November 23, 2024
This afternoon’s entertainment was the local derby between Thame United and Aylesbury United. In the past this has been a Boxing Day fixture, with two towns being less than 10 miles apart, albeit being in different counties. Indeed, given their closeness and recent histories, it was actually a match between ex-landlord vs ex-landlord !
However, Aylesbury, who are also known as The Ducks, now groundshare at Chesham United as they continue to campaign to have a new stadium built back in Aylesbury. Chesham is nearly 20 miles from Thame.
Both sides have started the season well, and this was a meeting of 8th vs 6th. Although it was early in the season, with games in hand, both were currently in reach of a top 5 play-off position.
Recent Meetings
The two sides met on the opening day of the season in the FA Cup, when Thame were comfortable 3-0 winners in front of an attendance of 250.
With both sides struggling last season, Thame completed a double over Aylesbury, winning 3-1 at home and 2-1 away, which was probably the difference between them staying up and not being relegated.
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Thame were also unbeaten in 2022/23 against Aylesbury. The 1-1 home draw on Boxing Day was covered by these diaries, and they won 2-0 in Chesham.
Thame United Update
These diaries last featured Thame when they slipped to a late defeat at home to AFC Dunstable at the end of October. They bounced back to win at 3-2 Biggleswade after being 0-2 behind at half-time and followed up with a 2-1 home win over Northwood Town. However, on their last outing on Tuesday night they lost 0-2 at Flackwell Heath.
Thame now had a 9-0-5 record, and 4-0-3 at home. Harry Alexander was their top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, followed by Curtis Brown on 8 and Jefferson Louis with 6.
On the morning of the game, Thame announced the signing of centre back Aaron White on loan from Slough Town, and the return of former player Hayden Beadle, who had played for Aylesbury United and AFC Dunstable after leaving Thame.
Manager Ben Williams previously had a spell in charge at Aylesbury.
Aylesbury United This Season
Last season Aylesbury finished in 15th place in Southern League Division One Central, six points above Thame, who were in 18th place.
The manager of Aylesbury is David Tuttle, who played over 200 professional games for Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Millwall amongst others. Tuttle has also been the manager of Millwall and Swindon before doing the rounds in non-league in the home counties.
Aylesbury began this season with 5 wins and a draw in their opening six league fixtures, with the only dropped points being in a 1-1 home draw to lowly North Leigh. Their next four games saw three defeats, 0-1 at Stofold and Hadley, and 2-3 at Enfield, although Ware were beaten 3-0 at home.
Aylesbury came into today’s fixture on a run of two defeats, 0-2 at Leighton and 0-2 at home to Beaconsfield, although they had won their three games prior this, winning 3-0 at North Leigh, 2-0 at home to Kings Langley and 1-0 way to AFC Dunstable.
Aylesbury possessed a 9-1-5 record, sustained by being 5-1-0 home but only 4-0-4 away from Chesham. Aylesbury had conceded only ten goals in the league, the second fewest in the division.
Aylesbury exited the FA Trophy at the first hurdle, travelling to Norfolk to play Isthmian League Division One North Wroxham but lost on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Aylesbury’s top scorer so far this season was Japanese forward Harrison Hashii with five goals. Hashii joined Aylesbury in the summer from Basingstoke and has played in the Singapore Premier League for Albirex Nagata. Next in their scoring list was winger Luqman Kassim and midfielder Ben Stallard on three each. Kassim has played in the lower leagues in Finland, whilst Stallard joined from Binfield.
Midfielder Ben Peters has previously appeared in these diaries when with Risborough Rangers whilst Tom Cove featured twice playing for Thame United Reserves. Defender Charlie Tuttle is the son of the manager and has also appeared in these diaries for Marlow.
Four of the Aylesbury side that figured in the 1-1 draw in Thame back in December 2022 are still with the club, namely keeper Jack Hopwood, defenders Jack Wood and Jake Bewley and attacking midfielder Sonny French, who played a couple of times for Thame many years ago when dual registered. Bewley made his 400th appearance for The Ducks last weekend, but still has some way to catch Jack Wood, who has appeared over 600 times for Aylesbury.
Aylesbury’s average home attendance so far this season was 171.
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 large cup of tea was £1.50.
Although storm Bert had hit Thame earlier in the day, the weather at the 15.00 kick-off time was light rain and a gentle breeze. Temperatures had risen to 10 degrees, but it was dark and gloomy, and the floodlights were already on. Nearly all the spectators were undercover in the main stand, although eight home fans had gathered in the covered terrace behind the goal at the ring-road end whilst around fifteen Ducks fans were braving the elements at the end their side was attacking.
Thame played in their usual kit of red and black striped shirts with black shorts and red socks, whilst Aylesbury were wearing green and white diagonal striped shirts which was reminiscent of a 1970s sweet wrapper, with green shorts and socks. However, the yellow/orange numbers were impossible to see from a distance so at times identification of the players from the stand was difficult, so it was not possible to say who had been involved in the action. Frankly, their numbering was ridiculous and a basically a waste of time if the point of having numbers is for the crowd to be able to identify the players !
Thame made two changes from their side that lost in mid-week at Flackwell Heath with Tom Mcelroy and Mark Riddick coming into the side at the expense of Jack Tutton and Curtis Brown, who were on the bench.
Aylesbury also made two changes to their side which lost at home to Beaconsfield, with Hashii and Kajetan Halatyn replacing William St-Clair-Bourton and French. They appeared to be playing in a 4-2-4 formation.
Match Report
Aylesbury kicked-off with the wind at their backs and forced the first corner of the game inside the opening 60 seconds, but a foul was awarded against them when the ball was played into the Thame penalty box.
Thame responded with Tom Mcelroy getting past Liam Batchelor-Morgan to reach the byline, but his pull back was cleared.
A minute later Ollie Hogg played a through ball to Brayden Daniel, who teed up Alexander, but the shot from the edge of the area was blocked. The loose ball rolled to Dan West who drilled a low shot from 20 yards across the face of the goal into the bottom corner. 1-0 after 6 minutes
Greg Hackett was then found in space on the left, and the Thame midfielder skipped past Batchelor-Morgan, and his pull back found Hogg, whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected for a corner. The set-piece was partially cleared but Murray retrieved possession and crossed from the right wing. Again, the ball was partially cleared but only as far as Alexander, whose first time left footed shot from the edge of the area nestled into the far corner. 2-0 with 9 minutes played.
The visitors were shellshocked and two minutes later Hackett was fouled on the edge of the area, but West’s free kick was deflected off for a corner, from which Alexander shot narrowly over the bar.
Aylesbury’s first serious attack saw Bewley’s free-kick from close to the half-way line go deep to the far post where centre-back Wood got his head to it but from a tight angle the ball hit the post. The follow-up from the 6-yard line, possibly from Hassim, was blocked by keeper Matthew Crowther’s chest, and Thame were able to clear the danger.
Thame full-back Josh Stranks then fouled Hashii for another free-kick on Aylesbury’s left wing. Bewley’s delivery was cleared, and Hackett launched a swift counterattack and played in Mcelroy, but the Thame forward cut back onto his right foot, but the shot was straight at keeper Remy Mitchell.
With the wet surface, players were sliding into challenges, but Thame were winning most of the 50/50 balls. Daniel made a break and found Hackett, but the cross was cleared for a corner. Thame took a short corner, but when the ball was played into the Aylesbury area, Mitchell made a commanding catch.
Left-back Bewley seemed to be Aylesbury’s set piece specialist, but a free-kick from wide on the right was overhit and sailed off for a goal kick.
With 22 minutes played, Kajetan Halatyn kept the ball in play near the corner flag and his scooped cross drifted with the wind onto the top of the crossbar and off, but the Thame keeper looked to have had it covered.
From another Aylesbury free kick, a header beyond the far post looped up into the air and Crowther made the catch.
The rain was now much heavier, and the wind was getting stronger. Batchelor-Morgan went on a strong run from his own half and found Kassim in space on the right wing but none of his teammates were gambling to get on the end of the inviting cross, and the ball rolled off for a goal kick.
Hogg won two tackles in quick succession in midfield for Thame and played in Hackett, but the shot was two-fisted away by Mitchell. Daniel’s ball back into the 6-yard box was put out for a corner, which West headed narrowly wide at the near post.
At the other end Kassim sent a 20 yard left-footed effort goalwards, but Crowther produced a decent diving save to push the ball away for a corner. The corner was cleared but Aylesbury reworked possession, and Stallard was teed up to have side-footed left footed effort from just inside the area, which rebounded off the bar.
In the 38th minute, West delivered a dangerous cross from the right-hand channel that needed Wood to put out for a Thame corner to prevent Daniel having a tap-in at the far post. Mitchell dropped the corner but gratefully dived onto the loose ball.
Hackett then played a glorious ball down the left-hand touch line for Daniel to run onto and deliver a low cross along the Aylesbury 6-yard line, but Mcelroy sliding in at the far post was just unable to make contact. Thame regained possession but the cross from the right was headed by West straight at keeper Mitchell.
At half-time approached, Hackett again skinned the unfortunate Batchelor-Morgan, but Alexander volleyed the cross to the far post narrowly wide. The last action of the half saw West blast a free kick from wide out on the right straight at keeper Mitchell, who gathered at the second attempt.
At the interval Thame deserved their two goal lead despite Aylesbury having hit the woodwork three times ! Thame had created many more chances, and seemed to be more up for the game, winning most of the challenges. Aylesbury’s midfield were being overrun, and were not providing defensive support, in particular not supporting right-back Batchelor-Morgan in coping with Thame’s raids down the left.
Aylesbury’s solution to their defensive weakness was to take off Batchelor-Morgan at half-time and move Kone from midfield to right-back. It didn’t really make any difference……
Thame were on the attack almost immediately at the start of the second period, as Mcelroy was wrestled to the floor near the left-hand corner flag. West’s ambitious attempt on goal from a narrow angle was saved by Mitchell at his near post.
Hackett then easily got past Kone on the left but his cross from the byline went into the side netting.
The visitors came to life when a good through ball put Halatyn clear, but the shot was saved by an outstretched leg from the Thame keeper. A quick throw in then put an Aylesbury clear on the left, and the low ball into area saw Zielinski put it narrowly wide as he slid in at the far post.
Aylesbury were enjoying a good spell and Thame left-back Oscar Lucey became the first ( and only ) player to be shown a yellow card after pulling back Hashii as he ran away from him down the right wing. The free kick was met beyond the far post, but the header hit another player and fell to the ground for Crowther to collect.
The wind and rain had increased in strength and a goal kick from Crowther bounced off the wet surface over the Aylesbury backline, but keeper Mitchell gathered ahead of Mcelroy. As the weather worsened the match became a bit of a slog, but Thame continued to have the edge.
Hashii was then put clear for Aylesbury but could only drag his shot across goal and a couple of feet wide.
At the other end an in-swinging Thame corner was headed over from close range by Hackett. Thame then intricately exchanged passes around the edge of the Ducks’ area but when the rebound ran towards keeper Mitchell he opted to kick clear rather than bravely dive on the ball as Daniel bore down on him.
A long free kick from Thame then skidded off the turf and caught the wind but Mitchell caught under his crossbar. Thame were again back on top and from a cross from the right-wing Louis headed across the goal, and when Mcelroy then played the ball back in the opposite direction, Aylesbury were able to clear.
Stranks needed to make a good interception to end a dangerous looking move from Aylesbury, then Hackett shot well over the bar when he had the option to play in either Mcelroy or Alexander.
The destination of the points was finally confirmed when a quick break by Thame saw Louis lash the ball into the top corner from 25 yards. A fabulous strike from the veteran journeyman and it was now 3-0 with 73 minutes played.
A superb cross-field pass enabled Hackett to run into space on the left, but after cutting back inside his shot was blocked, and Mcelroy sent the rebound straight at Mitchell.
Hackett and Louis then combined to tee up Hogg but again the shot was straight at the Aylesbury keeper.
With the game in the bag, Thame made four substitutions in quick succession. With five minutes remaining a fabulous cross-field ball from Tutton released Hackett, who again got back Kone, and Beadle was about to head home a pin-point cross from 8 yards. It was now 4-0 with 85 minutes on the clock.
Four minutes of added time were signalled, which I’m not sure anyone welcomed in these conditions, but Aylesbury gamely searched for a consolation goal. Again, another inviting ball across the 6 yard line saw no-one on hand to finish, Riddick needed to produce a timely tackle to thwart an attacking move, a 20 yard shot went straight at Crowther, and the final action saw a 25 yard effort from Under 19 Lithuanian international Andrijus Lapacinaskas curl over the bar.
Thame deserved to take the three points in a game played in miserable conditions. Aylesbury were out-thought and out-fought, and their much vaunted defence could easily have conceded more than four goals.
Following this result Thame moved up to 5th in the table, whilst the Ducks slipped down to 8th.
Link To Online Programme : https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com%2Fclubs%2F13461%2Fde8cySImQfa1NgjBCqUR_Match+Day+Programme+Aylesbury+United.pdf
Thame United : Crowther – Stranks, Riddick, Murray, Lucey - Alexander ( Brown ), Hogg ( Tutton ), West ( Beadle ), Hackett – Daniel ( Louis ), Mcelroy ( White )
Aylesbury United : Mitchell – Batchelor-Morgan ( St Clair-Burton ), Wood, Henry, Bewley – Stallard, Kone - Kassim, Halatyn ( Lapacinaskas ), Zielinski, Hashii ( French )
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