September 29, 2026
Tonight saw Thame’s first home floodlight game of the season as they returned to the bread and butter of Southern League football with the visit of Beaconsfield Town. Successful runs in both Cups had meant that Thame had played only four times in the league, leaving them in 12th place in table, whereas Beaconsfield had played eight times and were in 6th place, but with only 5 more points than Thame.
Thame Update
These diaries last covered Thame in early September when they beat step 5 Reading City 3-2 in the FA Cup. In the next round Thame were held 3-3 at home by fellow step 4 side Exmouth, conceding a 95th minute equaliser, but made the long mid-week trek to Devon and returned home after 2 am in the following morning with a 3-1 victory. Step 3 Eastbourne Borough await next Saturday in the Third Qualifying Round at the ASM.
Thame had also clocked up the mileage in the FA Trophy, with a trip to Dorset to play step 4 Portland, albeit on a Saturday, and earned a 2-0 victory. Last Saturday, step 3 Chichester visited the ASM and eliminated Thame from the competition with a hard-fought 2-1 win, bringing to an end an unbeaten run of 9 games for Thame.
Thame had also played one league match, when they comfortably beat MK Irish 4-0 away from home.
Thame had scored 16 goals in their last 6 games, and 30 times in all 11 of their matches played this season. With 16 goals conceded in total, there had been an average of over 4 goals in Thame’s games !
Harry Alexander was the leading scorer with 8 goals, followed by Greg Hackett with 5 and Ed Daffern and Roger James with 4 each.
Beaconsfield Background
Beaconsfield is a town in Buckinghamshire with a population of around 12,000. Its football team was formed in 1994 as Beaconsfield SYCOB, with SYCOB coming from Slough Youth Club Old Boys who merged with Beaconsfield United. The name was changed in 2017 to Beaconsfield Town.
Starting in the Spartan League, SYCOB joined the Spartan South Midlands League in 1997 and won promotion to the Southern League Division One East after winning the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division in 2003/04. Relegation followed at the end of 2006/07, but SYCOB only spent one season back at step 5 before winning promotion again.
Newly renamed Beaconsfield Town won the Southern League South-East title in 2017/18 to move up to step 3 for the first time in their history, but were relegated at the end of 2023/24, finishing 4th from bottom on goal difference. Last season they finished in 11th place on their return to step 4.
Home is Holloways Park, the club’s nickname is The Rams and their first-choice colours are all red.
Fatbear’s one trip to Holloways Park ( or Holloway’s Park as it was known then before the apostrophe was dropped ! ) was in November 2013 to watch a Southern League Division One Central match against Northwood Town, which Beaconsfield lost 0-2 and missed a penalty. They were still known as SYCOB at the time.
Previous Meetings
The honours were even between the two sides last year, but in a slightly unusual fashion. Beaconsfield won 4-1 at the ASM in November, but Thame won the return 4-0.
The season before, these diaries covered Thame’s 3-2 home victory, when they faced a 0-2 deficit with around 25 minutes remaining to play, but three goals in a 12-minute spell enable Thame to end up as 3-2 winners. Thame had earlier in the season won 1-0 at Beaconsfield.
Beaconsfield Town This Season
Beaconsfield had a terrible start to the season. An opening fixture in the FA Cup at home to step 5 Penn and Tylers Green, who had been in step 6 last season, looked to be straight forward enough, but The Rams were stunned by a 0-3 defeat.
It got worse as the first league game saw a 0-5 hammering at home at the hands of Waltham Forest, and although Beaconsfield finally scored some goals in their next game, they went down 2-3 at local rivals Marlow.
The FA Trophy saw a 1-1 home draw with step 4 Sheppey United, but the Rams exited the competition after a penalty shoot-out.
Another 0-5 stuffing followed, this time at Didcot Town, before Beaconsfield finally got the show on the road with four consecutive victories, beating MK Irish ( H 2-1 ), Hadley ( A 1-0 ), Flackwell Heath ( H 2-0 ) and London Lions ( A 4-1 ). However, the run came crashing to an end last Saturday with a 0-3 loss at Biggleswade Town
Beaconsfield therefore came into tonight’s game with a 4-0-4 record but had a minus 7 goal difference.
Beaconsfield Town Squad
None of the squad who played for The Rams at Thame in March 2025 were still with the club, and very few of last season’s players were still at Beaconsfield, leading to many new signings in the summer, or promotions from the youth team.
Their top scorer so far this season was ex-Chalfont St Peter forward Courie Coley with 4 goals, including a hat-trick against London Lions. Ex-Aylesbury Vale Dynamos and Aylesbury United winger Blaaze Lawrence had found the net twice.
One familiar name to Thame supporters would be winger/forward Alfie Anderson who had a short stay at Thame during the ill-fated 2023/24 campaign before moving on to Aylesbury Vale Dynamos and Aylesbury United, whilst midfielder Mekhai Bessasa-Grant was a former Oxford City youth player, playing at Thame for The Hoops in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup in March 2025, and had played for Gloucester City, Marlow, Evesham and Didcot on loan, before joining Beaconsfield in the summer.
Defender Mohammad Gamal had apparently been playing in Egypt, midfielder Corey Hart was previously with Flackwell Heath, and midfielder Freddie Ford was with Northwood Town last season.
Rueben Whitaker joined from Rayners Lane, right-back Alex Peapell was in his second spell after a season with Larkhall Athletic, and defender Mack Miskin had played for Northwood and Harrow Borough.
Captain Charlie Smith started his career at MK Dons, and had since played for Kidlington, Berkhamsted and Risborough Rangers, and was in his third season in his second spell with The Rams.
Matchday Information
According to AA route planner, the journey from Beaconsfield to Thame’s ASM Stadium is 27 miles and should normally take half an hour.
After being dry all day, some light rain started to fall just before the 19.45 kick-off, but it only lasted for a few minutes. The temperature was 21 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 pint of Poretti cost £5.40.
Thame made three changes from the side that lost to Chichester City in the FA Trophy. Dan West came in for the injured Luke Tingey, and Roger James replaced Hayden Beadle. Ethan Lack had returned to Thame, having left to join Potters Bar Town in the summer, and was in either his third or fourth spell at the club. Lack replaced Charlie Bacon in the line-up, and Beadle and Bacon were both on the bench.
Beaconsfield also made three changes from the weekend, with Smith, Aaron White and Taran Sohi coming into the side, as Mirko Jovanovic dropped to the bench, and Garnal and Whitaker were missing altogether.
Beaconsfield were playing in a change kit of all sky blue, whilst Thame were in their usual red and black stripes.
Match Report
Beaconsfield kicked off towards the ring-road end and promptly lost possession, but the Thame attack fizzled out to nothing.
The early phases were pretty even and in the 8th minute, Lawrence received a pass just outside the Thame area but his shot was blocked and keeper James Callan gathered to stop the corner.
Thame’s first promising move came in the 10th minute as Lack ran at the Beaconsfield defence, played a give and go with Alexander, but the shot from 12 yards was miscued and flew high and wide.
The rain briefly returned as Lawrence was denied by a good challenge inside the Thame area, and play continued. Ford then sent a long-range effort well wide as Beaconsfield were starting to get a slightly upper-hand.
After the opening quarter of an hour, Thame started to get into the game. Alexander laid off to Lack, but the first time shot from 20 yards went high and wide. Miskin then made a poor header trying to deal with Jack Tutton’s long ball intended for Alexander. With keeper Ezekiel Ifekoya unable to pick the ball up outside his area, James took possession and ran across the 18-yard line. The advancing Daffern took the ball off James and ran into the Beaconsfield area past two defenders, and side-footed into the bottom corner past Ifekoya. 1-0 after 16 minutes.
Shortly after, Thame keeper Callan played a poor pass straight to Lawrence, who then skipped past West to the byline, but his low cross was cut-out by Callum Hall.
After this minor alarm, Thame took control of the rest of the half. Miskin did a lot better dealing with the next forward ball from Tutton to head back to his keeper ahead of Alexander. Joshua Stranks then sent a dangerous cross from the left-wing, but James’ header struck White and rolled through to the keeper.
Tutton then found Daffern on the left, who cut inside to shoot from the angle of the penalty area. Ifekoya fumbled the shot, but Smith cleared. Thame reworked possession and James went down in the area after a clumsy challenge, but the referee waved played on. It was in the category of “I’ve seen them given……”
James then shot from 25 yards but the sprawling Ifekoya made the save, after which Tutton ran past three defenders, but his shot from just inside the area lacked power and went harmlessly wide.
A Thame corner was played to Alexander on the edge of The Rams area, who took a touch then shot narrowly wide.
Beaconsfield were hanging on, and a long throw from Hall was flicked on inside the 6-yard box but the ball wouldn’t fall for Daffern.
The game’s first peace of dubious officiating then arrived as Lawrence ran at Tutton who stood his ground, and a free-kick to Beaconsfield was awarded as their winger crashed into the static Thame player and on to the floor. Defending players do not have to get out of the way of an attacker running at them……….
Smith then produced a super sliding interception to prevent Daffern’s through ball putting James clear. West and Alexander then combined to release Hall into space on the right-wing, but the full-back opted to shoot from out wide rather than cross, and the ball bounced through to Ifekoya, who saved easily.
The first yellow card was shown in the 37th minute as Coley committed a bad foul on Mark Riddick just inside the Beaconsfield half. However, Coley injured himself in the tackle and had to be replaced by Uthman Hassan.
Thame soon doubled their lead. James ran onto a ball down the left-hand channel, and looking up, played a square ball across the Beaconsfield area for Alexander to run onto and smash into the roof of the net. 2-0 with 40 minutes played.
A minute later, Smith’s back-pass was weak but Ifekoya showed good skill with his feet to evade Daffern and clear. The relief didn’t last for long though as Lack was found on the right-wing but his attempted cross for the unmarked Daffern at the far post was sliced, and sailed into the hands of Ifekoya.
Against the run of play, Beaconsfield had a half-chance, but Hassan was unable to get onto a ball inside the Thame 6-yard box, and Callan gathered.
With half-time approaching, James decided to shoot from 25 yards when there were better options, but the shot was poor and bounced well wide. Stranks then embarked on a rampaging run down the left-wing and his excellent cross towards the far post needed to be put off for a corner by Miskin to prevent Alexander having a tap-in.
At half-time Thame led 2-0 but it felt like they missed some opportunities to be further ahead, and they would hope they wouldn’t regret not having already put the game to bed.
Although Daffern made a strong run at the start of the second half, his cross-cum-shot was poor and flew high and wide.
Following this, The Rams had a brief good spell. Miskin’s good run down the left ended with a dangerous cross into the 6-yard box, but Callan was able to dive onto it. Several second later Hassan slid in and collided with the prone Thame keeper. The Rams’ substitute was shown an obvious yellow card, although a Beaconsfield supporter exclaimed that the referee didn’t know what he was doing. This was not to be last time this feeling was to be expressed !
Lawrence won possession for Beaconsfield and passed to Gulio Marroni to run to the byline, but Ford was unable to get onto the end of the ball across the face of the goal-mouth.
However, Thame soon regained control of the game, and Riddick’s overhead kick was well saved by Ifekoya.
James ran across the face of the Beaconsfield 18-yard line but his shot on goal was well blocked by Miskin at the expense of a corner. The set-piece was partially cleared, but Tutton’s long range effort was blocked and Ifekoya gathered the loose ball.
The game’s controversial incidents occurred two minutes later. Hassan committed a poor foul, well worthy of a second yellow card. As a bout of handbags ensued, Hassan pushed Tutton to the floor, an act which some referees would have deemed to be a red card offence in itself. Incredibly, referee James Thompson deemed neither to deserve any sanction, and Hassan somehow stayed on the pitch. As one Thame player was heard to say, “Ref, this is a league game, not a friendly”.
Daffern did well on the left wing to beat his man and cross in to the danger zone, but Finlay Murray’s powerful header was at the keeper, who made an excellent save. Daffern then made another excellent run, then slipped a pass to Alexander, but Thame’s leading scorer put the ball narrowly over the bar as Ifekoya came off his line to narrow the angle.
Beaconsfield then replaced their substitute and Hassan left the pitch to ensure he would commit any more offences, at which there were several comments from the Thame bench along the lines of “they know what he did” etc.
The impressive Ifekoya then did well to go outside of his area to make a sliding tackle to deny Daffern. Lack then made a strong run and fed James, but Marroni made an important tackle at the expense of a corner.
A slick Thame passing movement led to Lack’s shot hitting the post and rebounding to safety, after which a cross from Hall was tipped over the bar by Ifekoya.
James then showed exceptional control to bring down a long ball then run into the Beaconsfield area, but his effort was well saved low down at his near post by Ifekoya.
Miskin then became the next player to enter the referee’s notebook following a cynical trip, but shortly after, Ford did well to get to the byline, but no Beaconsfield player was up in support to get on the end of his cross.
Thame continued to dominate and another flowing passing move ended with Alexander shooting a few feet over the bar. At the other end Lawrence teed up Ford, but the 20-yard effort sailed about 10 feet over the bar.
Another smart move from the home side saw Daffern send substitute Aydin Ulas to the byline, but the cross to the near post saw Alexander’s effort well blocked.
The visitors’ best chance came in the 72nd minute. Anderson made a good break on the left and his cross reached Ford just beyond the far post, but his shot from a narrow angle produced a good save by Callan for a corner.
A minute later Anderson crashed to the ground close to the corner flag, but the referee was unimpressed and play continued. It looked like a clear foul to Fatbear and it could be added to the catalogue of errors by the man in black.
Ifekoya then had a lucky escape when his attempted clearance was charged down by Lack, but the goalie’s blushes were spared as the ball fell kindly to him to gather.
Thame were still looking for a third goal, and Tutton ran down the left-hand channel to the byline, but after opting to go for goal, Ifekoya got a hand to his effort to push the ball away for a corner. Ifekoya flapped at the set-piece but no attacker was on hand to capitalise. Murray then blasted over the bar from 10 yards after a cushioned header by Riddick.
A rare foray by The Rams into the Thame half saw Miskin head a corner narrowly wide at the far post. Thame’s response was for Ulas to play a glorious ball down the left-hand channel for substitute Bacon to run on to and into the Beaconsfield area. Bacon’s side-footed finish hit the far post, then the near post, before nesting into the back of the net. It was now 3-0 with 84 minutes on the clock.
As the game approached full-time, Ulas showed several examples of outstanding talent as the home side pressed for a fourth goal. First, a good run and pull-back set-up a chance for Curtis Brown, but Ifekoya made a top save. Ulas then set-up Alexander for a 20-yard strike that Ifekoya again did well to hold on to. Finally, the Oxford City loanee jinked past two would be tacklers to tee up Brown, whose 20-yard attempt bounced awkwardly in front of the Beaconsfield shot-stopper and hit him on the shoulder. Thame reworked possession for Alexander’s drive to narrowly go over the bar from the edge of the area.
With the game in added on time a long ball saw Lawrence run clear of the Thame back-line and Hall committed the professional foul to bring him down. This time the referee found the red card in his pocket, and Hall had to walk towards the dressing rooms. The free-kick was touched to Lawrence, whose shot struck the outside of the post and went off for a goal-kick.
Anderson again looked lively, running past three Thame defenders, but could only shoot into the side netting.
The dismal performance from the referee was then perhaps summed up just before the final whistle when Riddick dived in studs up on Ford but fortunately failed to make any contact on the Rams midfielder. The Thame captain was lucky not to have faced any sanction for the reckless challenge.
When the match finally ended, Thame deservedly took the three points from a game they had dominated but probably should have won by a far greater margin. Beaconsfield had to thank an outstanding performance from their keeper to keep the score down.
After tonight’s results, Thame had climbed to 9th in the table whilst Beaconsfield had slipped to 7th.
Thame United : Callan – Hall, West ( Ulas ), Murray, Stranks – Tutton ( Moakes ), Riddick, Lack – Alexander, James ( Brown ), Daffern ( Bacon )
Beaconsfield Town : Ifekoya – Peapell, Smith, White, Miskin – Sohi ( Anderson ), Ford, Marroni ( Bessasa-Grant ), Hart – Coley ( Hassan, Onu ), Lawrence
