October 29, 2024
Hot on the heels of their 4-0 win at home against Hertford on Saturday, as reported in these diaries, Thame had another home game tonight with AFC Dunstable being the mid-week visitors.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/10/thame-united-4-0-hertford-town-att-100.html
AFC Dunstable have been covered in these diaries on one previous occasion, being the unusual opponents for Thame’s New Year’s Day fixture on January 1, 2022. Despite no prior history of local rivalry between the two sides, that match was an indication of the northerly drift of Thame’s Southern League fixtures, with Dunstable being just 26 miles north of Thame !
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/01/thame-united-1-1-afc-dunstable-att-165.html
AFC Dunstable
Founded in 1981, they are not to be confused with Dunstable Town, the side George Best briefly played for in 1973, and who are currently in the South Midlands Premier Division. The two sides both play at Creasey Park. Their nickname is the ODs, which stands for Old Dunstablians, their previous name, and not a reference to drug overdoses !
After the draw against Thame in January 2022, AFC Dunstable went on finish third in the table but lost on penalties to Ware in the promotion play-off semi-final. In 2022/23 they finished in 13th place but rebounded for another third-place finish in 2023/24, but this time lost on penalties to Waltham Abbey after a 3-3 draw.
AFC Dunstable This Season
Dunstable arrived at the ASM stadium in 12th place with a 4-1-5 record. However, there seemed to be a pattern to their league results, with three of their victories coming against the bottom three sides in the table, with home wins over North Leigh ( 3-2 ) and Northwood Town ( 2-1 ), and at Kidlington ( 2-1 ). However, a 4-2 win had been registered over mid-table Enfield.
The one draw had come last Saturday in a dramatic game at 15th placed Beaconsfield Town, when AFC Dunstable equalised twice in added on time.
Losses had been inflicted by top six sides Hadley ( A 0-3 ), Flackwell Heath ( A 0-6 ) and Aylesbury United ( H 0-1 ), but they had also been beaten by mid-table Biggleswade ( H 1-2 ) and at lowly Leverstock Green ( A 0-4 ).
AFC Dunstable had a decent run in the FA Cup, winning 1-0 at Step 5 Newport Pagnell Town and then caused a shock with a 1-0 at home to step 3 AFC Sudbury. However, they were eliminated in the second qualifying round after another defeat at the hands of Biggleswade ( A 1-2 ).
In the FA Trophy, Isthmian North side Concord Rangers were vanquished at home 2-0 but AFC lost on penalties in the next round after a 2-2 home draw with Berkhamsted.
None of the side that played at Thame in January 2022 are still at the club, and according to the Southern League website, midfielder Kyle Lynch is their only player over the age of 22.
The club are now owned by Varsity Nine, who are described as “a sports management company that specialises in delivering services for high performing players and student athletes”. Hence all the young players now putting on the shirt.
Centre-back Harry Riley played 11 matches for Thame last season and midfielder Hayden Beadle was a former Thame youth player who came through the reserves to the first team, before moving on to Aylesbury United for the 2023/24 season.
Keeper Seb Stacey is on loan from MK Dons, defender-back Stan Georgiou was previously with Hitchin Town, left sided midfielder Rico Greco had previously played for Risborough Rangers, and ex-Holmer Green and Aylesbury Vale Dynamos striker Sean Duodu was the top scorer in the league with five goals. Russell Berko sounds like an appropriate future signing for Berkhamsted !
Ex Thame United Reserves midfielder Tom Cove left AFC Dunstable last week and has rejoined Aylesbury United.
Dunstable’s average home league attendance this season is 136.
Matchday Information
Admission for today’s game was £10 for adults, £5 for OAPs, £3 for Under 16s and free for the Under 5s. A pint of Poretti was £5.10
The weather at the 19.45 kick-off time was dry and the temperature was around 11 degrees.
Thame played in their usual kit of red and black striped shirts with black shorts and red socks, whilst AFC Dunstable were in sky blue shirts with white sleeves, black shorts and sky blue socks. The white numbers on the back of their shirts were not easy to see from a distance !
Thame made two changes from their side that trounced Hertford Town, with Brayden Daniel and Ollie Hogg coming into midfield in place of Curtis Brown and Dan West, who both dropped to the bench.
AFC Dunstable made one change to the side which drew at Beaconsfield Town with Oliver Spicer replacing Lynch.
Match Report
Dunstable came close to opening the scoring in the opening minute. Joyce made strong run at the Thame backline and his left-footed shot took a deflection and looped onto the crossbar. The rebound fell nicely to the unmarked Greco, but he could only put the ball well over the bar. He should have at least hit the target.
As it was Thame scored from their first real attack. Alexander flicked the ball onto Hackett on the left, and the midfielder cut back inside onto his right foot and shot from the edge of the area. The effort wasn’t very powerful but keeper Stacey, perhaps slightly wrong footed, could only get a hand it to and helped it into the net. As the pundits say, he would be disappointed with his efforts, but it was 1-0 after 7 minutes.
Dunstable were looking hesitant at the back and Daniel nicked the ball off Brooks, but Alexander could only shoot over from the D. Left back Oscar Lucey was looking dangerous with his runs down the left wing.
Dunstable started to get a foothold into the game and in the 19th minute Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei played in Graco on the left, who won the first corner of the game. However, the delivery was poor, and Thame cleared at the near post.
Shortly after, a ball was played in from the right but it was just too far ahead of Duodu who was forced to turn and play back to a teammate in support. As Dunstable reworked the ball, 16 year old Khyan Frazer-Williams went on a strong run forcing Lucey to concede another corner.
Georgiou then did well to get past Stranks but his shot went into the side netting. Dunstable were having a good spell, confidently passing the ball on the floor and with players making runs into unexpected areas.
Thame’s response was for Galpin to thread a ball through the Dunstable backline for Mcelroy to run onto, but with the striker in the act of putting the ball past the keeper the linesman raised his flag for offside. I’m not sure about that decision, it must have been very, very close !
In the 29th minute, Bugyei-Kyei was robbed of possession and Thame counterattacked with Daniel setting-up Alexander but his shot was blocked.
Three minutes later, a long ball forward from the Dunstable defence was headed back towards the halfway line by Murray, but Hogg in his efforts to clean-up possession made a poor header back to the Thame centre-backs, with the ball going past them. Greco latched onto it and strode into the Thame penalty and coolly finished with his left foot across goal and the ball nestled inside the far post. 1-1 with 32 minutes played.
Thame quickly hit back but wasted a golden opportunity a couple of minutes later. Hackett burst past Riley and played a low ball into the Dunstable area. Mcelroy was unmarked 8 yards out and decided to side foot, but his contact poor. The ball went to Daniel but the Oxford City loanee had to turn to shoot, and his effort was blocked on the line.
Five minutes before the interval, Greco’s free kick bounced across the Thame penalty area, but no Dunstable attacker was able to take advantage.
Bugyei-Kyei again lost possession in his own half and Mcelroy ran towards the Dunstable area but was thwarted by a fine tackle by Frazer-Williams. Mcelroy lunged for the loose ball but only succeeded in committing a bad foul on Riley. A yellow card was duly produced from the referee’s pocket.
Thame finished the half strongly and Mcelroy played in Daniel to run inside the Dunstable area, but under pressure from Frazer-Williams the shot was sliced well wide. The last action of the half though saw Spicer retrieve a deflected clearance before it went of play, but after running across the face of the penalty area he could only send a left footed shot about 20 yards wide of the Thame goal.
The scores were level at the break, which seemed to be a fair score. Dunstable had played some nice football without creating too much danger but the better chances had been made by Thame. The Dunstable defenders had been guilty of being caught in possession on a number of occasions, and they probably wouldn’t get away with it every time.
Early in the second half, halftime substitute Croker sent a lovely cross-field pass to find Hackett on the left wing, who floated a cross towards the back post for Daniel, but Frazier-Williams was able to head clear.
Thame had made a quick start to the second half, with Daniel’s blazed cross being well caught by keeper Stacey but then a Thame corner was headed away and Dunstable were off on a swift attack. With a 3 on 2, Spicer’s pass was cut-out by Hogg covering back for Thame.
Daniel then went on a good run for Thame, only to met by an even better tackle from Frazier-Williams. A free kick from Greco was too high for Riley to get his head t,o but when Lucey then played a clever clearing ball down the left touchline Hackett was brought down near the half-way line.
Dunstable were now looking play the ball forward much quicker than they had in the first half, and Spicer looked to latch onto a long clearance, but Lucey was in close attention and blocked his shot, with Croker clearing the loose ball.
Stranks made a 50-yard run out of defence for Thame to win a throw in deep inside Dunstable territory, shortly after which Thame worked the ball out wide to Hackett who despite being marked by two defenders still managed to get a shot in, but it was dragged a couple of feet wide.
The game was now very open and end to end, and after a good tackle by Frazer-Williams to win the ball, Joyce was put clear with just the Thame keeper to beat, but he could only slice high and wide.
With 67 minutes played Alexander and Louis combined to find Hackett, and Lucey on the overlap saw his low cross blocked for a corner.
Dunstable were now defending in depth and had all ten outfield players in their own half when Thame looked to build. However, having 10 players being the ball didn’t help when West sent a fine ball down the right-hand channel for Brown to run onto, and his low ball was left by Louis to allow it to reach Hackett, who took one touch and then side-footed past the keeper from 10 yards. 2-1 after 71 minutes.
Thame were looking to add a third goal to put the game to bed. Brown was released again on the right, this time after a chip ahead by Hogg, but his low ball was put out for a corner. Louis then turned and shot from the edge of the area after a pass from Hogg, but his effort was straight at keeper Stacey. After Lucey played a ball down the left, Hackett raced into the visitors’ area but from a tight angle sent a shot inches past the top corner.
With 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Bugyei-Kyei played a super reverse pass, but Duodu was on his heels and failed to anticipate the chance, and the ball rolled through to the Thame keeper.
With the minutes ticking away, Dunstable pressed for an equaliser and won a succession of free kicks in promising positions. First, Jallow headed Greco’s delivery a few feet wide, then Blennerhassett’s free kick was launched into the mixer, but Thame were able to eventually clear. A good run by Bugyei-Kyei won a corner from which a scramble ensued inside the 6-yard box, but Thame were again able to clear.
The pressure finally told from another free kick. The ball towards the far post was met by a Thame head, who could only direct the ball back across the penalty area and it bounced up nicely for Blennerhassett to power into the top corner for super finish and the equaliser. 2-2 after 86 minutes.
The closing stages of the match were frantic as both sides went for the winner. Thame looked to have the edge, but West sent a 30-yard free kick harmlessly over the bar and Hackett opted to shoot well wide rather than pass to better placed teammates.
Alexander again robbed a Dunstable defender and fed Hackett, but keeper Stacey prevented a hat-trick for Hackett with a super diving save. Thame won several corners as they strived for the winner. Bugyei-Kyei needed to head one off for another corner, which was tipped over the bar by Stacey. The next corner was punched away from under his bar by Stacey and Louis then forced the Dunstable defence to concede another corner. This time there was a strong appeal for handball, but the referee allowed play to continue, and Dunstable headed down the other end of the field but were stopped by a good tackle.
As the game moved deeper into added on time, Brown showed good skill to flick the ball over his marker and run onto the ball, but his shot went a few feet wide. Thame thought they had scored the winning goal as Alexander played in Hackett who finished with aplomb into the far corner but as the Thame players celebrated, the linesman’s flag was raised for offside, and the goal was chalked off.
Almost predictably, Dunstable attacked again, and Ovbiye-Niang played a ball in from the right where Jallow turned and sent a low shot past Crowther for a winning goal for the visitors. 2-3 after 97 minutes.
Play continued for another three minutes, I’m not sure where all the added time came from, but Dunstable held on to claim the victory in a thoroughly entertaining game. Thame will feel they deserved to take all three points, but such are the fine margins in close games.
After tonight’s results Thame remained in 7th place in the table, and AFC Dunstable moved up one place to 11th
Link To Online Programme : https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com%2Fclubs%2F13461%2Fclxk92DRS3qhcSLRxTLv_Match+Day+Programme+AFC+Dunstable.pdf
Thame United : Crowther – Stranks, Galpin ( Croker ), Murray ( West ), Lucey – Daniel ( Brown ), Riddick, Hogg ( Garcia ), Hackett – Mcelroy ( Louis ), Alexander
AFC Dunstable : Stacey – Riley ( Davis ), Georgiou, Bugyei-Kyei, Frazer-Williams ( Jallow ) – Joyce ( Ovbiye-Niang ) Spicer, Blennerhassett, Brooks, Greco –Duodu ( Berko )
