August 13, 2024
The exceptionally warm weather saw Fatbear venture out to attend a rare mid-week evening fixture as Thame entertained Berkhamsted at the ASM in the second round of matches in this season’s Southern League Division One Central.
Thame Update
Since these diaries reported on Thame’s pre-season friendly against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, they have further added to their squad. Keeper Matt Crowther and full-back Josh Stranks both played in a match between Risborough Rangers and Milton United covered by Fatbear in March this year, with Crowther playing for Milton and Stranks for Risborough on loan from Slough.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/03/risborough-rangers-4-0-milton-united.html
Experienced striker Tom McElroy has joined from Slough and midfielder Jack Tutton has returned to the Red Kites after a season with Uxbridge.
Thame began their season with a 3-0 victory over local rivals Aylesbury United in the extra-preliminary round of the FA Cup and continued their good form in their first league match when they won 3-2 at Ware, with Reece Cameron scoring the winner coming in the 6th minute of added on time. Tom McElroy and Finlay Murray scored the other two goals.
Berkhamsted FC
Berkhamsted FC were formed in the summer of 2009 after the demise of Berkhamsted Town, who were dissolved in January 2009 due to financial problems, whilst still in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Their predecessors reached the FA Vase final in 2000/01, when they lost 1-2 to Taunton Town at Villa Park.
The newly formed side entered Division 2 of the Spartan South Midlands and won successive promotions in their first two years to reach the Premier Division. A runners-up finish in 2017/18 enabled promotion to the step 4 Southern League Division One East.
Berkhamsted were top of the league in 2019/20 when the season was cancelled due to Covid, and in 2021/22 they were runners-up, but lost to North Leigh in the play-off semi-final. However, they were not to be denied promotion for too long, and they were champions in 2022/23 to reach the Southern League Premier Central division.
Unfortunately, their stay at step 3 lasted one only season as they finished bottom and were relegated back to Southern League Division One Central.
Berkhamsted’s home ground is the 2,500 capacity Broadwater, which has 170 seats. Their nickname is The Comrades, although they are colloquially referred to as Berko.
Berkhamsted had a strong pre-season, with 5-1 victories over both Risborough Rangers and Luton Town Academy, and further wins over Corby Town ( 3-1 ) and step 2 Hemel Hempstead ( 2-0 ). The only reverse was 0-1 at home to step 3 Biggleswade Town.
Berko began their league campaign with a convincing 4-0 home win over Stofold, with a brace for Luke Andrews, who has rejoined the club after a season at Biggleswade Town, plus an own goal and a late goal for Roger James, formerly of Hanwell Town and North Leigh, to complete the scoring. The attendance was 214.
Seven of their matchday squad for that game were with the club last season but they have made their intent clear for this season with the signings of the prolific striker BJ Christie, who featured in these diaries for AFC Dunstable at Thame on New Year’s Day in 2022, and attacking midfielder Louie Collier, top scorer for Kings Langley last season, and who was part of the Kings side that played at Thame in April this year.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/01/thame-united-1-1-afc-dunstable-att-165.html
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/04/thame-united-3-0-kings-langley-att-124.html
Previous Meetings
These two sides have met on 8 occasions in step 4 with Berkhamsted winning 6 times, with one draw and one victory for Thame. The only win for Thame came at home in 2018/19 ( 2-1 ) whilst the draw was also at home, 2-2 in 2022/23. Thame had lost on all four visits to Berkhamsted.
I saw Berkhamsted Town play at Thame’s old Windmill Road ground on the August Bank Holiday in 2002, when the Ryman League Division One North match ended in a 1-1 draw. Ex-Colchester forward John Richardson scored for Berko, whilst Jon Gardner was on target for Thame. The Thame line-up that day included Mark West, Mark Jones and Wayne Cort, brother of Carl Cort.
Matchday Information
The journey from Berkhamsted to Thame is 25 miles and should normally take 35 minutes via the A41.
Admission prices for tonight’s game were £10 for adults ( up £2 from last season but still £2 cheaper that at Didcot who play at the same level ), whilst it was £5 for OAPs, £3 for Under 16s and free for the Under 5s. A pint of Poretti was £5.10 whilst the other beers on tap in the bar were Rebellion IPA, San Miguel, Carlsberg and Guinness.
The weather at the 19.45 kick-off time was sunny and 22 degrees.
Thame played in their usual kit of red and black striped shirts with black shorts and red socks, whilst Berkhamsted were in yellow shirts with blue shorts and socks.
Thame made five changes from their side that started at Ware, with McElroy and Tamplin missing, and Murray, Lucey and Garcia dropping to the bench. Jefferson Louis, James Towell, Curtis Brown, Reece Cameron and Oliver Hogg came into the side.
Berkhamsted made four changes to their side, with Kye Tearle, BJ Christie, Ross Oulten and Sam McClelland dropping to the bench with Ben Walster, Lewis Thrope, Roger James and captain Matthew Bateman taking their places.
Compared to last season at least there was some pre-match music played, but there were still no tannoy announcements.
Match Report
Berkhamsted forced two corners early on, the second of which was sent directly into the side netting by Walster. Thame’s response was for a free kick by Alexander from close to the half-way line to bounce harmlessly through to the Berko keeper. Thame’s Hogg then had a left-footed attempt from 30 yards that was an easy save for keeper Bowler
Almost from the beginning it was noticeable that Berko’s midfielders running into the channels were causing problems for the Thame defence. Collier was put into space on the left but his ball into the penalty area was cut-out by Louis. In the 10th minute, a ball from the left was headed on by Bateman but James could only blaze well wide from a good position.
At the other end, a promising through pass from Tutton was just a fraction too strong for Brown to latch onto and keeper Bowler gathered. That sentence could have been confusing had it been a game of cricket !
In the 18th minute, a chip forward put Andrews clear down the left but his dangerous ball across the 6-yard line was well defended by Louis, shielding the ball from the lurking Bateman, and Stranks completed the defensive duties by clearing for a throw before James could take advantage.
As the darkness descended, the floodlights were switched on in the 20th minute. Shortly after Andrews forced a corner on the left for Berko but Riddick made a good defensive header under pressure from Bateman.
The home side should have opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. After Thame were passing the ball amongst themselves at the back, Louis changed the pace with a quick pass forward to Alexander, who played a defence splitting ball to put Brown clear on goal. Unfortunately for the Thame, his left-footed effort from 12 yards went over the bar when he should have at least hit the target. It was a great chance wasted.
Encouraged by this reprieve, Berkhamsted cranked up the pressure. Crowther had to come out of his area and chest control a long ball to prevent Bateman getting onto it, but the Thame keeper’s clearance went straight to a Berko player, who could only shoot wide first time 20 yards with the keeper stranded.
The opening goal arrived in the 27th minute for the visitors. James was put clear down the right-wing and his low ball to the near post reached Bateman, whose shot on the turn was partially blocked, but the loose ball fell kindly for Jonathan Lacey to finish into an unguarded net from close range. 0-1 after 27 minutes.
Two minutes later Bateman attempted a 20-yard left-footed curler which sailed over the Thame keeper but onto the top of net. A few of the Berko supporters, of which there was a fair number in attendance, thought it was a goal and started cheering, only to have to go quiet !
However, they had legitimate grounds to celebrate two minutes later when a flowing move down the right involving Olarerin, James and Olarerin again saw the ball played across the goal mouth where Bateman was on hand to apply a close-range finish. 0-2 after 31 minutes.
Thame briefly stirred when a free kick from Hogg reached Louis beyond the far post, but Galpin and Brown were unable to get onto his header across the goalmouth.
It was now all Berkhamsted though, confidently passing the ball around as Thame chased shadows, and it was no surprise when they added a third goal. This time it was Collier who ran onto a ball over the top down the left and he proved to be too strong for Towell to go clear on goal. His first attempt was saved by Crowther, but the ex-Kings Langley man knocked the rebound into the empty net. 0-3 after 44 minutes.
Half-time came shortly after, and Berkhamsted deservedly headed to the dressing rooms with a three-goal lead after Thame had missed their one great chance. Thame were in danger of being outclassed but perhaps surprisingly didn’t make any changes at the interval.
Indeed, Thame started the second period strongly, presumably having received a rocket from the manager at half-time. Hogg’s through ball could have put Brown clear but the winger’s first touch allowed a defender to cover, then Alexander ran from the half-way line, but his 30-yard effort went a yard over the bar.
Berko’s Watkins was nearly caught out on the edge of his area as Hogg and Alexander pressed, but he managed to wriggle free. Louis then played a long ball to Cameron, whose good control allowed Alexander to take the ball through the two Berkhamsted centre-backs, but perhaps unwisely, the Thame youngster decided to shoot over from 25 yards when he could have run forward a few more yards to make the chance easier.
Thame’s good spell though came to an end when Louis was caught in possession near the half-way line and the visitors broke quickly, and a sweeping counterattack saw Collier’s attempt to curl the ball from the left into the top corner drift inches wide.
Walster then sent a free kick harmlessly into the Thame defensive wall, then Andrews’ 30-yard effort went well wide.
After 60 minutes, a quick throw by James to Bateman enabled the Comrades captain to lay-off to Watkins, but his bouncing 20 yarder was well saved by the diving Thame keeper.
Two minutes later a lovely move featuring four first time passes released Andrews down the right, but his low ball across the 6-yard line evaded all of his team-mates.
Thame responded with Louis heading a free-kick into the side-netting.
The game’s moment of potential controversy came in the 70th minute. Two Berko players looked to be yards off-side, but with the linesman hopelessly out of position play continued. Collier’s cross founded the unmarked Christie 8 yards out, but his header produced a great push away by Crowther. Christie followed up to blast the loose ball into the roof of the net, but the linesman’s flag was raised for off-side against Christie. The Berkhamsted bench vociferously queried this decision, but it looked like a case of two wrongs making a right. Christie didn’t look offside when he made his header, but both he and Collier looked well off-side earlier in the move……
Thame’s Brown then went over inside the Berko penalty area, but the referee ignored the appeals for a penalty and waved play on.
Thame keeper Crowther was in the action again in the 75th minute, coming outside of his area to clear away from Christie, and then almost immediately afterwards having to dive on to a header back to him from Stranks with Christie ready to pounce on any fumble.
Thame could have pulled a goal back for a corner 12 minutes from time when Bowler produced a weak punch under pressure but although the header back across goal from Louis found Riddick, the subsequent header was put just wide.
The visitors then sent a long ball down the right to put Lacey clear but when Stranks slid in to try and block his shot from a tight angle, the ball deflected off him and looped over the keeper’s head and inside the far post. A definite piece of good fortune but it would be hard to begrudge Berkhamsted their extended lead. It was a second goal on the night for Lacey, who had rejoined The Comrades in the summer after a spell at Biggleswade Town. 0-4 after 82 minutes.
The closing stages of the game were wild as both sides had chances to score. Riddick force the Berko keeper into a sprawling save from a close-range header at the back post, and the same player was left unmarked from a left-wing cross from Stranks, but his header went high into the sky for Bowler to make an easy catch.
Berkhamsted could have added to their tally when James skipped past Stranks on the right wing, and his low cross was met by Christie 8 yards out, and most people inside the stadium were surprised when the usually clinical marksman somehow put the ball wide.
Garcia then made a strong run down the left wing for Thame, beating two markers to get to the by-line, but his cross was well claimed by Bowler.
The visitors were still going strong in added on time. Olarerin, Christie and Collier all combined and Thame substitute Lucey had to make a sliding block at the expense of a corner to prevent Collier’s cross getting into the danger zone. The corner was headed clear by Louis, but only as far Oulton 30 yards out, and his volley took a heavy deflection, but Crowther did well to stop the ball crossing the line and gather at the second attempt.
The last action of the match saw Collier fire over from 25 yards when he had team-mates in better positions.
At the final whistle, Berkhamsted deservedly chalked up their second consecutive 4-0 victory, and on this evidence look strong candidates to finish in at least a play-off position. They looked a very good side for this level.
After starting with two victories, this should serve as a wake-up call for Thame, who may be hoping not to face too many quality opponents like Berkhamsted. They seemed to have few answers to Berko’s midfielders runs into the channels, which frequently left their full-back exposed with the midfield runners rarely being tracked.
Link To Online Matchday Programme : https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com/clubs/13461/V3NoktRnCBSfhtffNopw_Match%20Day%20Programme%20Berkhamstead.pdf
Thame United : Crowther – Towell ( Lucey ), Galpin, Louis, Stranks – Alexander, Riddick, Tutton ( Alcock ), Hogg ( Tucker ), Brown – Cameron ( Garcia )
Berkhamsted FC : Bowler – Olarerin, Thrope, Newton, Walster – James ( McClelland ), Andrews ( Toomey ), Watkins ( Oulton ), Lacey ( Tearle ), Collier – Bateman
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