July 20, 2024
Pre-season friendlies continue, and today’s afternoon’s entertainment was a local derby but between two sides that rarely play each other due to usually being in different leagues. Thame and Aylesbury Vale Dynamos had only spent two seasons in the same division, being in Southern League Division One Central in 2017/18 and 2018/19, when Thame won three times and there was one draw. Dynamos were known simply as Aylesbury in those years.
Thame United
Although Thame finished in a relegation position in last season's Southern League Division One Central, they were reprieved from relegation following Nuneaton going out of business, having the best points per game ratio of the sides in relegation positions in the eight step 4 leagues.
It had been a tough season after the upheavals of the previous summer and new manager Ben Williams having to put together a new squad. After looked doomed at Christmas they had steadily improved towards the season end and had the form of a mid-table team in the closing two months.
Encouragingly, ten of last season’s squad had been confirmed as staying on for the new season, and the new signings announced so far were 36-year-old ex-Yeovil, Peterborough United, Doncaster and Sheffield United defender Craig Alcock, who was last with Harlow, ex-Aylesbury United and Harrow Borough winger/forward Reece Cameron, winger Rocko Tamplin from AFC Dunstable and midfielder Alfie Tucker on loan from Slough Town. Yesterday, the signing of ex-Didcot centre-back Leo Galpin was posted on Twitter.
Two players had joined from today’s opposition, forward Curtis Brown and midfielder/forward Fabian Garcia, who returned to Thame after playing for their Reserves in 2022/23.
Thame had already played four pre-season friendlies, all at home against Step 5 sides, beating Milton United and Winslow Utd, both by 3-2 margins, and drawing 1-1 against both Risborough Rangers and MK Irish.
Thame’s league campaign begins on August 10th with a visit to Ware, but the week before that they have a tasty home FA Cup tie with Aylesbury United, their more traditional rivals from just over the Buckinghamshire border.
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos
The club were formed in the 1930s and played under a number of different names. They were known as Haywood United as they progressed through the Spartan South Midlands Divisions, becoming Aylesbury Vale in 2005 and then just Aylesbury in 2009. In 2018 they adopted the current name.
Aylesbury won the 2009/10 Spartan South Midlands Premier Division title to earn promotion to the Southern League Division One Central, where they played until relegation at the end of 2018/19. Their best placed finish was in 2014/15 when they ended in third place but failed to progress in the promotion play-off. The derby matches against Aylesbury United in those seasons was dubbed “El Quackico”, after the Aylesbury Duck breed.
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos have suffered significant off-field misfortunes in recent years. Their Haywood Way ground is located in an area that is prone to flooding, so the ground has been under water a couple of times. Two years ago, burst frozen pipes led to the clubhouse being closed for five months, and in January their cow shed behind a goal was destroyed by severe storms. A Just Giving appeal raised £5K for repairs, to which Fatbear was one of the contributors despite never having been to the ground or seen the club play.
Dynamos ended in 11th place in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division last season, but their campaign was affected by having to play some of their “home” matches away from Haywood Way due to the storm damage to the ground.
Dynamos’ Twitter account recently announced that 10 players had signed on for another season. These included two players who had previously played for Thame. Midfielder Alfie Anderson played four matches at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, and winger Abu Khan played a number of matches towards the end of the 2022/23 season. Defender Nathan Broadsword used to play for Long Crendon and centre-back Terry Griffiths is not the Welsh former World Snooker Champion, but instead has played for AFC Dunstable.
Dynamo have also announced 8 new signings, but nearly all of these seem to be players being promoted from their Under 23 squad to the first team.
AVD have played three pre-season friendly matches so far, beating Penn & Tylers Green 1-0 and losing 1-2 at Holmer Green, both at Step 6 in the Combined Counties League, and thrashing Step 7 Bovingdon 5-2, where the scorers were Max Sato, Princewill Madu, Samuel Olawale, Abu Khan and a trialist.
The Spartan South Midlands League season starts next weekend and Aylesbury Vale Dynamos commence with a home fixture against Arlesey Town and then a midweek trip to Kempston Rovers, before visiting Flackwell Heath in the FA Cup.
Match Day Information
Like all of Thame’s previous pre-season friendlies, today’s match was being played on the 3G pitch surrounded by a cage, rather than on the main pitch in the ASM stadium. As a result, entry was free, but the spectator facilities were pretty limited, with just standing space alongside three-quarters of one side of the pitch, with the rest fenced off. There was no cover from the elements, no tannoy announcements, no team-sheets, but at least the bar and the toilets in the main clubhouse were open.
The visitors faced a journey of ten miles from Haywood Way to the ASM stadium, which should normally take around 20 minutes.
After temperatures hitting 29 degrees the day before, it was only a mere 21 degrees at the 15.00 kick-off time, and the skies were overcast.
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos were in a kit of yellow and blue hoops, with blue shorts and socks, whilst Thamer were in their usually red and black stripes shirts with black shorts.
Match Report
After a cagey opening, the first incident occurred in the 7th minute when Thame’s Jefferson Louis and a Dynamos’ Trialist collided inside the Thame penalty area and both players crashed to the floor, but the referee waved play on.
Dynamos’ left-back Anderson was looking lively in the opening stages, and after sending an eye-catching cross-field ball from left-back, Brown couldn’t control and the Thame trialist keeper gathered.
With 11 minutes played, Garcia brought down Anderson mid-way inside the Thame half for a free-kick. The referee spoke to Garcia but being a friendly no card was shown. Anderson hit the free-kick long over the Thame back line, and although Ackah-Senzah kept the ball in play, the Thame keeper gathered.
Thame should have opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Curtis Brown was released down the right-wing and his lovely low ball into the danger zone presented Fountain with a sitter, but the Thame forward mis-kicked from 6 yards and the ball went off for a goal-kick. The chance should have been buried !
Shortly after, Anderson’s injury from the earlier foul meant he couldn’t continue, which was a shame as he had made an impressive start, and he was replaced by Melvyn Lubaki.
The visitors continued to press, and Brown’s cross from the right-wing was slightly behind Baldwin, who leaning back could only head high and over.
At the other end, Curtis Brown made for the right by-line but was fouled by Lubaki. The free-kick came to nothing, but two minutes later a low shot from Thame’s number 8 was saved at his near post by Swain. Fountain then was released down the right-hand channel, but again his ball into the penalty area was intercepted and cleared.
A moment of controversy occurred in the 27th minute. Jenkins launched a long ball out of the Dynamos’ defence and Ackah-Senzah ran onto it. The Thame keeper came out of his area, but the Dynamo midfielder got to it first and pushed it past the keeper, only to be flattened. Had this been a competitive match the Thame keeper would probably have been shown a red card, but no sanction was applied. Baldwin took the free-kick but although his low effort went through the wall, the Thame keeper made a good save diving to his right.
Deffah then tried his luck from long-range, but his effort hit a team-mate and was deflected off for a goal-kick.
Slightly against the run of play, Thame took the lead. Slack defending from the visitors allowed a ball across the penalty area to reach Garcia, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net, with the shot being too hot for keeper Swain to keep out. 1-0 after 30 minutes.
Garcia then easily beat Pike on the left-wing but his ball into the Dynamos area was cut-out by Jenkins.
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos were still looking dangerous though, and after 35 minutes, Khan cut inside from the left wing onto his right foot, but his 20 yard effort was pushed away by the diving Thame keeper.
A flowing move from the visitors saw Khan cross from the left-wing, and Lucey need to head off for a corner to prevent a Dynamo attacker getting on the end of it. The corner was played short and after the cross was punched away by the Thame keeper under pressure, Jenkins’ shot from just outside the area was blocked by a Thame defender.
With three minutes to go to the interval, Abu Khan ran at the retreating Thame backline and was brought down. Deffah’s ball into the mixer was met by Brown but when it looked like Thame would clear the danger, the clearance from Louis disastrously went straight to Abu Khan, who had the simple task to put the ball into the empty net from 6 yards. 1-1 after 43 minutes.
Thame then gave the ball away near the half-way line and Brown played an incisive pass to Baldwin in the left-hand channel. His fierce left-foot drive was well saved by the Thame keeper diving to his left, but the loose ball fell kindly to the onrushing Abu Khan, and although his contact was far from perfect, the ball bobbled into the empty net for his second goal inside two minutes. 1-2 after 45 minutes.
Thame made six changes after the interval and immediately looked much more energetic. The first chance of the half though fell to the visitors as Baldwin found Khan on the left wing, and again he cut inside but shot a few feet over the bar.
Thame equalised shortly after. Substitute Alfie Tucker chased after a weak back pass and the Dynamos keeper lacked the bravery to dive on the ball and instead tried to kick it away. The rebound fell kindly to substitute Harry Alexander whose low left-footed attempt from 20 yards nestled into the bottom corner. 2-2 after 50 minutes.
The Dynamos keeper was looking suspect, and a wild flap at a cross did little to inspire confidence, but Pike cleared the danger.
Baldwin was fouled close to the half-way line, but the Dynamos forward was alert enough to play a quick free-kick to Ackah-Senzah who released Abu Khan. However, a good tackle for Thame substitute number 12 ended the threat.
Thame should have taken the lead in the 57th minute. Tucker won the ball inside the visitors' half and sent Tamplin scampering down the left wing, and his pin-point cross was met by substitute number 11, but his header was glanced well wide from 6 yards rather than bulging in the back of the net.
Dynamos came close the regaining the lead in the 63rd minute. Substitute Olawale produced a great cross from the right but Baldwin’s header from 6 yards was straight at the Thame keeper, who somehow kept the ball out of the net.
Thame substitute Tamplin was being subjected to some rough play from the visitors and after a cynical foul from Jenkins, the Dynamos defender showed himself an imaginary yellow card, which I think the referee also confirmed. A scramble ensued from the free kick, but when the ball was cleared, Olawale scorched down the right-wing, but his pull back into the Thame area was cut-out by Lacey.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, Thame won a corner, and from the delivery to the far post, Riddick rose the highest to send a header over the stranded Dynamos keeper and into the net. 3-2 after 69 minutes.
It was then Pike’s turn to bring down Tamplin, but the Thame free kick was over-hit and although Riddick kept the ball in play, the danger was cleared.
After a quite phase, Thame left-back Lucey went on a surging run out of defence, but Garcia blazed well wide after receiving the pass.
Alexander then grabbed his second goal of the game, showing good feet to skip past two would be tacklers to shoot into the far corner. 4-2 after 79 minutes.
Tamplin then went on another strong run, but Tucker’s shot was blocked by a defender. With seven minutes left to play the Thame keeper dithered in making a clearing kick but when Olawale dived in he fouled the keeper.
As the clock wound down the final pieces of action included Dynamos keeper Swain colliding with his defender when trying to punch away a cross, resulting in the referee halting play for treatment. Shortly after, a poor throw-out from the Dynamos keeper was intercepted by Tucker, who was promptly fouled. Tucker got up to take the free kick, but his 25 yard effort went a couple of feet wide.
The referee blew for full-time with next to no added-on time played to bring to the end an entertaining friendly. It is always hard to read anything into pre-season friendlies, but Thame looked a much better side in the second half, whereas Aylesbury Vale Dynamos looked stronger in the first half.
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