Thame United 2-2 AFC Dunstable ( att : 100 ) – 2025/26 Southern League Division One Central

September 30, 2025

After securing their first league points of the season last Saturday with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Stotfold, Thame had an opportunity to add to that with the Tuesday night visit of AFC Dunstable. After starting the season with just one home fixture in their opening 7 matches, Thame were now playing their third home game in a run of six consecutive home matches.

AFC Dunstable were in 15^th place in the table, with three more points than Thame but from two more games played. Thame were third from bottom.

Previous Meetings

Fatbear was in attendance for last season’s meeting between these two sides, also played in mid-week, when Dunstable came from behind to score two goals in the last 5 minutes plus added time to achieve a 3-2 victory in a thoroughly entertaining game for the neutral.

https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/10/thame-united-2-3-afc-dunstable-att-112.html 

This would be the third time this fixture had been covered in these diaries, with the 1-1 draw on New Year’s Day in 2022 also being featured.

https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/01/thame-united-1-1-afc-dunstable-att-165.html 

Thame and Dunstable have been in the same division since the 2017/18 season and overall Dunstable have had the edge. Thame had won just two of seven home matches, with two draws, and Dunstable had lost only once at home in 6 meetings, with two draws.

AFC Dunstable

Founded in 1981, they are not to be confused with Dunstable Town, the side George Best briefly played for in the 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 !

At the time of last season’s visit to the ASM, AFC Dunstable were owned by Varsity Nine, who are described as “a sports management company that specialises in delivering services for high performing players and student athletes”, which explained why everyone in their squad was 23 or younger. In November 2024, ownership of the club was moved to a private limited company, and is now run by a committee, although the focus on young players has continued.

Last season, AFC Dunstable finished in 14^th place, with an average home attendance of 149.

AFC Dunstable This Season

Dunstable arrived at the ASM stadium with a 1-3-3 record. The season commenced with a 2-2 home draw with Northwood Town, which was followed with a 1-0 victory at Welwyn Garden City and another home draw, this time 1-1 against Hadley.

The first defeat came at the hands of Enfield, 2-5 away, then another, 1-2 at home to Milton Keynes Irish after which a 1-1 home draw with Beaconsfield Town was recorded. On Saturday, Dunstable subsided to a 0-1 loss at Hitchin Town with a red card to left-back Carmicheal Uchenna.

AFC Dunstable had been unlucky with their Cup draws, coming out of the hat second on four occasions. In the FA Cup, Harwich and Parkeston were vanquished 4-1 but AFC then exited the competition 0-1 at Tilbury.

In the FA trophy, Maldon and Tiptree were beaten 1-0, after which revenge was obtained over Enfield for the defeat in the league, with a 3-1 win. Dunstable finally had a home draw in the next round, where they will host step 3 Folkestone Invicta.

Dunstable’s average home league attendance this season is 113.

AFC Dunstable Squad

Ex-Holmer Green and Aylesbury Vale Dynamos striker Sean Duodu is now dual registered with step 2 Slough Town, and was the top scorer in all competitions with four goals. Striker Timothy Okwusogu played for Ware last season and had found the net three times this season.

At 23 years old, ex-Newport Pagnell Town defender Ben Lynch was the oldest player in the AFC Dunstable squad whilst centre-back Harry Riley played 11 matches for Thame in 2023/24.

Midfielder Maks Jarzabek had previously played for Beaconsfield Town and Aylesbury United whilst right-back Joshua Clark-Anderson was formerly part of the MK Dons Academy, and attacking midfielder Avtandil Akhsiashvilli hails from Georgia and was with Beaconsfield Town last season.

From the squad that featured in last season’s encounter, midfielders Tali Jallow, George Joyce, Kyle Brooks, and forward Tommy Blennerhassett were also involved tonight. Left-back Khyan Frazer-Williams, who was outstanding in last season’s meeting as a 16 year old, has now signed to be part of Crystal Palace’s Academy.

Matchday Information

According to AA Route Planner the journey from Dunstable to Thame is 26 miles and should normally just under 50 minutes.

The weather at the 19.45 kick-off was dry and the temperature was around 13 degrees.

Entrance to the game was £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, £3 for Under 16s, whilst under 5s went in for free. A large cup of tea cost £1.50. An online programme had been produced for the match.

Dunstable made four changes to the side that started at Hitchin, with Sam Carmen taking over between the sticks, Mwita Mgoyo coming in at centre-back and Jarzabek and Bruce Nsang in midfield. Jallow, Avtandil and Shawn Joseph dropped to the bench. Thame made two changes to the side that beat Stotfold, with starts for Ty Njogu and Abu Khan.

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 were in their usual red and black shirts.

Matchday Report

Thame kicked off and almost immediately Khan was fouled near the right-hand touchline. Harry Alexander’s in-swinging free-kick bounced near the six-yard line and keeper Carmen fumbled. Dunstable were unable to clear the loose ball and a shot from Louis Walsh was blocked for a corner. The visitors’ defending at the corner was unconvincing, but the ball was eventually cleared.

Walsh then ran past Okwusogu and passed to Alexander, but his curling left-footed effort drifted wide of the far post.

The first on target shot arrived in the 9^th minute. Callum Hall’s long throw was headed on by Mark Riddick, but Alexander’s stabbed shot went into the arms of the keeper.

Dunstable had their first attempt on goal in the 12^th minute. A right-wing cross found Okwusogu unmarked at the far post but the header was totally mis-timed, and headed off towards the corner flag.  It was a great chance wasted.

Play went down the other end and Walsh delivered a fierce cross but unfortunately for Thame, it went behind the two attackers bearing down on goal.

A nice flowing move from Dunstable then ended with Brooks’ cross-cum-shot flying high and wide across the goalmouth.

With 24 minutes on the clock, a suspiciously looking offside Brown ran onto a cross-field pass from Walsh and managed to get a cross in before the ball went out of play. Jenson Wright shaped to volley from 12 yards but completely missed the ball.

Two minutes later Carmen, under pressure from Riddick, dropped an over-hit cross from Khan. Dunstable were able to clear the loose ball but Thame lumped it back to the edge of the area. Riddick, with his back to the goal, held the ball up. Alexander took the ball away from him and burst into the penalty area and with just the keeper to beat, finished smartly. 1-0 after 26 minutes.

Walsh then sprayed another cross-field pass for Brown to scamper to the byline but his cross was put-off for a corner by Mgoyo. Alexander’s in-swinging delivery put pressure on Carmen but the keeper was able to punch away from under his crossbar. Khan sent the loose ball high over the bar from 30 yards.

Thame should have doubled their lead in the 34^th minute. Njogu won possession as Dunstable tried to play out from the back and played the ball to Brown, who played a low ball across the goalmouth. Walsh, 8 yards out, failed to make contract, and a golden chance went begging.

Dunstable’s first serious effort of the match game two minutes later, but a good strike from Jarzabek was tipped over the bar by Thame keeper Pettitt. Thame cleared the corner and Walsh ran onto a long ball out of defence. With Uchenna trying to cover, Walsh spotted Carmen well out of his goal area and attempted to chip into the vacant goal from distance, but the ball sailed a yard over the bar.

Dunstable again attempted to play out from the back from the goal-kick and Brooks appeared to be very fortunate when he fell to the ground when challenged by Alexander, who was then clear on goal with just Carmen to beat. However, the referee judged that a foul had been committed on the Dunstable player.

A couple of minutes later Alexander won possession just inside the Thame half and played down the right-hand channel. Brown got past Uchenna but Mgoyo was covering and forced Brown wide, and good defending saw him block the cross at the expense of a corner. Mgoyo was again in the right place to concede another corner when Thame attempted a short corner routine.

Thame continued to dominate and Walsh went on a mazy run down the left and played the ball across goal from the byline. Wright’s effort was blocked at close range and the rebound fell to Brown, whose attempt from the bouncing ball went back across goal but high and wide. It was another good chance that Thame had failed to take advantage of.

Dunstable enjoyed a brief spell of pressure as the game moved into first half added time. First, a cross from Clark-Anderson went straight to the Thame keeper. Blennerhassett then ran at the retreating Thame backline and fired a foot or two wide of the post from 20 yards, with Pettitt holding a watching brief. The visitors then penned Thame into their area but good defence ensured there were no further chances.

Thame headed to the dressing rooms with a deserved 1-0 half-time lead, which perhaps should have been greater. They had looked physically stronger and won nearly all of the 50/50 tackles, with Njogu catching the eye with his ability to break-up play and calmly offload to a team-mate to launch an attack. Dunstable had looked good in patches but had rarely threatened until the close moments of the half.

Whatever was said in the Dunstable dressing room at half-time seemed to have had an effect, as the visitors made an impressive start to the second period. Okwusogu made a strong run down the left and then cut inside for a 20-yard shot that stung the hands of Pettitt, who gathered at the second attempt. Blennerhassett then spun on the edge of the area, but his effort lacked power and rolled several yards wide.

Walsh showed good vision for Thame to play another splendid cross-field ball in to the acres of space on the right to which Brown ran into, but good defending by Uchenna resulted in a goal-kick. Jazarbek then became the first player to be shown a yellow card after hauling Brown to the floor as Thame attempted to counter-attack from inside their half.

Uchenna continued his good play with a strong run down the left-wing and his pull-back reached Blennerhassett, but the left footed shot on the turn from 12 yards was screwed wide. It was Dunstable’s best chance of the game so far.

Brown was then shown a yellow card for taking too long at a throw in, after which Wright teed up Walsh for a 20-yard drive which was pushed away by Carmen, and Wright was flagged for offside when he tried to latch onto the rebound.

Dunstable thought they had grabbed an equaliser when Okwusogu’s 25 yards swerving effort looked to have deceived Pettitt, who was going the wrong way, but he was able to stick out an arm and deflect the ball over the bar.

Substitute Jallow picked up a loose ball and made a surging run into the Thame area but was stopped by a superb tackle by Dan West, and Okwusogu send the rebound high over the bar. Jallow then selfishly attempted to score from 30 yards, only for it go high and wide, when there were several better options.

At the other end Walsh got past Clark-Anderson but from a tight angle opted to shoot, sending the ball high and wide across goal.

After some scrappy play on the edge of the area, Okwusogu saw another shot blocked. Jallow then attempted another selfish effort from 25 yards, this time nearly sending the ball out of the stadium. Several of his team-mates were not impressed !

In the 68^th minute Uchenna did well to prevent Khan from shepherding the ball out for a Thame goal-kick and passed to Okwusogu, who this time shot wildly over the bar. Another good move from Dunstable ended with another shot from Okwusogu being blocked.

Dunstable were now on top but were looking pretty toothless in attack.

With 77 minutes played another good move from the visitors ended with Blennerhassett shooting a couple of yards over the bar, shortly after which, Jallow ran through two would be tacklers and surprisingly opted to pass rather than shoot, and Okwusogu was the beneficiary, this time turning and shooting left-footed into the bottom corner for the equaliser. 1-1 after 78 minutes.

Dunstable were looking the side more likely to go on to win the game, and Uchenna broke down the left but Jallow’s weak shot from the edge of the area was easily saved by Pettitt.

Thame won a corner, but Riddick’s header at the far post was a routine save for Carmen. Dunstable then took play down the other end, and Avtandil’s chip across the goal from a tight angle struck the crossbar and bounced away to safety.

Avtandil played a pass to Blennerhassett after a probing run, but the shot from the edge of the area was weak and Pettitt had another regulation save to make.

Thame won another corner, which was taken by Jack Tutton, and Riddick rose the highest at the far post to head home from 6 yards. It was against the run of play, but Thame now led 2-1 after 83 minutes.

Avtandil made another good run for the visitors but Dunstable were unable to line up a shot for anyone and Khan was able to clear.

As the game moved into added on time, Clark-Anderson won a corner for Dunstable after good defending by Khan. Thame were desperately hanging on and were hitting it anywhere. When Dunstable had a throw-in midway inside the Thame half, every Thame player was defending inside their area. The ball was thrown short and a Dunstable defender launched the ball high into the Thame penalty. Keeper Pettitt decided to come to claim the ball but hopelessly misjudged it, and was caught in no-man’s land. The ball came off a Dunstable head and looped slowly into the vacant net. Brooks was credited with the goal and it was 2-2 after 94 minutes.

There was still time for one last attack by Thame, but after cutting in from the left Greg Hackett’s blazed effort was closer to the corner flag than to the goal.

At the final whistle a draw probably the right result. Thame were much the better side in the first half, whereas Dunstable were the better team in the second period, and although the equaliser came deep into added time and had a strong element of good fortune, it felt deserved.

With results elsewhere this evening, Thame had slipped to second from bottom. Dunstable moved up a place to 14^th.

Thame United : Pettitt – Khan, Tingey, West, Hall – Njogu ( Monroe ), Riddick, Wright ( Williams ), Walsh ( Tutton ) – Alexander, Brown ( Hackett )

AFC Dunstable :  Carmen – Clark-Anderson, Lynch ( Jospeh ), Mgoyo ( Addy ), Uchenna – Nsang ( Avtandil ), Brooks, Joyce ( Jallow ), Jarzabek ( Lucas ), Okwusogu - Blennerhassett

 

 

Thame United 1-0 Stotfold ( att : 92 ) – 2025/26 Southern League Division One Central

September 27, 2025

It was back to the bread and butter of league football for Thame after success in the FA Trophy last weekend, for which they were rewarded with an attractive Oxfordshire derby at home to step 3 Banbury United in the next round.

Today’s opposition were Stotfold, struggling in 18^th place in the league table, but Thame were bottom having lost all four league matches to date !

Previous Meetings

Last season’s fixture at Thame was a fabulous game for the neutral. With fewer than 30 minutes left to play, Stotfold led by 4-0, but Thame amazingly stormed back to draw 4-4, including two goals in added on time. Fatbear was there to report on the match

https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2025/02/thame-united-4-4-stotfold-att-106.html 

The return match at Stotfold also ended with honours even, as this time Stotfold twice came from behind to draw 2-2.

Despite fighting against relegation in 2023/24, Thame did the double over Stotfold, winning 2-1 at home and 2-0 away.

Stotfold

Stotfold is a town in central Bedfordshire with a population estimated at just under 10,000 and located between Biggleswade and Letchworth Garden City.

Its football club were founded in 1946 and are known as The Eagles, although more recently the colloquial term “the fold” has become increasingly popular. Home is New Roker Park, which cost £2M to build and opened in 2020 after their original Roker Park ground was sold for housing.

Stotfold’s first season at step 4 was in 2023/24 where they finished a respectable 7^th place, but last season the ended up in 17^th place, two points clear of the relegation places, with an average attendance of 204.

Stotfold This Season

Stotfold had a disastrous start to their season, losing their first six matches in all competitions before beating Marlow 2-0 at home in their last outing.

The season began with a 0-4 home defeat to step 4 Redbridge in the FA Cup, after which league matches were lost 0-3 at home to Beaconsfield, 4-5 at Ware, 2-3 at home to Leverstock Green, 2-4 at Hadley before a 0-2 home defeat to Isthmian League Division One North Mildenhall in the FA Trophy.

 The average home league attendance was 133 so far.

Stotfold Squad

Striker Henry Snee, who rejoined Stotfold in the summer after spells at Biggleswade United and Hitchin Town, was the top scorer with 4 goals, whilst another returning player, winger Luca Cardines, and who had played for Biggleswade Town, Kempston Rovers and Hertford, had found the net twice.

New signing ex-Potters Bar midfielder Richesse Mvioki scored on his debut against Marlow, whilst other recent signings to strengthen the squad after the poor start to the season included ex-Arlesey Town defender Hamid Sesay, ex Hitchin and Ashford Town forward Joseph Chidyausiku and ex-Biggleswade Town, Leighton and Cambridge City midfielder Sebastian Simpson.

Keeper Liam Gooch, defender Jack Brown and midfielders Alex Coppin and Mitchell Gooch were survivors from last season’s encounter at the ASM Stadium.

Matchday Information

According to AA Route Planner the journey from Stotfold to Thame is 47 miles and should normally take one hour twenty minutes down the A418 via Aylesbury.

The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was dry and cloudy, and the temperature was around 15 degrees.

Entrance to the game was £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, £3 for Under 16s, whilst under 5s went in for free. A large cup of tea cost £1.50. An online programme had been produced for the match.

Stotfold were unchanged from the side that beat Marlow last time out, whilst Thame made two changes to the side that beat Winchester. With keeper Matt Crowther suffering a serious looking shoulder injury in that game and likely to out for several months, Thame had moved to signed Johnny Pettitt on loan from Wycombe Wanderers. The other change was striker Lance Williams coming in for last week’s two goal hero Greg Hackett, who was missing today.

Stotfold were playing in a change kit of all purple, whilst Thame were in their usual red and black shirts.

Matchday Report

A one-minute silence was observed in respect of Chichester City’s Bill Vigar, who passed away during the week, after having suffered a head injury last weekend at Leyton & Wingate.

Immediately from the kick-off, Curtis Brown made a strong run to the Stotfold byline but his pull-back was cut-out by Mvioki. A long throw for Thame reached Williams, whose shot was blocked for a corner, to which Coppin was able to get a head to for another throw-in for the home side.

Stotfold won their first corner of the game when Coppin’s long cross-field pass was put out by Thame left-back Callum Hall with winger Dan Kemp lurking behind him. Cardines delivery sailed over the keeper and off a goal-kick.

The first chance of the game arrived in the 8^th minute when Harry Alexander teed up Jenson Wright, whose 20-yard piledriver was pushed away by the diving Stotfold keeper. Gooch was called into action again a minute later, bravely diving at the feet of Williams to claim Brown’s dangerous looking low cross.

At the other end, Mvioki nicked the ball away from Dan West, but his 20 yard left-footed attempt was sent well wide of the goal.

A Thame long throw was headed on by Riddick but bounced into the arm of Gooch, shortly after which Stotfold’s Lewis Thomas was in the right position to intercept a low cross from Louis Walsh intended for Alexander.

The end-to-end nature of the opening stages continued when Kemp sent an inviting cross from the right wing, but Luke Tingay made an important sliding block at the near post to prevent Snee having a chance to finish. It was then the visitors’ turn to launch a long throw in the 6-yard box, which Pettitt tentatively pushed over the crossbar, and the corner was headed clear at the near post.

Both sides were struggling to make a breakthrough, and Alexander was denied by good covering defending by Seisay.

The first yellow card was shown in the 19^th minute to Thame’s Mark Riddick, who appeared to have made a splendid tackle on Mvioki, but the referee thought otherwise. It looked like Thame manager Ben Williams also saw yellow for his comments after the card to Riddick had been produced.

Walsh then lofted a ball into the Stotfold area for Alexander, who went to ground very easily after a challenge by Olatunde Okeowo, and although there were some half-hearted appeals for a penalty, a goal-kick was given.

Thame were gradually getting on top, with some nice passing, but were failing to make much of an impression on the well organised Stotfold defence. Walsh did well down the left-hand channel but his ball into the area for Williams was cut-out by the outstretched foot of Thomas. Momentarily, it looked like the ball might sneak past the wrong-footed keeper, but fortunately for Stotfold, it went wide of the post for a corner. The set-piece was wasted, landing on the roof of the net.

Another long throw by Brown was headed out to Alexander, but his volley from 20 yards went a couple of feet over the bar.

A Stotfold break saw Kemp put a poor cross straight to the Thame keeper, and in the 35^th minute Seisay scythed down Walsh for the first yellow for the visitors, but the free-kick was poor and easily headed away. Walsh was in the wars, being fouled twice more in quick succession.

A poor clearance from keeper Gooch went straight off for a throw to Thame, which Brown again sent into the mixer. A defender headed the ball away as far as Alexander just outside the area, but his goal-bound shot was blocked by Seisay a couple of feet off his goal-line for a corner.

Play was held up for several minutes after Okeowo landed awkwardly after trying to challenge Alexander, but fortunately the left-back was okay to continue.

Stotfold’s best chance of the game came in first half added on time. A bouncing left-wing cross from Cardines, was pushed away by the diving Pettitt only as far as Mitchell Gooch, who could only spoon high into the air, and Pettitt recovered to make the catch.

The last action of the half saw Thame’s Dan West receive a yellow card, for a handball whilst under pressure from Snee. The resulting free-kick was headed clear by Wright, following which the referee blew his whistle to end the first half

As the teams headed towards the dressing rooms, the scores were deservedly level. There had been some nice play from both sides but there had been few clear-cut chances.

Thame one made change for the start of the second half, with Abu Khan coming on for Williams, but taking the right-back berth, with Brown moving up front.

The opening 20 minutes or so of the second period were not great, with both sides’ main weapon being long-throws. For Stotfold, Coppin’s 25-yard shot went well wide but Pettitt was claiming Seisay’s long throws with increasing confidence although Thomas got his head to one throw, which Pettitt only gathered at the second attempt before a Stotfold attacker could poke in from close range.

For Thame, Tutton sent a 25-yard free-kick high over the bar, and Alexander beat Coppin three times and a couple of other Stotfold defenders on a mazy run, but was eventually disposed by Thomas. Walsh got past Brown to run into the Stotfold area but then lost control whilst bearing down on the keeper.

The most eye-catching piece of play came in the 62^nd minute, and saw Khan run from close to the half-way line past four Stotfold players to be one-v-one against Gooch, but his poked shot hit the chest of the keeper and rolled off for a corner. A short-corner routine was messed up.

Alexander headed on a long throw, but it was cleared. When Thame reworked possession, Hall made a good run down the left, only to cross straight to Gooch.

With 65 minutes on the clock, Stotfold brought on the portly Chidyausiku to add some beef to their attack.

Thame finally found the back of the net in the 70^th minute, but Brown’s smart header from Wright’s cross was chalked off for offside. Brown could have scored a minute later, being found in space inside the Stotfold area after Wright and Alexander had exchanged passes, but a poor touch enabled Seisay to take the ball away from him.

In an increasingly rare foray into the Thame area, Cardines volleyed over the bar after a long throw had been headed out to him.

The game’s controversial moment occurred in the 76^th minute. Thame played a long ball down the left and substitute Ethan Lack was clearly standing in an offside position and stopped. Alexander looked to have timed his run perfectly, and the referee ignored the linesman’s raised flag and waved play on. Alexander ran on, drew the keeper and unselfishly squared the ball to Lack to tap into the empty goal. The referee then consulted with his assistant, and disallowed the goal and awarded a free-kick to Stotfold.

It was all Thame now, and Alexander did well to cross from the left to beyond the far post, but Riddick was unable to get his header on target. Walsh made a good run and found Brown inside the visitors’ area but Okeowo made a vital block. Thame recycled possession but Lack shot over the bar.

With 88 minutes played, Walsh found Alexander who released Brown to run at goal, but he wanted too much time and was unable to get a shot away. Alexander won the loose ball and fed Lack, but the deflected shot went into the side netting for a corner. Walsh’s delivery was headed away for a throw, from which Tingey headed on but Gooch was able to gather. Brown then got past Okeowo close to the byline but Thomas put the ball off for another corner.

With play having been stopped on several occasions due to injuries to Stotfold players, 10 added minutes were to be played, and Thame laid siege to the Stotfold goal.

Brown again got free on the right but his intended ball to the unmarked Lack was cut out, when perhaps he could have gone on his own. Khan was then wrestled to the ground near the corner flag, and Snee entered the referee’s notebook. Gooch though made a good catch from the free-kick.

The referee clearly warned Seisay not to go any further when taking a throw-in, the centre-back ignored the directive and stole a few more yards, resulting in the referee stopping play when the ball had entered play, and gave the throw to Thame.

Thame continued to pile on the pressure, and a shot from Walsh from just outside the area produced a top save from Gooch, not only diving low to his right, but holding onto the ball.

Just when it looked like the overworked Stotfold rearguard would hold on for a point, Hall crossed from left to right where Khan and Brown combined. The ball across the goalmouth was slightly behind Walsh, but the midfielder was able to spin and shoot left footed into the bottom corner past the despairing Gooch. 1-0 in the 11^th minute of added on time

With there being more injuries in added time, the referee played another three minutes, but Thame were able to see out the closing stages without any alarms, for what was in the end a deserved victory, albeit tough on Stotfold who came so close to holding out.

Thame’s first points of the season took them off the bottom of the table, to be one of five sides, together with Stotfold, on three points.

Thame United : Pettitt – Brown, Tingey, West, Hall – Tutton ( Lack ), Wright ( Njogu ), Riddick, Walsh – Alexander, Williams ( Khan )

Stotfold : L. Gooch – Brown, Seisay, Thomas ( Bunyan ), Okeowo – Kemp ( Chidyausiku ), Coppin ( Peters ), M. Gooch, Mvioki ( Simpson ), Cardines - Snee

 

 

Thame United 3-1 Winchester City ( att : 102 ) – 2025/26 FA Trophy

September 20, 2025

After watching their reserves last Saturday, it was now the turn of Thame United’s 1^st team to be featured in these diaries. Today was a cup-tie between two step 4 sides, with Thame playing in the Southern League Division One Central, whilst Winchester were in the South Division. If the scores were level after 90 minutes, the tie would be decided on penalties.

A combination of the quirks of the fixture computer and the luck of cup draws meant this would be only Thame’s second home match of the season, and the first since August 12^th.

Previous Meetings

Thame and Winchester had never played a league match, but had been drawn against each other twice before in the FA Trophy. In 2019/20, a 3-3 draw was played at Winchester before Thame won the replay 5-3. In 2021/22, Thame again progressed after a 3-2 home win. If the previous results were any indicator, this could be a high scoring encounter, and Winchester would no doubt be hoping it would be a case of third time lucky !

Three of the Winchester players involved in the 2021 cup-tie were still playing for the club, defender Danny King, midfielder Ollie Griggs and centre-forward Ollie Balmer. Their goal-keeper that day, Ryan Pryce, is now one of the first-team coaches. In contrast, Thame had 5 players from that day still playing for them, defenders Finlay Murray and Lewis Thorne, midfielders Jack Tutton and Dan West ( who was one of the goalscorers ), and winger Greg Hackett.

Thame United This Season

These diaries covered Thame’s first pre-season friendly, when they lost to step 5 Abingdon United. After their sixth placed finish last season, their season to-date had been disappointing and they sat bottom of Division One Central with four losses from four league games. The one home game had been a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Leighton Town, whilst on the road they had gone down 0-2 at Hertford, 1-2 at Leverstock Green and last Saturday 3-4 at Hadley.

Thame had been more successful in the cup competitions. In the FA Cup, a 3-1 victory was recorded at step 5 Clevedon Town, but they exited the competition with a 1-2 reverse at step 3 Chertsey Town.  In the previous round of the FA Trophy, Thame travelled to Portsmouth to play step 4 Moneyfields of the Isthmian South Central Division and equalised in the 89^th minute to draw 2-2, and then won the penalty shoot-out.

Midfielders Mark Riddick and Curtis Brown were Thame’s leading scorers in the league with 2 goals each, but ex-Oxford City attacking midfielder Louis Walsh had scored three times in the cups.

With only one home match played, Thame’s average attendance was the 219 who attended the game against Leighton !

Winchester City

Winchester is a cathedral city and the county town of Hampshire. Its population is approximately 50,000. The cathedral is the final resting place of Jane Austin and was the subject of a novelty hit single by The New Vaudeville Band in 1966 !

My visits to the city had been confined to 6 mid-week cricket matches in the late 80s/early 1990s against Old Symondians/St Cross Symondians at the Green Jackets Ground, although on one occasion I travelled down early to visit the city centre and the cathedral.

According to the history on its website, the city’s football club were founded in 1891 but the club’s badge and crest confusingly show 1884 !

Apart from two season between 1971 and 1973 when they played in the Southern League, Winchester had played in the Hampshire Leagues for over 100 years until they won promotion to the Wessex League for the 2003/04 season. The Wessex league was won in their first season in it but promotion to the Southern league was denied on ground grading criteria. The consolation was winning the 2003/04 FA Vase, beating AFC Sudbury 2-0 in the final played at Birmingham City’s St Andrews Ground.

Winchester were finally accepted into the Southern League Division One South-West after winning the 2005/06 Wessex League but had since suffered two relegations back to the Wessex League, before returning to the Southern League after finishing runners-up at the end of the 2014/15 season.

After a play-off defeat in 2015/16 and being in 4^th place when both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons were terminated, Winchester finally won promotion to step 3 by beating Bristol Manor Farm 4-1 at home in the play-off final in front of a crowd of 1,025. However, after three seasons in the Southern League Premier South, Winchester were relegated on goal difference at the end of last season after a final day 1-1 draw at home to Taunton Town in front of a crowd of 784 was not enough to overhaul Bracknell, as Tiverton leapfrogged Winchester with a final day victory over already relegated Marlow.

Home is the 4,500 capacity City Ground, and the club’s nickname is The Citizens. Winchester’s average attendance for the 2024/25 season was 378.

Winchester City This Season

Winchester had made a good start to the season back at step 4, being in third place in the South Division with a 4-0-1 record. The one loss came at Westbury United ( 0-1 ), but wins had been registered over Hartpury ( H 2-1 ), Inkberrow ( H 3-1 ), Didcot ( A 3-1 ) and Portishead ( H 4-0 ). The average home league attendance was 310 so far.

After beating division rivals Bashley after a replay, Winchester’s FA Cup run ended at the next hurdle with a 0-1 loss in a replay to Fareham Town. In the FA Trophy, another opponent from their league, Frome Town, had been despatched 2-0 in Somerset.

The Citizens leading goalscorer in league matches was Balmer with 6 goals. Ex-Sutton United and Havant & Waterlooville forward Tommy Wright had twice found the net.

Midfielder Jez Bedford had previously played for Poole Town and Wimborne, striker Bradley Waters had joined from Bemerton Heath Harlequins, and forward Conor Lynch played several seasons for Hungerford.

Captain and centre-back Callum Brackley had played for Weymouth and Dorchester, defender Tom Bragg was ex-Salisbury and Dorchester Town, and ex-Dorchester and Bemerton Heath Harlequins midfielder Dom Panesar-Dower is presumed known as Monty !

Watching Winchester City

Fatbear had seen Winchester play twice before, when they were in the Southern League in the early 1970s. In December 1971 they played a 3-3 draw at Crawley Town, with the game being played on a typically muddy pitch at Crawley’s Town Mead ground. My memory may be unreliable but I believe Winchester took an early 2-0 before falling behind, but grabbed an equaliser near the end.

In November 1972 it was a 1-1 draw at Crawley, and I have zero recollection of the game, but I noted on the programme that left-back Ian McGonagle scored for Crawley and Smart for Winchester.

Matchday Information

According to AA Route Planner, the journey from Winchester to Thame is 66 miles and should normally take a hour and 20 minutes up the A34. It looked like around 25 Citizens supporters had made the journey.

The forecasted rain for the 15.00 kick-off had stayed away and the temperature was around 18 degrees.

Entrance to the game was £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, £3 for Under 16s, whilst under 5s went in for free. An online programme had been produced for the match.

Winchester made three changes to the side that beat Portishead, with Balmer, Griggs and Callum Baughan replacing Buckley, Bedford and Matt Neale. Thame also made three from the side that lost at Hadley, with the return of West, Walsh and Harry Alexander. However, their formation had a makeshift look to it with West playing centre-back, Brown at right-back and Hackett playing as a centre-forward. Thame also had only three substitutes on the bench.

Winchester were playing in their kit of broad blue and black stripped shirts with blue shorts and socks, whilst Thame were in their usual red and black shirts.

Matchday Report

Winchester kicked-off attacking the ring road end, but the first action saw a Thame long throw-in headed away by Bragg.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the opening stages with the two most notable incidents being two refereeing decisions ( or non-decisions ). In the 8^th minute, Baughan made a nasty looking stamp on the foot of Walsh and the ball rolled to Hackett who stopped waiting for the free-kick to be awarded. However, no whistle was blown, Winchester took possession but were only able to give away a throw-in.

Two minutes later Brown made an obvious foul throw, and both sides waited for the referee to instead give the throw-in to Winchester. Again, the referee allowed play to continue so Brown played the ball, leading to the referee to award an indirect free-kick to Winchester. The kick was taken quickly but Thame regained possession.

With 12 minutes played, West failed to cut out a long ball out of the Winchester defence and Lynch ran to the right-hand byline, but his cross was poor and an easy for keeper Crowther to dive onto.

The initial impression of Winchester was that they were very mouthy and quick to complain about every decision that went again them, even the very obvious fouls. As if to underline the point, Dan Bradshaw was shown the first yellow card of the game in the 15^th minute for excessive comments when the referee ruled that a Winchester free-kick had been taken at least 10 yards further forward from where the offence took place so needed to be retaken.

The first half-decent move of the game saw Alexander and Jenson Wright, the ex-Didcot midfielder and 1980s sounding DJ, combine to put Hackett clear, but an offside flag was raised. A minute later, Waters ran past Brown close to the left-hand byline only to be pulled back by the Thame player, who was also shown a yellow card. Balmer took the free-kick to the near post, which Brown blocked and Callum Hall cleared.

With 18 minutes on the clock, the first shot on target was registered, but Bradshaw’s long-range effort rolled gently through to Crowther.

The first real chance of the game fell to Winchester a minute later. Thame had three or four chances to clear a ball into their area, but failed to do so. The ball fell to King, whose left-footed shot from around 12 yards was brilliantly saved by Crowther diving to his left to push away for a corner. Winchester took a short corner, and then crossed towards the near post where Bragg stuck out a foot to flick on, but fortunately for Thame the ball went straight to Crowther, who made the catch.

At this point some light rain started to fall as Winchester continued to press, but after a quick throw-in enabled Lynch to run clear on the right wing, his inside pass to Waters was meet by such a heavy first touch the ball went off for a goal-kick.

Lynch then made a hilarious appeal for a penalty as he fell to the floor after a long-ball went through to Crowther.

Thame were able to play several short passes around the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, but when Alexander was teed up for a shot on goal, his effort went several yards high. Shortly after Thame lost possession near half-way and Bradshaw attempted to play a defence splitting ball, but West made a superb sliding interception to stop the attack.

Balmer made an ugly looking foot-up challenge on Brown, and predictably all the Winchester players complained when the free-kick was awarded. Tutton played the free-kick towards the far post but Riddick’s header bounced a couple of feet wide of the post.

With 29 minutes on the clock Waters went rolling around on the floor after being fouled but quickly made a remarkable recovery without needing any treatment. A dangerous free-kick was headed off for a corner to Winchester, from which Bragg mysteriously crashed to the floor with no-one apparently close to him. Winchester reworked possession and Waters sent a floated cross from the left to beyond the far post where Hall’s attempted header away from goal went in completely the wrong direction, and Crowther made a brave diving save to push the ball away from a Winchester attacker.

King slid into the back leg of Hackett and received a yellow card for the nasty foul, but Bradshaw still felt the need to make some comments to the linesman for not helping the referee out.

A potentially pivotal incident occurred in the 35^th minute. Waters got to the byline but delivered another poor cross. Balmer gathered the loose ball and put in a good cross from the left wing to the near post where keeper Crowther and Lynch collided as both went for the ball. The ball went off for a goal-kick but the Winchester players and crowd behind the goal screamed loudly for a penalty. The referee ignored the appeals, and Crowther remained on the floor requiring treatment. After six minutes he gingerly left the pitch with what looked to be a shoulder injury, and midfielder Tutton had to take his place between the sticks as Thame had no substitute keeper. Instead, teenager Tyrae Njogu, on a season long loan from Oxford City, came on as the rain got heavier.

With two minutes of normal first half time left to play, a long ball from Winchester should have been gathered by Tutton, but Thame centre-back Luke Tingey was taking no chances and put the ball out for a corner. The set-piece was swung under the Thame crossbar, but Tutton was able to punch away as far as Panesar-Dower, whose shot from 20 yards went 20 yards wide.

A long ball out of the Thame defence saw King push the ball past his on-rushing keeper to give a corner to Thame. Winchester failed to adequately clear the corner and the ball fell to Alexander, who skipped past one defender and then won another corner. This was a cue for Bradshaw to make  more furious complaints against a very obvious, correct decision.

With the game entering the fourth minute of added time, Hackett was at least two yards offside as he ran onto a long ball, cut inside to his left foot, but keeper Tommy Scott saved his effort from 10 yards with an outstretched foot. At least this time the Winchester players and supporters were justified in their criticisms of the linesman.

A minute later Thame broke again through Walsh and Wright, and Alexander found Hackett in space on the left-hand side, and after cutting inside this time onto his right foot, Hackett’s shot from just inside the area wrong footed Scott, who stood motionless as the ball rolled inside the near post. 1-0 after 45+5 minutes

At the end of an awful first half, Thame had a one goal lead. Frankly, they had been terrible, but Winchester’s cynical approach deserved nothing. The spectator in front of me suggested they should be called “Wingechester”, which seemed very appropriate, and I can’t claim credit for it !

The Winchester coach was clearly dissatisfied with his side’s performance and made three changes at the interval.

Thame could have doubled their lead in the first minute of the second period when Baughan failed to cut out a pass and Walsh collected the ball to run into the Winchester area, but he allowed the ball to run away from him and Scott was able to dive on the ball.

Straight away, Winchester attacked down the left wing as Reggie Hodan crossed for Wright to head into the bottom corner from 8 yards. Whilst two of the substitutes had made an instant impact for Winchester, a recognised keeper would have been expected to have made the save low at his near post. Anyway, it was now 1-1 with 47 minutes played

Thame almost immediately hit back. Alexander made space on the right wing and played an inside pass to Hackett, whose shot was blocked for a corner. The set-piece floated over the Winchester defenders for West to head goalwards, but Baughan cleared off the line.

Winchester broke quickly, and the linesman on the main stand side again missed an offside of at least 2 yards, but the Winchester attack ended with Wright winning a corner off Hall, but the corner was overhit and sailed off for a goal-kick.

By now the rain had more or less stopped, and from another Winchester corner, King’s thumping header went narrowly over the bar.

The game descended almost into a farce as first, Bradshaw pathetically fell to the floor appealing for a free-kick, shortly followed by Panesar-Dower attempting to do the same. Hodan then went easily to ground inside the penalty area and screamed for a penalty as an overhit ball went through to Tutton.

Thame though were now starting to play well and were stringing some passes together. A superb through ball from Walsh split the square Winchester defence and Alexander ran on to the ball, rounded the keeper and side footed into the net from a reasonably tight angle. It was a fabulous finish, and Thame now led 2-1 after 65 minutes.

Winchester attacked straight from the restart but Tommy Wright’s shot was blocked by Hall, and West cleared. However, Thame were getting on top, and after Jenson Wright had a shot from inside the area blocked, he was able to prod the rebound to Hackett, but the curling shot was straight at the keeper.

The Winchester supporters behind the goal had another reasonable complaint when Tutton appeared to drop a cross behind the goal-line for a corner, but the linesman was again not in a position to make a decision, and play continued.

Another flowing move from Thame saw Walsh release Alexander on the right, and the low ball across the 18-yard line was met by Jenson Wright, but his first time shot flashed a foot or two wide of the post.

Winchester substitute Lewis Toms was the next to see yellow after a bad foul on Hackett. Winchester though created the next chance of the match but Barron’s 20-yard attempt produced an unexpectedly good save from Tutton, diving to his right to push away.

Another potentially crucial incident arose in the 76th minute. Brown went on a surging run from his own area to midway inside the Winchester half but he slightly over-ran the ball, enabling Jamison to make a clearance as Brown clattered into him fractionally late. The Winchester supporters cried for a second yellow card for Brown, but the referee was unmoved, probably deeming this to be an unavoidable coming together, and his cards remained in his pocket, but it was possibly a lucky escape for Brown.

Shortly after Balmer fell theatrically inside the Thame penalty area as a corner flew well over his head, but again the referee was not fooled.

Thame were looking the more likely side to score next, and Walsh made a run from halfway to have only the keeper to beat, but agonisingly for the home supporters put the ball inches wide of the far post. Thame then nicely moved the ball from left to right, for Alexander to shoot a couple of feet over.

With 7 minutes of normal time remaining, Tommy Walsh was fouled wide on the left, but Balmer’s free-kick was meet by Bragg’s backward glancing header, which drifted narrowly over the Thame crossbar.

Thame’s passing game was again to the fore as they worked the ball to Hackett on the left, but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked. Winchester looked to break, but Njogu made a superb tackle to win the ball back for the home side, and when the ball was fed to Hackett, a right footed shot curled into the far bottom corner of the net, with again keeper Cross rooted to the spot, to clinch the cup-tie. 3-1 with 86 minutes on the clock.

Winchester looked a beaten side, and Thame full-back Hall went on a mazy run before being bodychecked by Bragg, who became the latest Winchester player to enter the referee’s notebook. Hackett sent the free-kick yards over the bar.

With the match in added time Winchester substitute Ashton Palmier kicked out at Hackett whilst lying on the floor after the ball had been cleared, leading to a reaction from the Thame player and some handbags. The referee perhaps bottled out of taking any sanctions against both players, indicating that time was up, but then strangely allowed play to continue for another 5 minutes.

There was still time for Tommy Wright to shoot wide, and then have another attempt blocked by Hall, who recovered to win the loose ball and clear.

At the final whistle, Thame deservedly won 3-1 to move into the next round. After a poor first half, they improved in the second period and were much the better team. A special mention should be given to the Thame back four, who after Winchester had equalised, gave emergency keeper Jack Tutton an almost armchair ride, with one supporter saying he actually was sitting in a deckchair with a cold drink and a cigar !

Winchester were a huge disappointment. Not only was their overall play pretty dismal, but their very cynical approach with constant complaining to the referee, feeble attempts to win free-kicks and penalties, and committing nasty fouls, made them very hard to like. Frankly, they got what they deserved but perhaps this is the modern game, even at step 4……………

Finally, a mention to the referee Robert Alderton, who I thought had an excellent game despite what the Winchester players, officials and supporters may have thought.

Thame United : Crowther ( Njogu ) – Brown, Tingey, West, Hall – Tutton, Wright, Riddick, Walsh ( Khan ) – Alexander, Hackett

Winchester City : Scott – Baughan ( Toms ), King, Bragg, Jamison – Waters ( Barron ), Bradshaw, Panesar-Dower ( Palmier ), Griggs ( Hodan ), Balmer – Lynch ( Wright )