Melbourne Victory 1-1 Adelaide United ( att : 12,000 est ) – 2025/26 A-League

February 27, 2026

These diaries have made regular visits to the A-League and football in Australia, although the last review was in January 2025, when Perth Glory lost 1-2 at home to Western Sydney Wanderers. Auckland topped the A-League at the end of the 26 game regular 2024/25 season to be premiers in their first season in the A-League, but Melbourne City won the Grand Final with a 1-0 victory over Melbourne Victory. Adelaide United had finished 6^th but lost 2-3 in the Elimination Finals to Western United.

This season’s A-League had been reduced to 12 sides after Western United were denied a licence on financial grounds. As a result, the regular season will be 22 home and away matches plus 4 additional rounds to maintain a 26 game season. The top 6 qualify for the Finals series.

Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory had featured once before in these diaries, when they beat Melbourne City 3-2 in the Melbourne derby in February 2023.

Victory were the second most successful side since the A-League was created, with 4 champions titles and 3 premiers, although the last success was the 2018 Grand Final. The Australia Cup was won in 2015 and 2021.

Home is the 30,050 capacity Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, currently known as AAMI Park for sponsorship reasons, which is shared with Melbourne City, and is also home to NRL side Melbourne Storm.

Victory’s home colours are all dark blue, with a broad white chevron on the front of the shirt.

Melbourne Victory This Season

Victory came into today’s game in 5^th place with an 8-3-7 record, and were 4-2-2 at home.

Victory started the season badly with four losses in their opening 6 games, with the only points coming from a 2-0 win in Perth and a 0-0 home draw with Auckland. After a 0-0 draw at Macarthur, four consecutive victories followed, only to then lose three of the next four games. Victory were currently on an unbeaten run of three, winning 3-2 at Wellington Phoenix, drawing 1-1 at home to Brisbane Roar and last time out, a satisfying 3-1 win over Melbourne City.

The home wins had come against Adelaide United ( 2-1 ), Wellington Phoenix ( 5-1 ), Perth Glory ( 3-2 ) and Sydney FC ( 4-0 )

Victory’s Australia Cup campaign ended at the first hurdle with a shock 3-4 defeat after extra time at NPL Western Australia side Olympic Kingsway.

Victory’s average home attendance so far this season was 12,345, compared to 12,778 last season.

Melbourne Victory Squad

Ex-Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, Wolfsberger AC and Atromitos Greek striker Nikolaos Vergos and ex-Rudar Prijedor, Zeljiznicar and AEK Larnaca Brazilian forward Clarismario Santos were joint top scorers with 5 goals.

Ex-Spanish international Juan Mata ( 41 caps ), had featured in these diaries last year playing for Western Sydney Wanderers. Mata had earlier played for Manchester United, Chelsea and Valencia in his long career.

Victory’s other overseas players included Japanese forward Charles Nduka, ex-Wolves, Benfica, Servette, Rio Ave and Olympiakos Portuguese defender Roderick Miranda, and Ivorian defender Adama Traore ( 13 caps ).

Left-back Jason Davidson ( 23 caps ) numbered Huddersfield Town, West Bromwich Albion, Groningen, Eupen, Olimpija Ljubljana and Heracles amongst his former clubs, whilst winger Nishan Vilupillay had scored 3 times in 5 appearances for the National side. Midfielder Denis Genreau won 6 caps and had played for Toulouse, Zwolle and Deportivo La Coruna, and defender Sebastian Esposito was a current Under 23 international.

Forward Matthew Grimaldi featured in these diaries for Western United ( and scored ! ), whilst midfielder Keegan Jelacic had short spells with Gent and Norwegian side Stabaek.

Adelaide United

Adelaide United had appeared three times in these diaries, beating Central Coast Mariners 3-0 at home in October 2023, a 3-3 draw at Western United in April 2024 and a 2-3 home loss to Western Sydney Wanderers in December 2024.

Adelaide’s only A-League title was in 2016 but they had two premiers to the name, 2005/06 in addition to 2015/16. However, they were the most successful side in the Australian Cup, winning in 2014, 2018 and 2019 and were runners-up in 2017.

Home is the 16,500 capacity Coopers Stadium, and their nickname is The Reds.

Adelaide United This Season

United came into today’s game in 4^th place with an 9-2-7 record, and were 3-1-4 away from home. They were 2 points ahead of Melbourne Victory but 7 points behind leaders Newcastle Jets.

Adelaide lost their first four away games of the season until recording a 1-0 victory at Perth Glory, and had been unbeaten on the road since then, drawing 2-2 at Wellington Phoenix, then winning 3-2 at Brisbane Roar and 2-1 at Sydney FC. In their last outing, Perth Glory were thrashed 4-0 in the Coopers Stadium.

Adelaide’s Australia Cup campaign also ended at the first hurdle with a 1-2 defeat at Newcastle Jets, who went on to win the Cup.

The average home attendance so far this season was 10,897, compared to 10,575 last season.

Adelaide United Squad

Current Australian Under 23 international Luka Jovanovic was the top scorer with 6 goals, with Under 20 international Jonny Yull next on 4 goals.

Adelaide’s foreign players included ex-Sparta Rotterdam Dutch centre-back Bart Vriends, who featured in these diaries in June 2023 in a promotion play-off match against Twente, ex-Sporting Gijon Spanish winger Juan Muniz, ex-NEC Nijmegen, Bodo/Glimt, Willem II and De Graafschap Dutch keeper Joshua Smits, and Brazilian midfielder Anselmo

Left-back Ryan Kitto was captain and had played for Newcastle Jets, defensive midfielder Jay Barnett had played for Melbourne Victory, as had striker Ben Folami ( 1 cap ), who had also briefly played for Ipswich Town and Stevenage Borough in England. 20-year-old Panagiotis Kikianis was highly rated and was not expected to be with Adelaide next season, with several European clubs reportedly interested in signing him.

Winger Craig Goodwin had won 30 caps and had returned to Australia after playing for Sparta Rotterdam and sides in Saudi Arabia but was missing today through injury, as was Anselmo.

Previous Meetings

This was the third meeting between the two sides this season, with the two previous matches being 2-1 home wins. Victory won their home match in December thanks to two goals from Vergos, whilst in the return in January, a 95^th minute goal from Kitto gave Adelaide United the three points.

The two matches in 2024/25 were also home wins, as was Victory’s 1-0 win in the 2024 Australia Cup.

Matchday Information

The distance between Melbourne and Adelaide by road is 735 kilometres, which usually takes just over 8 hours. By air the scheduled time is 1 hours 50 minutes. It was estimated over 200 Adelaide supporters had made the journey.

Adult tickets for the match ranged between 35 to 77 AUD ( £18.45 to £40.50 )

The weather at the 19.35 local kick-off time ( 08.35 UK time ) was light rain and 25 degrees.

Both teams were unchanged from the sides that won their last outings.  Adelaide have a reputation for producing talented youngsters, and their side today included six players 23 years old or younger whilst their bench had three teenagers and a 21-year-old.

Victory were not far behind that statistic, with five players 23 years old or younger, and had two under 21 year-olds on their bench.

Victory were in their usual dark blue kit whilst Adelaide were in a change kit of what from a distance looked to be all white, but the commentator described as grey. As the game went on and the players were sweating, it turned into a pinkish colour. It looked like it had faded after too many washes with coloured items !

The match was live streamed on Bet365.com, who made Melbourne Victory 8/13 favourites, with Adelaide 7/2 outsiders and the draw at 7/2. The match was also shown on TNT Sports in the UK.

Matchday Report

The opening stages were quiet as both sides probed for openings, and the first shot only came in the 7^th minute, but Victory’s Genreau’s 20-yard effort flew at least 10 yards over the bar.

Mata then played a neat pass to find Nduka in space inside the Adelaide area, but the attempt again sailed harmlessly over the bar.

In the 14^th minute, Jelacic made a strong run down the right wing but after his low ball into the area was stabbed away by Rawlins, Jordi Valadon sent a sharp left-footed effort narrowly wide of the Adelaide post.

After 20 minutes, Adelaide had enjoyed 64% of the possession but hadn’t threatened the Victory goal, and the only half chances had been created by Melbourne Victory.

Adelaide burst into life with a nice move of six first time passes to put Yaya Dukuly in space on the right. The Guinea born winger’s shot crashed off the crossbar after keeper Jack Warshawsky finger tips touched the ball, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside

Mata then attempted a through ball which should have been cut-out by Kikianis but wasn’t, so Jelacic was able to run clear into the right-hand side of the Adelaide area. Although Kikianis dived in to try and recover from his mistake, Jelacic cut inside past the sliding Adelaide defender and then prodded the ball past Smits. Although the ball struck the keeper’s arm, it had enough strength to roll into the back of the net. 1-0 after 26 minutes.

The home side almost immediately doubled their lead. Rawlins got to the byline and his lay back was steered by Jelacic across the face of the goal. The ball was kept in play and crossed to the near post where Genreau’s header took a slight deflection off Vriends, and went narrowly wide. Smits punched away the subsequent corner.

At the other end, good defending by Davidson prevented a cross from the left reaching Dukuly at the far post.

Out of the blue, Yull was played in by Kitto on the left-hand side of the Victory area and his low right-footed shot was pushed away by Warshawsky. However, Dukuly smashed home the loose ball first time in to the roof of the net from beyond the angle of the 6-yard box for a fantastic finish. Adelaide had been behind for only 8 minutes and it was now 1-1 with 34 minutes played

Shortly after the restart, Jelacic received a pass inside the Adelaide area, ran across the 18-yard line but shot left-footed just wide of the far post.

Smits played the goal-kick straight to a Victory player who passed to Nduka inside the area but the Adelaide keeper redeemed himself with a brave close-range block.

The game had now completely opened up, and Mata teed up Velupillay, but his grass-cutter shot was stopped by the diving Smits, who gathered at the second attempt.

The first yellow card was brandished in the 41^st minutes when Miranda chopped down Dukuly close to the touchline as the Adelaide winger turned to go past the Portuguese defender. The in-swinging free-kick was met by Kikianis, whose weak header was poked forward by Jovanovic, but Warshawsky made the block with his legs.

Adelaide were now applying the pressure, and in the 44^th minute Ethan Alagich’s strike from just inside the Victory area was athletically tipped over the bar by Warshawsky.

It remained level at the interval, which seemed to be a fair reflection on the first half play.

In the first minute after the restart, Jelacic pushed the ball past Vriends close to the Adelaide byline and threw himself to the floor, but the referee wasn’t conned and gave a goal-kick to Adelaide.

Victory then forced a corner but Mata’s delivery was headed away by Vriends. The impressive Dukuly then did well to hold off Davidson, but spoilt his good work by shooting harmlessly high and wide.

Yull then got past Rawlins on the left wing but his ball into the Victory area was touched by an outstretched leg of Miranda as far as Barnett, who blazed well wide from 20 yards.

In the 56^th minute, Kikianis produced a good piece of defending to prevent Nduka running on to a long ball.

White then played a lovely forward pass which Roderick was unable to intercept. Jovanovic showed great composure to let the ball roll past the keeper as he came off his line, but with the goal at his mercy, Jovanovic shot against the post from 6 yards as Davidson slid into to try and make a block. It was a great chance wasted !

A yellow card was shown to Jelacic for pulling Dukuly to the floor near the half-way line.

In the 64^th minute, Mata’s left-footer from just outside the area lacked power and Smits made an easy save. A minute later, Mata’s pass enabled Jelacic to try his luck from the edge of the area, but the attempt flew over the bar. That was to be the last action for Mata and Jelacic, who were both then substituted.

Rawlins went on a good run and fed Vergos, whose shot on the run was pushed away by Smits. Grimaldi took the loose ball off the on-rushing Nduka, and by the time he was able to turn and shoot, Yull was in the way to block.

There didn’t seem to be much on in the 74^th minute but Vergos ran onto a pass into the left-hand channel. and his left-footed shot on the turn was pushed off at his near post for a corner by Smits.

In the 76^th minute a long-range effort from Kitto flew just over the Melbourne Victory bar. This had come after a neat back-heel from Alagich had found Luke Duzel in space mid-way inside the Adelaide half and a cute chip forward had enabled Jovanovic to run to the edge of the Victory area.

In the 80^th minute Vergos was able to chest control a forward ball and turn and shoot, but the 20 yard effort went a couple of feet wide. Two minutes later a neat interchange of passes saw Grimaldi in space in the area but his shot was blocked by Kikianis. When the ball was reworked, it reached Grimaldi again, but his left-footed effort was straight at Smits who made a regulation save.

At the other end, after neat play from Dukuly and Brody Burkitt to play out to the right wing, Duzel cross sailed onto roof of the net.

A first-time long ball from Duzel then enabled Burkitt to try and run clear, but Warshawsky was smartly out of his area to clear at the expense of a throw-in. A minute later another long ball out of the Adelaide back-four needed Warshawsky to again come out of his area, this time to head the ball away.

Vergos appeared to be unlucky to see yellow after a shoulder to should contact with Ryan White, but the card may have been for his reaction to the free-kick rather than the challenge.

With time running out, a long range shot substitute Reno Piscopo swerved narrowly wide of the Adelaide goal post and in response a 92^nd minute piledriver from White was pushed away by Warshawsky.

Grimaldi then ran to the edge of the Adelaide area and managed to get a pass away to Piscopo on the angle of the penalty area, but fierce drive blocked by Kitto for a corner, which came to nothing.

After 4 extra minutes the referee blew the final whistle, leaving both sides having to settle for a point, Victory had more chances and shots, but Adelaide had more possession and had chances to win the game.

The point took Adelaide up to third in the table but after the draw Victory remained in 5^th place.

Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-zFQom4-y0

Melbourne Victory : Warshawsky – Rawlins, Miranda, Esposito, Davidson – Jelacic ( Grimaldi ), Valadon, Mata ( Santos ), Genreau ( Stella ), Velupillay ( Piscopo ) – Nduka ( Vergos )

Adelaide United : Smits – Barnett, Vriends, Kikianis, Kitto – Dukuly ( Madanha ), Muniz ( Duzel ), Alagich, White, Yull ( Folami ) – Jovanovic ( Burkitt )

 

 

Thame United 0-1 Welwyn Garden City ( att : 108 ) – 2025/26 Southern League Division One Central

February 24, 2026

Tonight saw the third attempt to play the fixture between Thame United and Welwyn Garden City, after twice being postponed in January, once due to a frozen pitch and then a waterlogged pitch. Both sides had only played 28 league matches, with Thame in 6^th and Welwyn Garden City 13^th in the table.

A victory tonight for Thame would take them up into a play-off position, whilst Welwyn could move into the top 10 if they could win the 2 or 3 matches in hand they had over the sides just above them in the table.

Thame United Update

After the dramatic 4-3 victory over Flackwell Heath two weeks ago, when they came back from being 0-3 behind with less than half an hour played, Thame had played just once, convincingly winning 4-0 at Beaconsfield to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games stretching back to late November.

Harry Alexander and Louis Walsh were still joint top scorers but now with 14 goals in all competitions, followed by Dan West on 9.

Welwyn Garden City FC

Welwyn Garden City is a city in Hertfordshire and is unique in being both a Garden City and a New Town. Its population is 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 spent seven seasons in the Southern League Division One Central, with their best season being in 2021/22, when they finished in 5^th place but were denied a place in the play-offs on ground grading criteria. They were in 4^th place when the 2019/20 season was terminated due to Covid. Last season they ended up in 9^th position for the second year running.

Welwyn Garden City This Season

Welwyn Garden City arrived at the ASM Stadium with a 10-10-8 league record, and were an impressive 6-5-4 away from home. The Citizens had the third best defensive record in the division, and their 13^th position in the table looked to be a false one. After playing their games in hand they would have aspirations of being back on the fringes of the promotion play-off places. However, they had played just 4 matches in 2026, and even last Saturday their home game against Marlow was postponed !

Welwyn won their first three away leagues matches, at MK Irish ( 4-2 ), Beaconsfield Town ( 1-0 ) and Rayners Lane ( 2-1 ). Their subsequent away wins were at Biggleswade ( 3-2 ), AFC Dunstable ( 4-0 ) and Hadley ( 3-0 ).

Welwyn came into tonight’s match on a run of just one with in their last 8 matches, the win at Biggleswade, which was their only victory over a side in the top 7 this season. Last time out they lost 1-2 at struggling Leverstock Green. They still had to play 8 matches against the top 8, and only 6 games against the other 13 teams in the league.

In the FA Cup Welwyn had an impressive 2-0 victory over Biggleswade in the Extra Preliminary Round but exited the competitions in the next round at Waltham Abbey after a replay.

Similar progress was made in the FA Trophy, with a 2-0 win at Takeley of the Isthmian League North Division, but then lost on penalties at home to Tilbury, also of the Isthmian League North Division after a 2-2 draw.

Welwyn’s average home league attendance to-date this season was 119, down from 149 last season, with the highest being 147 for the visit of Biggleswade.

Welwyn Garden City Squad

There had been significant turnover in the Welwyn squad, with only three players who played in last season’s win at the ASM still with the club, centre-back Aiden Read, left-back Layne Eadie and midfielder Ryan Kirwan.

Ex-Hitchin Town, Potters Bar, Concord Rangers and Hemel Hempstead forward Steve Cawley was the top scorer with 10 goals in all competitions, with ex-Enfield Town and Bedford Town forward Lewis Taaffe next on 9 goals.

Keeper Lamar Johnson had won 2 caps for St Lucia and had played for a host of non-league sides including Risborough Rangers, defender Layne Eadie was ex-St Albans City and Hitchin Town, Panny Boxer was previously with St Neots Town and Hadley, and defensive midfielder Jack Green had played for St Albans City, Hitchin Town and Bedford Town.

Defender Eddie Corbit was ex-Real Bedford, forward Ethan Rookard played for Cockfosters last season, and striker Remel Larwood had recently joined from Aylesbury United.

Midfielder Adam Pollock was Australian, Carlos Velasco was from Spain, and forward Evaristo Mendes was Portuguese.

Previous Meetings

Results between these two sides have been very even in the seven seasons they have been together in the Southern League Division One Central, with 5 wins for Welwyn, 4 wins for Thame and 4 draws in their 13 meetings.

Last season Welwyn won 1-0 at the ASM in September in a game covered by Fatbear, whilst the return match in January finished in a 2-2 draw.

To-night would be the first meeting of the two sides this season.

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. It looked like around 20 Citizens supporters had made the trip.

The weather at the 19.45 kick-off was dry and the temperature 10 degrees.

Entrance to the game was £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, £3 for Under 16s, whilst under 5s went in for free. A cup of tea was £1.50.

An online programme had been produced for the match and free team-sheets were available at the turnstile.

Welwyn made four changes to the side that started at Leverstock Green with Rookard, Cawley, Velasco and ex-Ware midfielder Tom Bruno retuning to the side, whilst Thame were unchanged from the side that was victorious at Beaconsfield. Welwyn had both Bruno and Boxer in their side !

Welwyn GC were in a change kit of what was officially called “turquoise” shirts, with royal blue shorts and socks, whilst Thame were in their usual red and black shirts.

Matchday Report

To begin with, this was not a great advert for step 4 football, low in quality and high on cynicism and gamesmanship. The one goal of the game was scrappy, which was an appropriate way to decide such a game.

Right from the off, the visitors would scream loudly for free-kicks whenever there was a slightest touch on any of their players and pressurise the officials, so it quickly felt like a pair of earplugs were required. Thame became riled by these antics, and responded with a couple of nasty fouls and were lucky not to have received two red cards in the first half.

Although there were patches of decent football in the first half, the longer the game went on, the more it became a game of hoofball, almost constant non-stop free-kicks, and players falling to the floor. The game was tailor made for Welwyn centre-backs Read and Boxer, who both had impressive games dealing with everything Thame could throw at them.

Welwyn kicked off attacking the ring-road end although it was Thame who were soon on the attack, but Read did well to head a free-kick away after Curtis Brown had been chopped down on the left wing.

In the 5^th minute, Taaffe took a free-kick from 35 yards out and Velasco ran on to it to head goalwards from just inside the Thame area, but Matt Crowther made a routine safe.

Thame responded with a good move with Alexander and Jack Tutton combining to release Charlie Stow to get to the Welwyn byline, but his low cross was cut-out by Read. Mark Riddick then made a strong run into the Welwyn area and crossed low from the left, but Stow’s outstretched foot could only divert the ball a couple of yards wide.

Tempers flared for the first time shortly after following an incident close to the Thame corner flag, and although the referee spoke to two players from each side, no cards were produced. Play resumed with a throw-in to the visitors, but the subsequent cross sailed harmlessly off for a goal-kick.

Thame launched a couple of long throws into the Welwyn area but Read, then Boxer, dealt with them. Welwyn counter-attacked after Finlay Murray was dispossessed close to the half-way line, but Cawley’s ball into the Thame area was poor and cut out by Ethan Lack.

Thame’s Alexander then lost possession in his own half and Welwyn worked the ball wide to Rookard, who cut back inside only to shoot weakly at the Thame keeper.

Shortly after it was Taaffe’s turn to finish poorly after he received a good ball across the penalty area in space, but he could only put the ball several feet wide from a good position.

In an off-the-ball incident I didn’t fully see, Thame’s West pushed over Velasco, which a spectator close to me said was retaliation for an initial push from the Welwyn player. Again, the referee gave the players a talking too, but kept his cards in his pocket.

Thame fashioned a reasonable chance when Tutton’s cross-field ball put Brown in space behind the Welwyn right-back, but the Thame winger put the bouncing ball over the bar.

With 23 minutes on the clock, Cawley turned well inside the Thame area, but again the finish lacked power, and Crowther made an easy save.

A minute later there was a bad foul on Lack which resulted in unanimous fury at the free-kick decision from the Welwyn players.

Shortly after, Cawley pulled back, then pushed over Callum Hall as both players ran towards the Thame area chasing a long ball, and the Welwyn players reacted as if this was the biggest injustice ever seen in the world.

Thame had another chance in the 29^th minute when a mis-hit shot by Tutton from the edge of the Welwyn area bounced through to Riddick, who could only flick the ball high over the bar.

Welwyn won the first corner of the game in the 31^st minute when Cawley did well to keep a cross to beyond the far post in play and put the ball back across the goal-mouth forcing Luke Tingey to head off. Layne Eadie’s delivery was terrible, and the ball nestled on the roof of the net.

A few minutes later West made a nasty, late tackle on Boxer near to the Welwyn corner flag which incredibly the referee saw nothing wrong with, and the linesman, who was just a few feet from the incident, declined to intervene. On this occasion, the vocals from the Welwyn players appeared justified.

In the 34^th minute, Tutton won a corner by blasting the ball at Boxer, who took another blow, and must have felt he was going 12 rounds. The corner was cleared, but when Thame reworked possession, Alexander laid a ball off to Tutton, whose first time shot from the edge of the area looked to be heading inside the far post until Johnson produced a fantastic finger tipped save to push the ball past the post for a corner.

Johnson flapped at the corner and after a scramble, an unidentified Thame player poked the ball wide from 8 yards.

At the other end, a Welwyn hoof bounced inside the Thame area and Taaffe took the opportunity to crash to the floor, and predictably there were loud screams for a penalty, but the referee was unmoved.

Thame created the best move of the game to-date in the 39^th minute. Tutton sent a low cross-field pass to release Alexander down the right, who played a square pass for West to run onto, but the chance was wastefully put high over the bar from the 18-yard line.

Thame were getting on top and Read needed to produce a good tackle to stop Brown at the expense of a corner. Several bodies ended up on the floor as the corner was swung in, but the referee played safe and awarded a free-kick to Welwyn.

The next controversial moment occurred on the stroke of half-time. Brown ran at the Welwyn back-line and was fouled in the process. However, in his follow through as he fell, he clattered into Pollock and it looked bad. If VAR had been in operation, it would have been a red card for reckless play, although 10 years ago it would have been a free-kick to Thame for the first foul. It appeared that Hall had been shown a yellow card in a case of mistaken identity, but after some confusion, Brown was shown a yellow card but it wasn’t clear if the card to Hall had been rescinded.

It had been a poor half of football and 0-0 at half-time appeared to be a fair score. Thame had created the two best chances, but Welwyn had got into some good position on a few occasions only to be let down by some poor finishing.

Thame started the second half brightly, and Lack and Alexander combined to win a corner, which was played short to Tutton, who wasteful crossed high and wide.

The niggly nature of the game continued when Murray needlessly pushed over Rookard near the half-way line, and then from the free-kick, Read pushed over West for a free-kick to Thame.

Thame should have opened the scoring a couple of minutes later when a long throw bounced across the 6-yard line, but Alexander mis-hit his shot, and a Welwyn defender was able to hack clear. Welwyn broke after a challenge that saw Brown crash to the ground, but Hall was covering and played the ball back to his keeper. The referee stopped play for a head injury to Brown, despite the challenge making contact with his shoulder…….

Play was becoming increasingly scrappy. Alexander volleyed wildly high and wide from the edge of the Welwyn area, before Tutton became the next play to enter the referee’s notebook, trying to flick on a clearing header, only for a Welwyn defender to charge for the ball and make contact with the Thame player’s foot. Again, 10 yards ago it would have been a free-kick to Thame, but these days it is considered reckless and a yellow card.

Rookard was then guilty of an outrageous dive in an attempt to win a penalty but did win a corner, from which Boxer headed the in-swinging delivery over the bar from close range.  It was a great chance for Welwyn !

Welwyn’s Bruno could be heard yelling “silly old c**t” several times at a spectator, and although the referee was just a yard or two away, he decided to turn a deaf ear. For years, the Southern League had a Respect campaign intend to stamp out foul and abuse language inside stadium, but it appears to have been quietly dropped this season, probably because it had been a total waste of time……

With 64 minutes played it was Taaffe’s turn for a sad dive to try and win a penalty but the referee was not conned. After play was waved on, Taaffe nearly redeemed himself with a splendid looking left-wing cross than went narrowly over the head of Cawley.

Thame were still looking the side more likely to score despite their passing football having mostly replaced by a more direct style.  A free-kick from Tutton went beyond the far post where West headed goalwards and Johnson saved under his crossbar. However, an off-side flag had been raised.

Hall’s attempted through ball took off a deflection off Pollock, but Read was alert to made an interception before Thame substitute Lance Williams could run clear. Pollock then needed to made a smart defensive header at the far post to head off a cross from West for a corner before Williams could head home. Alexander then shot well wide after Tutton’s lay back.

At the other end Corbit did well down the right wing to get to the byline and win a corner off Hall, to which Read hilariously appealed several times for handball. However, it didn’t matter as the corner from Eadie was sent to the near post and bundled into the net. It wasn’t clear who had scored, but Bruno was credited with the goal. It was now 0-1 with 75 minutes played.

It was clear how Welwyn intended to defend their lead as shortly after the restart a slight push on Pollack resulted in the defender crashing to the ground as if pole-axed, leading to a lengthy injury delay. When play resumed Boxer was pinged for a push on West, which predictably led to a huge out-cry from the Welwyn players.

Corbit then went down injured leading to another long delay, but at least this time the injury looked to be genuine, and the Welwyn midfielder had to leave the field to be replaced.

Thame should have equalised four minutes from time. Tutton sent a free-kick into the 6-yard box where Riddick slid in, but somehow managed to put the ball wide. Three minutes later Thame should have again equalised. After Velasco made a brutal foul near the half-way line, the referee played an advantage as Thame substitute Adam Smith was put clear, but with just the keeper to beat he strangely decided to prod the ball past the keeper, and Velasco covering back put the ball out for a corner. Smith could have attempted to have gone round the keeper, or blasted a shot to the corner of the goal but seemed to lack confidence. Velasco was belatedly shown a yellow card for his assault.

Thame’s played became increasingly desperate as the referee played nearly 10 minutes of added to reflect all the time-wasting and “injuries”, but Alexander’s fall inside the Welwyn area to try and win a penalty was just as bad as those earlier by Welwyn.

Thame’s final chance saw Welwyn keeper Johnson do well to dive on the ball on the edge of his area just before Riddick could get to a through ball.

The final stages were hoof it anywhere defending against hopeful, aimless punts forward hoping something would happen. Eventually the referee ended everyone’s misery, and Welwyn were able to celebrate a hard-fought victory, and no doubt say the means justified the ends.

Welwyn moved up to 12^th in the table whilst Thame remained in 6^th and their long unbeaten run had come to an end.

Thame United : Crowther – Lack ( Khan ), Tingey, Murray, Hall – Brown ( Smith ), Riddick, West, Tutton – Stow ( Williams ), Alexander

Welwyn Garden City :  Johnson – Pollock, Read, Boxer, Eadie – Velasco, Bruno, Corbit ( Larwood ), Taaffe – Cawley, Rookard ( Mendes )

 

 

 

Oxford City 0-2 Marine ( att : 613 ) – 2025/26 National League North

February 21, 2026

Oxford City had another important home game today in their battle to avoid relegation from National League North as they entertained 10^th placed Marine.

Oxford City Update

Since these diaries reported on Oxford City’s 1-0 victory over second placed AFC Fylde in January, they had played four more league matches. First, they fell to an unlucky 1-3 home defeat to leaders South Shields, but then took 4 points from 3 away games. A 0-1 loss in a drab game at Radcliffe was followed by another dull game as they drew 0-0 at bottom side Leamington. However, last weekend, The Hoops recorded their first away success of the season with a 2-1 win at Worksop Town. These results left Oxford City in 21^st place, two points from safety.

A youthful Oxford City side had hosted Oxford United’s Academy side in the quarter finals of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, and two goals in added on time saw the Hoops progress 3-2.

Oxford City had again been active in the loan market, with the arrival of forward Callum McFarlane from Solihull Moors. McFarlance had been on loan at Hereford United earlier in the season. However, earlier this week keeper Jonny Maxted had been recalled by Brackley Town due an injury to one of their other goalkeepers, and Max Metcalfe had been signed on loan from Stockport County. Metcalfe had been on loan last season at Marine, so would be well known to today’s visitors !

Marine FC

Marine are located in Crosby on Merseyside, which is 6 miles north of the city centre of Liverpool.

The football club were founded in 1894 and play at the 3,185 capacity Rossett Park, which for sponsorship reasons is now known as The Marine Travel Arena. Their nicknames are either The Mariners or The Lilywhites.

Marine had spent most of this century in the step 3 Northern Premier League Premier Division but were relegated at the end of 2018/19. Three seasons were played in the Division One West until winning promotion via the 2021/22 play-offs.

Back at step 3, Marine finished 9^th in 2022/23, then a 3^rd place finish saw Marine enter the 2023/24 play-offs, where a 1-0 home win over Warrington Rylands and a 2-1 victory at Macclesfield resulted in promotion to National League North.

Last season in their first season at step 2, Marine finished 15^th.

Marine This Season

Marine came into today’s match in 10^th position with a 13-6-11 record to be 3 points off a play-off position. Away from home they were 5-2-6 with the away wins coming at Merthyr Town ( 3-1 ), Macclesfield ( 1-0 ), Worksop Town ( 2-1 ), Scarborough Athletic ( 2-1 ) and Leamington ( 1-0 ), but they were now on a run of 4 away league matches without a win. They had shipped 4 goals in their last two away games, losing 0-4 at Buxton and 1-4 at Curzon Ashton.

However, The Mariners recent home form had been good, going 6 home games without a defeat, and they had thrashed Leamington 5-0 last weekend.

In the FA Cup Marine progressed past step 5 Newcastle Blue Star 2-0 but exited the competition after a 2-3 home loss to Buxton.

Marine were enjoying a good run in the FA Trophy and will host Woking in the quarter-finals next Saturday. In the earlier rounds, Marine got past step 3 Stockbridge Park Steels ( 2-0 ), Curzon Ashton ( 2-1 away ), Gloucester City ( 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 home draw ) and National League Tamworth ( 4-1 on penalties after 0-0 away draw ).

Marine’s average attendance so far this season was 1,271, the 9^th best in the division, compared to Oxford City’s 659. Their highest attendance for a league match was 2,314 for the visit of Southport on Boxing Day.

Marine Squad

Winger Finlay Sinclair-Smith, top scorer in the past two season, was again leading the way with 7 goals so far this season. Ex-Bolton Wanderers, Motherwell, Albion Rovers and Bala Town forward George Newell was next with 6 goals, and Charlie Jolley, on loan from AFC Fylde, had founded the net 4 times.

Keeper Fraser Barnsley was on loan from Everton, left-back Joe Ashton was on loan from Burnley and centre-back Adam Anson was with Wigan as a youngster and had recently played for Southport and Alfreton.

Midfielder Jack Hazlehurst had briefly played for Burton Albion, midfielder Sam Fielding was ex-Bradford Park Avenue and defender James Brown was not The Godfather of Soul, but instead had played three times for Malta, in addition to playing for St Johnstone, Millwall and Carlisle United.

Republic of Congo striker Offrande Zanzala numbered Accrington Stanley, Crewe Alexandria, Carlisle, Barrow, Exeter City, Newport County and Torquay United amongst his former sides.

Marine’s manager was Bobby Grant, who made over 300 appearances in the Football League for Accrington Stanley, Scunthorpe, Rochdale, Blackpool, Shrewsbury Town, Fleetwood Town and Oldham Athletic as well as playing for Wrexham in the National League, making 512 appearances in all competitions in his career.

Previous Meetings

The two sides met for the first time on the opening day of last season when a scrambled goal in added on time gave Oxford City a 1-1 draw on Merseyside. In the return on a Tuesday night in February, Oxford City edged to a 1-0 home win, scoring direct from a corner.

When the two sided met earlier this season, a 0-0 draw was played out. History suggested this could be a low scoring affair……..

Matchday Information

According to AA Route Planner, Marine’s journey to Oxford was 177 miles via the M6 and M40, which would normally take just over 3 hours. It looked like around 40 or so Marine supporters had made the journey.

Tickets for today’s game were £13 for adults online and £16 at the turnstile. There were a whole range of reductions depending on ages, from seniors to children.

An online programme was available and a cup of tea cost £2.50. A post-match pint of Estrella Galicia and a glass of Pinot Grigio both cost £5.50 each

Despite a forecast of rain all afternoon, it was dry at the 15.00 kick-off time, although the dark clouds suggested that rain was on its way, and the floodlights were already on. The temperature was around 13 degrees.

Bet365 made Marine 6/5 favourites, with Oxford City at 19/10 and the draw at 11/5.

Marine made one change from the side that beat Leamington last time out with midfielder Matty McDonald replacing Hazlehurst, whilst Oxford City made one changes to the side that won at Worksop, being the enforced change of goal-keeper.

Marine were playing in a change kit of all dark green, whilst Oxford City were in their usual blue and white hoops.

Match Report

Marine started brightly and in the first minute a dangerous looking cross from the right wing needed to be put out for a corner by George Burroughs.

A minute later Charlie Wiggett brought down a Marine attacker to give the visitors a free-kick 25 yards from goal, but Ashton’s effort hit the defensive wall and bounced away for the first corner of the game. Oxford City struggled to clear the corner and a wild kick from Latrell Humphrey-Ewers attempting to clear only made contact with Jolley, who collapsed to the ground for an obvious penalty.

Newell stepped up to take the spot-kick but only to succeed in smashing the ball against the post, and the ball rolled back across the goal and off for a goal-kick. This would be keeper Metcalfe’s first touch of the ball !

Oxford City took play down the other end where Josh Parker did well to get to the by-line and pull back, but the attempt from Josh Ashby from the edge of the area was blocked by a Marine defender. When the home side reworked the loose ball, Parker was fouled just outside the Marine area. Ashby’s free-kick went straight at keeper Barnsley, who made a regulation save.

Barnsley attempt at a drop-kick to clear struck Parker, and Alfie Potter latched onto the loose ball to run into the Marine area. His pull-back found McFarlane, who took a touch before shooting, but his effort was blocked. The Marine keeper protested vociferously about the block by Parker, and was rewarded with the first yellow card of the game.

The Hoops were on top, and a cross from Parker from the left needed a good clearing header from Marine captain Josh Wardle. Perseverance from Jack Bearne down the left won a corner off Anson, which came to nothing. Shortly after, McFarlane’s cross was headed away from Potter beyond the far post by Ashton, and when Potter retrieved the ball his attempted pass for Ashby to run onto was read by Wardle, who cleared at the expense of a throw-in.

At the other end Newell turned on the angle of the Oxford City 6-yard box but his ball across the face of the goalmouth just evaded Sinclair-Smith, and rolled off for a goal-kick.

In the 23^rd minute Sinclair-Smith became the second Marine player to see yellow after bringing down Burroughs, who had run from the edge of the Oxford City area to half-way after preventing Sinclair-Smith being able to run onto a ball towards to Hoops 18-yard line.

A minute later there was more good defending by the home side, this time Wiggett stopped Newell from running into the Oxford City area and brought the ball out of defence.

In the 25^th minute, Parker’s chest control lay-off enabled Potter to surge towards the byline and win a corner, but Anson headed away Bearne’s set-piece.

The Hoops were playing some nice passing football but an outstretching Marine foot denied one move, and then Ashby and Potter showed good determination to win possession on the artificial surface with sliding tackles.

It was against the run of play when Marine nearly took the lead. Sinclair-Smith ran past Burroughs after controlling a good cross-field ball but with just the keeper to beat put his left-footed effort wide of the far post. However, Marine were not to be denied and a minute later some intricate play inside the Oxford City area involving Sinclair-Smith and McDonald saw the ball laid off to Jolley, who thumped a low shot into the bottom corner from around 12 yards. 0-1 after 29 minutes.

Three minutes later Marine nearly doubled their lead when McDonald’s left footed cross from the right-wing bounced across the 6-yard line, but again Sinclair-Smith was unable to get to it. Burroughs then played a loose pass that was intercepted by Sinclair-Smith, who ran to the edge of the penalty area, but saw his low drive pushed away by Metcalfe diving to his left for a corner. Wardle could only head the corner high into the air and City were able to clear.

Oxford City created a great opportunity to equalise in the 38^th minute. Bearne made a strong run down the left wing and crossed low into the Marine area, which was met by McFarlane, but his first time effort from 12 yards not only went over the bar, it went out of the ground. It was a great chance wasted.

The Hoops then produced a move that summed up the infuriation their supporters have with their style of play this season. Humphries had the opportunity to cross into the Marine area from the left wing with several team-mates in the box, but instead decided to turn and play the ball backwards. Around twenty passes later the ball was back with keeper Metcalfe, who was force to kick long, and Marine gained possession.

As the game approached half-time, Marine’s Adam Thomas cynically chopped down Bearne as he ran towards the Marine area, but surprisingly the referee decided it wasn’t a yellow card offence. The City free-kick was headed away as far as Aaron Harper-Bailey, whose first-time shot from the bouncing ball looked to be goal-bound until it struck Wardle.

The half-time whistle blew shortly after, and the promised rain started to fall.

Oxford City started the second well but their possession yielded nothing. Jolley brought down Potter as he ran from the half-way line and despite it being an obvious foul the Marine midfielder complained loudly at the referee, who gave a stern talking to Jolley, but his cards remained in his pocket.

Oxford City continued to play pretty triangles but the final pass from Ashby was over hit and rolled away for a goal-kick.

Newell then spread the ball nicely wide to the right to Bell, who low cross need to be put over his own bar by Wiggett for a corner. Metcalfe flapped at the corner, and the ball ricocheted towards the goal but Ashby made a goal-line clearance. Marine’s players appealed for a penalty for some reason, but the referee was unimpressed.

Zanzala fell over theatrically on the edge of the Oxford City area but with the referee failing to see a foul, Lewis Bell did well to gather the loose ball and get to the corner flag, and appeared to fouled as his cross sailed into the stand. However, the decision was a goal-kick.

Moments later. a poor attempted clearance by Wiggett gave Zanzala a one vs one against Metcalfe, but his prod was weak and the Hoops keeper made an easy save.

With 55 minutes on the clock, Potter showed good skill to get away from Jolley but his subsequent pass to Parker resulted in a casual flick, which Potter was unable to reach, and the attempted clearance hit Potter and rolled to the Marine keeper.

Burroughs then made a good run down the right wing but his cross to beyond the far post was headed by Bearne, probably the shortest player on the pitch, and the Marine keeper took an easy catch. Marine broke quickly and won a corner, but Jolley could only head high and wide.

The home side sent a long ball down the right-hand channel which Parker was just able to keep in play but a Marine defender hoofed off for a throw-in near the corner flag, from which Burroughs won a corner. Bearne over hit the set-piece but City were awarded another corner. This time, Ashby’s delivery was met by the on-running Burroughs, but Barnsley made a smart save to tip the close-range header over the bar. The next corner was played short to Ashby, rather than into the mixer, and the Hoops captain was crowded out and Whelan cleared.

Oxford City were now playing much better than in the first half, and a super cross-field pass from Burroughs was played on by Ashby to substitute Brayden Daniel, but his left-footed shot was blocked by Thomas for a corner.

With 69 minutes on the clock Ashby became the first Oxford City player to enter the referee’s notebook after bringing down Sinclair-Smith just inside the home half. The free-kick was directed towards the far post, where Fielding got his head to the ball, but Metcalfe made a smart save to prevent the ball entering the top corner of his goal.

In the 74^th minute Ashby played a superb ball to release Roddy down the left wing, but his inviting cross into the six-yard box was missed by both McFarlane and Potter. A minute later a long ball down the right-hand channel found Parker inside the Marine area, but after twisting and turning, the veteran Antiguan’s effort was blocked.

The rain was now falling much heavier as Marine won an unnecessary free-kick just outside the angle of the right-hand penalty area. Ashton’s low delivery saw the home defence dozing and substitute Zanzala nipped in to prod home from 6 yards. It was now 0-2 after 83 minutes and probably game over.

The home side were striving for a consolation and a lovely pass from O’Shea Ellis was fed by Potter to McFarlane who was brutally brought down, and the yellow card was shown to Anson. Ashby’s free-kick from 20 yards drifted a foot over the bar.

A chip into the Marine area deflected of Whelan as he challenged with McFarlane, and the ball sailed harmlessly through for Barnsley to take an easy catch.

Five added minutes were shown as Oxford City continued to attack. Burroughs played an inviting ball into the Marine area and both Potter and McFarlane dithered. Eventually, McFarlane went for goal but his left-footed effort from 12 yards went just wide of the far post.

Daniel then produced some great work to control and cut inside to lay off to Ashby, who ran into the Marine area but his pass was deflected and Barnsley needed to dive and push the ball away before Potter could capitalise.

The final play of the match saw Ellis make a good run and pass to Ashby, who released Roddy down the left wing, but the cross sailed onto the roof of the net.

The referee ended the game shortly after, and a well-organised and disciplined Marine outfit deservedly took the three points, but remained in 10^th place in the table. The performance from the home side reeked of one deservedly at the bottom end of the table. Despite plenty of possession, they rarely troubled the Marine keeper, and until it was too late, far too often the default option was still to look to play the risk-free pass backwards rather than gamble with a forward ball.

Highlights :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbG6nb88Xt4

Oxford City : Metcalfe – Burroughs, Wiggett, Harper-Bailey, Humphries ( Roddy ) – Potter, Humphrey-Ewers ( Ellis ), Ashby, Bearne ( Daniel ) – McFarlane, Parker

Marine : Barnsley – Thomas, Anson, Wardle ( Zanzala ), Ashton – Jolley, Fielding, Whelan, McDonald ( Bell ), Sinclair-Smith – Newell ( Potter )