December 12, 2020
Although non-league football had been given the green light to resume, many of the leagues declined the opportunity to start playing straight away so the choice of matches in my area was limited. The Hellenic League was resuming today though, and not fancying travelling too far I made a late decision to go to Thame Rangers vs Long Crendon local derby in the Hellenic First Division East.
I have visited the ASM Stadium a number of times to watch Thame United but this would be my first time to see Thame Rangers. I’m not exactly sure of the exact relationship between the sides in Thame, but they all fall under the Thame Football Partnership banner and feature on the same website. Thame United currently play in the Southern League Division One Central ( non-league step 4 ), with Thame Rangers in the Hellenic First Division East ( step 6 ), and Thame United Reserves in the Hellenic Second Division North ( step 7 ).
Thame Rangers have had a miserable season so far. Starting the season with an FA Cup exit on penalties at Dunstable Town of the South Midlands Football League after 1-1 draw, they lost their first 8 league matches including a 1-3 reverse at Long Crendon. They did record a first victory win a 6-0 thumping of Woodley United, before losing again in the league at Penn & Tylers Green. In their final game before the suspension of football they did get revenge over Penn & Tylers Green with a victory in the Floodlight Cup. Going into today’s game they were lying bottom of the table with just one win and 9 losses.
Long Crendon had a journey of under 2 miles to get to today’s fixture but crossed the border between Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to do so. Established in 1886, Long Crendon played in the Oxfordshire Senior League and the Aylesbury & District Leagues before joining the Hellenic League in 2017. The Hellenic Division 2 East Championship was won in 2018/19 but in order to be promoted to Division 1 Long Crendon had to arrange a ground share at Oxford City in order to meet the step 6 ground requirements, as their Recreation Ground is essential a park pitch. In their first season at step 6 Long Crendon were creditably in mid-table when the season was terminated but this season looks like being their best ever in their history.
Long Crendon entered the FA Cup for the first time this year and began the season with a 1-0 victory at Clanfield 85, before bowing out 0-3 at Southern League Aylesbury United. They also tasted success in the FA Vase with a 3-1 at Eversley and California ( played in Surrey not the USA ! ) before going out at 2-1 at Sandhurst, another Combined Counties side. Due to their cup commitments, Long Crendon had only been able to play 4 league matches, and remained unbeaten with three wins and a draw.
At the gate I was asked if I was a concession but I replied honestly and paid the full £5 entrance. The NHS Track and Trace was in operation but there was also the option to write down your contact details on a piece of paper. There was no requirement to wear a mask, and with a small crowd there were no issues in maintaining social distancing. My headcount midway through the first half was 43 so I was a little surprised to see the official attendance of 75 !
The clubhouse bar was closed although the tea bar was open for business.
There was no match programme or teamsheets, but Long Crendon had posted their line-up on Twitter so I at least knew their players names.
At kick-off the weather was bright and clear but very chilly. Long Crendon had a nice green kit, with a white hoop on the back and white patches on the sides, and in the first half were defending with the sun in their eyes.
Thame Rangers had the first chance in third minute when one of their players was put through and went to ground when going round the Crendon keeper. From the other end of the ground it looked like a penalty, but the referee waved play on. Long Crendon were soon appealing for a penalty of their own when number 7, Christian Warwick, fell to the floor, but again the referee wasn’t impressed, and he was even less impressed 5 minutes later when Warwick again appealed for a very optimistic penalty.
Despite the penalty appeals there wasn’t a lot happening in the early stages of the match and it was a little tedious, but the game sparked into life when Crendon’s top scorer James Hawkes opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, acrobatically leaping in the air to smash home a left footed volley from around the penalty spot for his 6th goal of the season
Thame nearly equalised when a low cross was miscued by a Crendon defender and keeper Ben Taunton was alert to push past the post for a corner but despite this, Long Crendon dominated the rest of first half and could have extended their lead a couple of times. Full back Ben Sykes saw his long range left footed shot go wide, and on the stroke of half-time Warwick was put through, but under pressure put his left-footed shot across the face of the goal inches wide. Long Crendon number 8 Harry Pettingell impressed with some lively running up front whilst the burly number 10 Scott Chappell showed good skills and made some incisive passes.
If Long Crendon were the better side in the first half this changed in the second half as Thame Rangers improved and pushed Long Crendon onto the defensive.
However, Crendon were not threatened until the 60th minute when keeper Taunton made a smart stop to push away a shot from Thame’s number 8, and from the subsequent corner the ball was played to the far post where Thame’s number 7 close range header was instinctive tipped over the bar by Taunton.
Thame’s lack of a cutting edge up front almost proved costly when with just over 15 minutes to play Hawkes’ far post header hit the Thame keeper and bounced to safety. Almost immediately a Thame forward was put clear but with just the keeper to beat was fouled from behind by a desperate attempted tackle. This time the referee did award a penalty but not only didn’t show a red card, he didn’t appear to show a yellow card either. The penalty was well stuck to the keeper’s right but Taunton made a good save. Unfortunately for him, Thame’s number 9 Gledhill was the quickest to react and was able to poke the ball over the line for the equaliser.
Thame produced their best move two minutes later when Gledhill played a neat give and go with his number 8 but blazed the chance well over the bar. With Thame looking the more likely side to snatch the winner, Crendon pressed down the right and a left footed cross was turned in at the near post. It wasn’t clear who had got the final touch, but Long Crendon’s twitter account put it down as a own goal.
Although taking the lead against the balance of play, Long Crendon comfortably saw out the remaining 8 minutes plus added time for a 2-1 victory and to remain unbeaten in the league. They moved upto 6th in the league table despite having only played 5 matches.
Defeat was a little harsh on Thame Rangers who remain at the bottom of the league and have played more games than anyone else. However, if they continue to play like this they should start gathering more points and move off the bottom. Their shaven headed centre-back had a particularly strong second half and the captain at right back looked solid. The small goal-keeper also appeared to have good handling skills and dealt comfortable with several crosses. Gledhill should also score a few goals at this level having played for Thame United in the Southern League.
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