern League
Division One Central.
In 2021/21 Ware finished 4th, but after
overcoming AFC Dunstable on penalties after an away 0-0 draw, they lost 2-4 at
home to North Leigh, where Jefferson Louis scored a crucial goal for North
Leigh in the 95th minute, before North Leigh added another two
minutes later. A crowd of 1,564 attended the match.
In Ware 2022/23 finished 5th but after beating
Biggleswade FC 4-1 away, they lost 0-1 at Didcot in front of an incredible
crowd of 1,938. The 2023/24 campaign saw Ware finish in 5th place
but they lost in the play-off semi-final 1-2 at Bedford Town.
Ware finished a disappointing 10th in 2024/25 and
7th last season, to miss out on the play-offs for the second season
in a row. Ware were the 4th best supported team in the division last
season with an average home attendance of 251.
Previous Meetings
Ware had appeared in these diaries on one previous occasion
when they won 3-1 at Thame in March 2024. Goals from Joe Deadman, Jack Dreyer
and Theo Ofori had given Ware a three-goal lead, whilst Harry Alexander scored
a late consolation for Thame.
Since Ware were transferred to the Southern League, these
two sides had played each other on 10 occasions, with Ware winning four times,
Thame twice, and there had been four draws. Surprisingly, Ware had won three
times at the ASM but only once at home. However, Thame had been unbeaten in the
last 4 meetings, with two draws last season ( 1-1 at home and 2-2 away ),
whilst Thame had done the double in 2024/25 ( 4-0 and 3-2 ).
Ware Squad
Ware had been able to retain their top three scorers from
last season. Ex-Wealdstone, Oxford City, Cheshunt and Enfield striker Reece
Beckles-Richards scored 24 league goals, winger Ofori found the net 11 times,
whilst Samuel Mayuma was on target 10 times. Mayuma had been announced during
the close season as having signed for Potters Bar Town, but returned to Ware
just before the first league match !
In addition to Ofori, there were four other players who
played for Ware in that game in March 2024 still with the club, ex-Hendon keeper
Fred Burbidge, centre-back Jack Grosvenor, left-back David Sota, whilst
defender Ekow Coker had in the meantime played for Bedford Town and King’s
Langley before returning to Ware.
14 of the players that were in the squad for the last game
of last season at Beaconsfield, were in their 16 man squad for the first game
of this season. The two missing players were midfielder Sami Moutawafiq, who
had joined step 3 Wingate and Finchley, and Johnny Allotey, who had signed for
Potters Bar Town, and was still there !
In their place, Ware had made two significant new signings, ex-Colchester
United, Ipswich, Crawley, Southend, AFC Wimbledon and Barnet midfielder Anthony
Wordsworth, who looks to have wandered lonely as a cloud, and ex-Waltham Abbey
striker Khale Da Costa, who had returned for a second spell at the club.
Ware This Season
Ware started the season with a trip to Biggleswade Town last
Saturday, who finished 4th last season, and were 2-0 up in the
opening 10 minutes thanks to goals by Josh Okotcha and Ofori. However, they let
the lead slip and were held to a 2-2 draw.
On Tuesday night, Ware hosted newly promoted Haringey
Borough and in a reverse of their first game found themselves 0-3 down after 48
minutes, but they fought back to grab a 3-3 draw thanks to goals from Josh
Hutchinson, Mayuma and Da Costa.
Matchday Information
The journey from Ware to Thame is between 60 to 70 miles
depending on the route chosen, but according to AA Route Planner it should
normally take around 80 minutes regardless of which roads were taken.
The weather at 15.00 kick-off was sunny, with a temperature of
26 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 lost to Royston,
with Callum Hall coming in at right-back and wing-back Curtis Brown in an
unusual position of centre-forward. Luke Tingey dropped to the bench whilst Greg
Hackett was missing.
Ware also made two changes from midweek with Gucci Soulya
back in fashion, and Ofori back in favour. Mayuma and Rechan Esprit dropped to
the bench.
As a Brighton fan, Fatbear appreciated the tasteful blue and
white stripes shirts Ware were playing in, with blue shorts and socks. As Rod
Stewart might have sung, they Ware It Well !
Thame were in their red and black stripes, with black shorts
and red socks.
Match Report
Ware kicked off towards the ring-road end and started on the
front foot. Jack Taylor and Ofori combined leading to Taylor’s cross-cum-shot
needing to be pushed over the bar by keeper Callan. Around 15 players crowded
around the goal-line but the delivery from Ofori only went as far as the near
post, but Alexander’s attempted clearing header glanced off the top of his head,
across the goalmouth, and off for a corner on the other side of the pitch.
Ofori’s corner again ignored the masses of players in the 6-yard
box and went to the near post where Callan was able to punch clear. Ofori
gathered the loose ball and crossed towards the far post where Callan was
clattered into by Okotcha as he went to make the catch, and when the ball
slipped through his hands, the referee awarded a corner rather than a
free-kick. Again, the corner failed to get beyond the near post, and Thame were
able to clear.
Ware were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out from goal when
Murray was judged to be all over Hutchinson, but the set-piece from Ofori was
again disappointing and drifted off harmlessly for a goal-kick.
Thame forced their first corner of the game a few minutes
later when Alexander held up play and then his pass found Beadle, whose 20-yard
effort took a deflection. The corner was driven low, but Dan West’s flick
bounced a couple of feet wide as keeper Burbidge watched on untroubled.
In the 8th minute there was temporary hesitation
between Callan and Murray in the Thame defence, although Callan was eventually
forced to hack clear for a throw-in as Hutchinson lurked close-by.
The visitors ought to have taken the lead in the 9th
minute. Ofori’s cross from the left found Da Costa unmarked but his close-range
volley with the goal gaping was pushed away by the diving Callan. The ball
bounced kindly for Hutchinson, but his header from 8 yards saw Callan produced
another super diving save !
At the other end Alexander’s curling cross looked to be
heading for Daffern until Ware full-back Finlay Titchmarsh managed to head the
ball back to his keeper.
Alexander then released Hall down the right-wing but the
cross from the byline cut-out by Wordsworth, coolly controlling on his chest.
Thame were now enjoying a good spell and Daffern played a pass
down the left-hand channel for Brown to latch onto, and the make-shift forward
cut back inside, but his right-footed shot was blocked. Thame were looking to
play the ball quickly forward to utilise the pace of Brown against a Ware
back-line that was looking pedestrian.
Thame’s pressure eventually told as Stranks played a pass
down the left-wing for Daffern to scamper after, and his ball across the penalty
area reached Alexander whose shot was blocked. However, the loose ball fell to
the advancing Jack Tutton and his first-time effort was blasted into the bottom
keeper past the helpless keeper from 12 yards. 1-0 after 16 minutes.
When play resumed Wordsworth pathetically went down
screaming after a slight touch from a Thame player but the referee waved play
on, and Ware went on the counter attack and won a free-kick on the edge of the
Thame area. Thame’s Mark Riddick was shown a yellow card but it wasn’t obvious
what it was for. Ofori again wasted the set-piece in a dangerous position as
his cross sailed harmlessly off for a goal-kick. It must have been time for
Ware to consider changing their set-piece specialist ?
Thame’s direct approach continued as Okotcha struggled to
deal with a long clearance, only able to head high in the air, but Wordsworth
was covering and was able to head back to keeper Burbidge before Brown could
capitalise.
A scrappy piece of play ensued inside the Thame area, and
Sota looked to have chopped down West, but the referee allowed play to continue
and awarded a corner to Ware rather than a foul to Thame, from which Okotcha
rose the highest but was only able to head about 10 feet over the bar.
The referee was clearly keen to allow the game to flow where-ever
possible and was reluctant to blow his whistle whenever a player fell to the
floor, and this continue as West hit the deck when challenged and Ware were
presented with a two-versus-one, but Hutchinson and Soulya dithered and Riddick
was able to get back and cut-out a pass.
Shortly after Da Costa was shown a yellow card, but again
Fatbear wasn’t too sure what the offence was !
In the 26th minute Brown hit the deck but again
the referee allowed play to continue, and from the Ware counter-attack
Hutchinson’s through ball looked to have put Soulya clear, but the Ware forward
opted to crash to the floor rather than run clear. There may have been some
minimal contact with Stranks, but not enough for the referee to consider a
free-kick, and Soulya really should have been able to have stayed on his feet if
he wanted to. At least the referee was being consistent in his decision making.
As the game moving into the closing stages of the first
half, Alexander worked his way into a good position inside the Ware area, but
his shot was blocked, as was the follow up from Brown.
Thame then fashioned the best move of the game to-date as
Tutton’s pass released Hall to run to the Ware byline and his pull-back found
Daffern, whose reverse pass gave Beadle a sight of goal but Titchmarsh slid in
to make a block, and the ball rolled through to the Ware keeper. Titchmarsh
appeared to injure himself in making the block and the hydration break was
taken as he received treatment. Eventually he was unable to continue and was
replaced.
Soulya continued his propensity for tasting grass as he
again easily fell to the ground near the corner flag, leading to the referee to
award a goal-kick. Almost immediately straight after, Soulya again choose the
comfort of the grass when in a good position, and again failed to impress referee
Connor MacKay. Clearly a talented player but on today’s evidence Soulya appears
to have a major attitude problem, and should concentrate on playing football
rather than trying to con the officials to win free-kicks.
With 35 minutes on the clock a Thame attack saw Beadle find
Brown just outside the Ware area, but an accidental elbow from Okotcha saw
Brown go down holding his face, but again the referee correctly allowed play to
continue. Brown needed treatment and under the new guidelines for this season
had to go off for one minute, which appeared to be a surprise to him !
With a temporary player advantage, Ware swarmed forward and
Da Costa’s dangerous looking cross was unconvincingly put over his own bar by
Murray. Ofori’s delivery yet again failed to beat the first defender and was
headed away.
West played a testing ball out of the Thame defence but Soulya
decided to needlessly clatter into the experienced Thame player a couple of
seconds after the ball had been played for a dreadful foul, and deservedly
received a yellow card.
Alexander’s pass put Brown clear down the right-wing, and he
was able to play a perfect pass across the 6-yard line for Daffern to hammer
into the roof of the net at the far post. It was now 2-0 after 45 minutes.
Ware were rocking, but after Alexander was fouled, Tutton’s
30 yard free-kick nearly flew out of the stadium. However, the visitors
recovered their composure and Da Costa won a corner. Taylor was now on
set-piece duties, and his ball toward the far post was met by Okotcha, whose
downward header was pushed away by the base of the post by Callan. Taylor trotted
to the other side of the pitch to take the corner, which was swung into the
near post and Callan appeared to be only able to push against the near post and
into the net. It wasn’t clear if the ball had already crossed the line or
whether it was an own goal. In any case the goal stood and the referee blew for
half-time without restarting the game. At half time it was 2-1.
The goal for Ware had given them a lifeline back into the
game, and we potentially could have been in for a third come back in their
first three matches. Ware had actually looked the better side for most of the
first half, but Thame had taken their chances, and Ware’s end product had been
poor. In particular Ofori had been poor, and it was no surprise he was hooked
at half-time.
Ware substitute Mayuma was quickly into the action and after
a strong run into the Thame area won a corner. Another good delivery from
Taylor saw Hutchinson’s diving header on the turn go just over the bar.
The referee played an advantage after a foul on a Thame
player and Brown spread play to Alexander but the move broke-down. Ware
counter-attacked and after a run down the left-wing Mayuma’s low ball across
the Thame area reached Da Costa, whose shot from 12 yards took a deflection to
wrong foot keeper Callan to hit the back of the net. Thame would have been
better off with the free-kick ! However, it was now 2-2 with 51 minutes on
the clock.
Mayuma was looking impressive for Ware and after another
good run was just unable to latch onto a return pass from Hutchinson.
Ward was forced to concede a corner for Thame, which was
headed away and Ware surged forward. Soulya ran deep into the Thame half, but
with numbers to the left and right, his pass was awful and intercepted.
Townsend then teed up Da Costa but the shot from the Ware
winger from 25 yards was lame and sailed several feet over the bar. Ware’s accuracy
was even worse a minute later, as after Soulya’s effort was blocked following good
work by Taylor, the follow-up from Mayuma was put out of the stadium.
This was to prove costly after a poor header by
Wordsworth was collected by Alexander, whose header put Daffern in space inside
the Ware area, and although the Thame winger’s attempt took a partial
deflection, it was enough to send the ball over Burbidge into the roof of the
net as the keeper dived to his left. The score was now 3-2 with 58 minutes
played.
Thame pressed again and a good right-wing cross from Tutton
saw Brown make a strong contact for the ball to fly to Burbidge, who made a
smart catch.
Ware were still looking lively going forward and after
Soulya sent Mayuma down the left-wing the ball into the area was cut out. Ware
recycled possession and the ball from the right found Hutchinson, whose pass to
Soulya was then laid back to Mayuma, who could only scuff his shot.
At the other end Brown showed good persistence inside the
Ware area and laid the ball off to Beadle, who teed up Tutton, whose curling
shot sailed a couple of feet wide of the far post.
Tutton then became the next player to enter the referee’s
note-book after pulling back Soulya just inside the Thame half.
Thame produced a flowing passing move involving Beadle,
Tutton and Stranks but the final ball to Daffern saw the linesman’s flag raised
for off-side. Taylor then commitment a nasty looking late tackle on Tutton, but
the only sanction from the referee was a free-kick.
Ware lost possession deep inside the Thame half, and it was
the home side’s turn to lunch a swift counter-attack through Daffern, Tutton
and Brown, but the final ball into 6-yard box was intercepted by Wordsworth.
The game’s comedy moment came when Stranks attempted to take
a throw-in deep inside his own half and only released the ball after the
referee had counted down from 5. Stranks looked confused as it correctly became
a throw-in to Ware. A couple of minutes later when Stranks again came to take a
throw in, one of the Ware players immediately called out 5 !
Man-mountain Coker became the next Ware substitute and after
Alexander disposed Taylor of the ball, Brown easily sped past the giant
defender, but the left-footed shot from just inside the area was pushed away one-handed
by the diving Burbidge for a corner.
Ware upped the pace in search of an equaliser. A cross from
Soulya was just too high for Esprit, a cross from Ward was a fraction overhit
and Hall was able to clear, then Esprit weaved his way into the Thame area but
was eventually crowded out.
Finally, a cross from Ward glanced off the head of
Hutchinson and as Hall was about to hoof clear, Okotcha stuck out a foot and went
down as Hall made contact with the ball and the Ware defender. The referee
immediately pointed to the penalty spot in accordance with the current
directives, similar to the penalty awarded against Harry Kane in the World Cup
against Mexico. Fatbear isn’t a fan of the modern interpretation, as surely a
player also had a duty of care to avoid getting kicked ? Anyway, Hutchinson
stepped up to send Callan the wrong way to level the scores. It was now 3-3
after 79 minutes.
In response, Thame made a triple substitution but the immediate
impact was a yellow card to Stranks for pulling back Soulya. However, soon
after Tutton played a penetrating pass to put Stow clear but instead of playing
a simple ball across the Ware penalty area to give the unmarked Bacon a tap-in,
Stow dithered and Coker was able to cover and concede a corner. It was a great opportunity
squandered.
After the Thame corner, a shot from Alexander blocked and
Ware quickly moved play to the other end of the field and Esprit won a
free-kick just outside the Thame area. Wordsworth took the free-kick and
Okotcha’s header at the far post needed to be pushed away at the base of the
post by the Thame keeper, who then had an easy catch to make when the ball was
crossed back into the Thame 6-yard box.
The closing minutes of the match were end-to-end as both
sides searched in vain for the winner. Bacon went down in inside the Ware area
but the Thame appeals for a penalty were waved away, which looked to be a good
decision, as from Fatbear’s vantage point Bacon may have trod on the ball. Ware
then saw a promising move ended by an offside flag against Mayuma, then a Thame
passing move between Stow and Tutton saw the attempted defence splitting pass
just a fraction overhit ahead of Bacon.
A Thame corner saw Alexander’s goal-bound shot blocked, and
when Ware looked to break, Esprit was penalised for a foul. Hutchinson then put
Da Costa in space but his pass into the Thame area was cut-out by Hall.
The final action saw Bacon do well to beat his marker but
his attempted cross from the left just inside the Ware was mis-hit was went weakly
to Burbidge at his near post, prompting the final whistle from the referee.
Both sides would probably argue they had enough chances to
win this entertaining game, but overall a draw was a fair result. Ware had now
drawn three high scoring games, whilst Thame had at least earnt their first
point of the season, which was sufficient to take them out of the bottom four !
Thame United : Callan – Hall, West, Murray, Stranks –
Riddick, Tutton, Beadle ( Davies ), Daffern ( Bacon ) – Alexander, Brown ( Stow
)
Ware : Burbidge – Titchmarsh ( Ward ), Okotcha, Wordsworth,
Sota ( Coker ) – Da Costa, Townsend ( Esprit ), Taylor, Ofori ( Mayuma ) – Soulya,
Hutchinson
