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 )

 

 

 

 

FK Arkadag 0-0 PFC Andijon ( att : 10,000 ) - 2025/26 AFC Champions League Two

September 17, 2025

This week saw the start of the group stages of the 2025/26 AFC Club competitions and the match-up between Arkadag and Andijon caught Fatbear’s eye, as it would be the first time football in Turkmenistan had been covered in these diaries.

This was a meeting between the champions of Turkmenistan against the winners of the Uzbekistan Cup. The two other sides in their group were Al-Ahli from Qatar and Al Khaldiya from Bahrain.

FK Arkadag

Turkmenistan is a notoriously secretive country and compared by many to North Korea. Mainstream social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are banned, there is heavy censorship, and criticism of the government is illegal.

Details of its domestic football are often very limited, with usually just the scores of matches reported. It was though, one of the few countries that played through the first 2020 Covid lockdown and highlights of one game was even shown on Sky Sports News !

FK Arkadag were only formed in 2023 as a pet project of Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, President of Turkmenistan between 2006 to 2022 until he handed over the reins to his son Serdar, although it is believed he is still pulling the strings.

Gurbanguly’s nickname was Arkadag, which apparently translates as “hero protector”. Another of his pet projects was the creation of a new city in the south of the country around 35 km from the capital Ashgabat, which commenced in 2019 as a greenfield site, and by the start of 2023 had an estimated population of over 70,000. The city was also named Arkadag.

Naturally the new city needed a football team to support, and the 2023 season was delayed to allow the creation of FK Arkadag, and for them to sign most of the country’s best players, and to play in the newly built 10,000 capacity Arkadag stadium. They were parachuted directly into the top division.

Amid much suspicion of match-fixing or preferential treatment, Arkadag won the 2023 league and Cup by winning every match, which they repeated in 2024 and added the Super Cup for good measure. On one occasion a score was initially reported on a few websites as 0-0 draw, before being changed to a 3-1 victory the following day……

In 2024, Arkadag were only granted a licence to play in the third tier AFC Challenge League and had racked up 62 consecutive victories before they lost a group match 2-3 in Kuwait to Al-Arabi, to bring the run to an end. They still qualified from the group and went on to met Al-Arabi in the semi-finals, where again they were beaten in Kuwait, this time 0-2. However, they scored in added on time in the second leg to win 3-0 to reach the final.

The final was played in Cambodia against local favourites Svey Rieng in front of a sell-out crowd of 55,000, but Arkadag went on to win 2-1 in extra time to give Turkmenistan its first ever AFC title.

Turkmenistan League

The Turkmenistan Higher League, or Yokary Liga was formed in 1992 after the break-up of the Soviet Union. The most successful sides since independence had been Altyn Asyr ( 8 titles ) and Kopetdag ( 6 titles ), with both sides located in the capital Ashgabat.

The league currently consists of eight sides who play each other four times for a 28-game season.

Arkadag have currently won all 20 league matches this season, extending their winning streak in domestic matches to 86 games ( 74 League, 11 Cup and 1 Super Cup )

Turkmenistan National Team

The Turkmenistan National Team is currently 140th in the FIFA rankings, with a career high of 86^th in 2004. They have never reached the finals of the World Cup, but have twice reached the finals of the Asian Cup, in 2003 and 2019, but had only one draw from 6 matches in the final stages.

Turkmenistan have made a good start in the qualifiers for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals. With only the winners of their group to qualify for the finals they began with a 2-1 victory in Taiwan before recording a resounding 3-1 home win over higher ranked Thailand. Two matches against Sri Lanka are next on the agenda, before the reverse fixtures are played.

The most recent squad included 15 Arkadag players, with 5 others having played in the prior 12 months.

Arkadag Squad

All of the Arkadag squad come from Turkmenistan and there were 21 internationals on their books. Of those involved tonight, the most notable were captain of the national side defender Mekan Saparov ( 32 caps ), midfielder Ahmet Atayev ( 38 caps ), who had played in indonesia and Malaysia, forward Altymyrat Annadurdyyev ( 36 caps and 9 goals ), team captain Abdy Byashimov ( 22 caps ), who had played in Uzbekistan for Qizilqum, and forward Didar Durdyyev ( 21 caps ), who had also played in Uzbekistan for Mash'Al Mubarek.

PFC Andijon

Andijon is located 350km east of the capital Tashkent, close to the border with Kyrgyzstan, and its football team had featured once before in these diaries, when they won 1-0 at Mash'Al Mubarek in September 2021. 

 https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2021/09/fk-mashal-mubarek-0-1-pfk-andijon-att-0.html

However, despite this victory they were relegated at the end of that season, but immediately secured promotion back to the Super League by winning the 2022 second tier Pro League. In 2023 they finished in 7^th place and last year they came 9^th. However, silverware was won by winning the Uzbekistan Cup, beating fierce local rivals Navbahor 3-2 in extra time in the final.

Andijon were the best supported side in Uzbekistan in 2024 with an average of 14,153, and so far in 2025 their average was 11,731. Home is the 18,360 capacity Bobur Arena, and Andijon’s nickname is The Eagles.

In 2025 the Uzbekistan Super League expanded to 16 teams, and with two-thirds of the season played Andijon were in 11^th place with a 5-6-9 record. Their form had been streaky, going unbeaten in their opening 5 matches, including a 1-1 home draw with champions Nasaf and a 3-2 victory at perennial champions Pakhtakor. They then lost 5 on the trot, after which they went four games unbeaten. Andijon came into today’s match on the back of three consecutive defeats, the most recent being a 2-6 home reverse to Pakhtakor.

PFC Andijon Squad

Sides in Uzbekistan can sign as many foreigner players as they like but can only play four in a league match. Andijon’s foreign players included Polish centre-back Krystian Nowak, who had played for Hearts of Midlothian, Irish side Bohemians as well as sides in Kazakhstan, Romania, Greece and Croatia in addition to Poland.

Kyrgyzstan keeper Erzhan Tokotaev ( 33 caps ) had played in Kazakhstan and the Turkish Second Division whilst Nigerian striker ishmahil Akinade had an interesting career, having started in Ireland with Bray Wanderers, Bohemians and Waterford, before going on to play in Vietnam, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Slovenian midfielder Altin Kryeziu had been on the books of Torino and was loaned out to Belgian side Eupen, and had since played in Croatia and Albania.

There were no Uzbek internationals in the Andijon squad for today’s match, although midfielder Saidumarkhon Saidnurullaev was a current Under 21 international and was on loan from Pakhtakor. Defender Shakhzod Azmiddinov was also on loan from Pakhtakor.

Andijon’s top scorer in 2025 was Rustam Turdimurodov with 6 goals, but his loan from Pakhtakor ended and he had since been loaned to Surkhon Termez.

The top scorer still at the club was winger Bektemir Abdumannonov with 4 goals, whilst winger Doniyor Abdumannopov and midfielder Damir Temirov had both found the net 3 times.

According to Transfermarkt, right-back Sunnatillokh Khamidzhonov was Andijon’s most valuable player at €400K.

Midfielder Mukhammadkarim Toirov and defender Usmonali Ismonaliev appeared to be the only survivors from the team that beat Mash'Al Mubarek in September 2021.

Legendary record scorer for the Uzbekistan national side and ex-Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh was appointed coach in May. Shatskikh was part of the Uzbekistan side that I saw defeat Bangladesh 6-0 in the UAE in 1999, where he scored two goals.

Matchday Information

This distance from Andijon to Arkadag is over 1,600km and would take 25 hours by road. There are no direct scheduled flights between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan but 50 or so Andijon fans were in a corner of the ground, all dressed in a red ultras uniform.

The match was live streamed on Bet365, who made Arkadag 9/10 favourites, with Andijon at 12/5 and the draw 27/10. The match was also shown live on The AFC Hub YouTube channel but with no commentary.

The weather at the 18.45 local time kick-off ( 14.45 UK ) was clear and 26 degrees.

The Arkadag starting XI contain nine of the players that started in the 2024 AFC Challenge Cup Final, with the other two on the substitutes’ bench. Andijon made three changes to the side that lost at home to Pakhtakor.

Andijon were in all red kit whilst Arkadag were in all white with a blue band across the front of their shirts.

The referee and his assistants were from Singapore.

Match Report

The pitched looked to be in poor condition and early on, the home crowd cheered wildly every time their side broke across the halfway line. The Arkadag faithful had packed the ground and there was an Impressive white and blue colour co-ordination in the two main stands and white and green, or all white colours in the others. Plenty of green Turkmenstan flags were being waved, and it looked like there was little room for any individualism !

The game nearly got off to a dramatic start as with less than 40 seconds on the clock, Akinade header over the bar from 86 yards from right wing cross from Abdumannonov. Andijon had started fast and a free-kick after a foul on Abdumannopov was put wide for a goal-kick.

In the 5^th minute the visitors had the ball in the back of the Arkadag net, as Akinade ran onto a pass from Temirov and slid the ball past the advancing keeper, but he was a yard offside so the goal was chalked off.

Two minutes later Arkadag had a chance when Saparov found space inside the Andijon area from a long cross-field free-kick but mishit across goal. The ball reached Durdyyev unmarked inside the 6-yard box at the far post but inexplicably he completely missed the ball. However, it didn’t matter as both players were offside.

After this initial flurry, the match calmed down with Arkadag dominating possession but creating very little. Sapargulyyev sent a free-kick a couple of yards over the bar, Tirkisov’s long range shot bounced harmlessly wide of far post as the keeper watched on, and Durdyyev’s header from a right-wing cross was an easy save for Tokotaev.

A quick free-kick by Arkadag put Gurbanov in space as the Andijon defence were caught napping, but the blasted low cross was blocked by Khamidzhonov for a corner. The was an element of confusion in area from corner, but Durdyyev turned and shot well wide.

At the other end, an Andijon corner bounced across the goal mouth and Saidnurullaev headed a couple of feet over. There were some half-hearted appeals for a penalty after an Andijon played had fallen to the floor but the referee wasn’t interested.

As the match moved past the half-hour mark, Andijon won a free-kick, which was taken by Abdumannonov but Arkadag were able to clear the bouncing delivery.

 Arkadag still were having most of the possession but were not making any impression on the visitors’ defence. Byashimov ran at the Andijon defence and fell over after a challenge by Toirov, but no foul was given.

The first yellow card of the game was shown in the 40^th minute after Ybrayym Mammedov ( 10 caps ) was beaten by Abdumannopov’s clever turn on the left-hand touchline.

The final action of the first half, if it could be called that, came a minute before the break when Abdumannonov went on a good run down the right wing, running around one defender, but was shepherded out of play for a goal-kick by Saparow.

Two added minutes were to be played, interestingly announced first in English and then in Turkmen.

At the break Arkadag were show to have had 59% of the possession, but there had been just one effort on target, and that header from Arkadah was hardly threatening !

Arkadag won a corner in the first minute of the second period, which looked to have been put out at the near post by Akinade but goal kick was given. The replay showed this was a good decision by the officials !

Andijon had a short spell of pressure, with two long throws from Khamidzhonov bouncing across the Arkadag penalty area before being unconvincingly cleared. Arkadag then carelessly gave away possession in the Andijon half, and Abdumannonov won a corner for the visitors. Keeper Resul Caryyrev ( 12 caps ) made a hash of trying to punch the corner clear, only managing to send it backward but high and wide of his goal for another corner, which Guychmyrat Annagulyyev ( 23 caps ) headed away. The Andijon drummers were now clearly audible

Arkadag substitute Shamammet Hydyrov ( 1 cap ) made an instant impact, first going on a mazy run and won a throw in mid-way inside Andijon half and then received the second yellow card for a high foot on Khamidzhonov. Hydyrov then created space away from Khamidzhonov inside the area on left and floated a cross to far post, which was bravely headed away by Azimov, who was clattered into by Annadurdyyev and a free-kick was given.

With 65 minutes played, a low ball was played across the Andijan area which Khamidzhonov cleared and Hydyrov ran into him late for another free-kick to Andijon.

Arkadag won a corner two minutes and there was a delay before Shanazar Tirkisov ( 14 caps ) could take as the referee showed a yellow card to Khamidzhonov after some jostling in the area. The corner was played to the near post were Annagulyyev’s flicked header went across the face of the goal and hit the far post, but the referee’s whistle had already blown for pushing.

With twenty minutes remaining Abdumannopov ran past the Arkadag right back and into the penalty area but his attempted blast across goalmouth hit a defender for corner. The Inswinger saw another poor punch from the Arkadag keeper, which went off for another corner, and Arkadag’s Byashimov was shown a yellow card for something unseen. The corner from Abdumannonov saw two richochets before being cleared. Andijon reworked to Abdumannonov but the cross into the box was headed yards wide by Akinade.

Andijon were enjoying another spell of pressure and Abdumannopov won another corner on the left, which was headed off for another corner, which this time led to a scramble before Akinade teed up Temirov, but the shot from just inside the area deflected off for another corner.

Toirov entered the referee’s notebook after hauling down Tirkisov close to right hand touchline but the left footed in-swinging free-kick was headed away.

With 10 minutes left to play, Arkadag won a corner, which was cleared, but when Arkadag reworked and Hydyrov’s cross to back post was headed back across goal by and Andijon defender. Saparov had his back to goal, took a touch, turned but his effort as he was falling down lacked power and Tokotaev had an easy save. It probably counted as a shot on target !

Toirov then carelessly fouled Hydyrov and was perhaps a little fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card. The 30-yard free-kick was tamely sent into the defensive wall.

Hydyrov then made his way into the Andijon area and his shot hit a defender but it was going wide anyway. Arkadag then forced two corners, which were both well defended

The lively Hydyrov then made his way to the edge of the Andijon area, but could only shoot a couple of feet over the bar.

Four added minutes were to be played and Otabek Jurakuziev won the ball in midfield and found Akinade wide on right, but the Nigerian’s cross drifted beyond far post for a goal kick.

Arkadag attempted a grandstand finish in an effort to win the game. A long ball was pumped into area and was punched away be Tokotaev. Hydyrov beat his marker on the right but his ball into the area was read by Jurakuziev and put out for a corner.  A dangerous ball was played towards the far post but Azmiddinov produced a great header to clear.

At the final whistle Arkadag had drawn a match for the first time in their history at the 95^th attempt. Although Andijon are only a mid-table side in Uzbekistan, this was a significant step up for Arkadag, and they looked pretty toothless against an organised defence. They did have 58% of the possession, but only had three attempts on target, none of which troubled the Andijon keeper. Substitute Hydyrov looked the most dangerous player for Arkadag

Andijon did not have one effort on target, but did expose some weaknesses with the Arkadag keeper dealing with crosses.

Overall, it was not a game that would live long in the memory !

FK Arkadag : Caryyev – Mammedov, Byashimov, Saparov, Ballakov – Gurbanov ( Hydyrov ), Annagulyyev, Sapargulyyev, Atayev ( Saparmammedov ), – Tirkisov ( Akmammedov ), Durdyyev ( Annadurdyyev )

PFC Andijon : Tokotaev – Khamidzhonov, Nowak, Azmiddinov, Azimov – Saidnurullaev ( Jurakuziev ), Abdumannonov ( Ismonaliev ) , Temirov, Toirov, Abdumannopov - Akinade