December 27, 2025
Today’s Christmas entertainment saw a meeting of two sides geographically close, but with no real history of playing each other to make it a derby, as Thame entertained Leverstock Green.
Thame United Update
The last visit of these diaries to Thame United was in mid-November when they succumbed 1-2 to Milton Keynes Irish in a game played in terrible conditions, which left Thame in 12th place in table. Since then, Thame had played 5 away matches but only one at home, in which they beat Northwood Town 6-3. In the away games they had beaten Rayners Lane 4-1, lost to league leaders Leighton Town 1-3, drawn 2-2 at Ware, beaten Biggleswade 3-2, then last Saturday won 2-1 at Marlow. Thame were unbeaten in December and had taken 7 points from three away games.
Consequently, Thame now stood in 9th place but with games in hand on the sides in the place off places.
In the meantime, Thame had signed defender Luca Perrin from Holmers Green, but midfielder Jenson Wright had returned to Didcot Town.
Harry Alexander was now the leading goal scorer with 9 goals, followed by Louis Walsh on 8 and Greg Hackett on 7.
Leverstock Green FC
Leverstock Green is a village close to Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. Its football club were founded in 1895 and after playing mostly in Hertfordshire County Leagues, Leverstock Green moved up to the South Midlands League in 1991 but were relegated in 1993 due to a lack of floodlights.
Leverstock Green returned to the step 5 Spartan South Midlands Premier Division in 2003 and spent 21 consecutive seasons at that level until a fourth place finish in the 2023/24 season. In the promotion play-offs, Leverstock Green beat Harpenden Town 3-1 and FC Romania 3-0 to be promoted to step 4.
Last season they finished 18th in the Southern League Division One Central, staying up by 1 point after winning their last three games to overtake King’s Langley.
Leverstock Green play at Pancake Lane, with the ground now called The Lords Builders Merchants Stadium, which has a capacity of 1,500. Their home colours are all green and unsurprisingly, one of their nicknames is The Greens, but they are also referred to as The Trees and The Levy.
Leverstock Green This Season
Leverstock Green arrived at the ASM Stadium with a 3-10-9 league record, but were 1-6-5 away from home. They were in 19th position, one place above the relegation zone on goal difference but 7 points adrift of the nearest side above them. The Greens were due to host Stofold last Saturday but their pitch failed an inspection following heavy rainfall.
Leverstock Green started the season reasonably well. Although they were held to a 0-0 draw at Aylesbury United and lost 1-2 at home to Barton Rovers, they won 3-2 at Stotfold and beat Thame 2-1 at home. However, they then embarked on a run of 16 league games without a win, although that did include 9 draws, before a 2-0 home victory over Beaconsfield Town. They immediately crashed back to earth with a 0-3 home loss at the hands of Biggleswade Town
Leverstock Green exited both cup competitions at the first hurdle, exiting the FA Cup with a 0-1 home defeat to step 5 Ilford of the Essex Senior League, and 0-2 at step 4 Lowestoft Town in the FA Trophy.
Leverstock Green average home league attendance to-date this season was 91 with the highest being 131 for the visit of Aylesbury United.
Leverstock Green Squad
Belgian striker Jeffrey Sekyere, on a season long loan from Wealdstone, was The Trees top scorer with an impressive 16 goals, which made him the third highest scorer in the Division.
Ex-Beaconsfield Town, Risborough Rangers and Three Bridges Spanish attacking midfielder Iker Noguera Leon had found the net five times, as had forward Joe McCarthy. Romanian forward Rada-Mihal Stefanoaica was in his second spell with the club, having scored 46 goals in 86 appearances in his first stint.
Keeper Harry Way had played for Kidlington before playing in the USA, veteran centre-back Steve Brown was ex-Chesham United, midfielder Ryan Carruthers had played for Edgeware Town, and forward Mitchell Weiss numbered King’s Langley, Hayes and Yeading, St Albans City and Chesham United amongst his former clubs, and appeared in these diaries for St Albans in the National League South Promotion Play-Off Final against Oxford City.
Central midfielder Dan Pett had played for Edgeware Town and Northwood, defensive midfielder Lewis Rolfe was another ex-Chesham player as well as having played for Hitchin Town whilst defender Callum Neal joined from Harefield United.
Assistant Coach Scott McGleish, now 51 years old and formerly with Orient, Barnet, Wycombe Wanderers, Colchester United and Northampton Town amongst others, has made three substitute appearances this season. McGleish remains deeply unpopular with Brighton fans after his antics as an Orient player at the Goldstone in 1997 !
Previous Meetings
The sides met for the first time last season when Thame did the double, winning 4-0 at home in December, and 1-0 away in April.
Leverstock Green opened their account against Thame with a 2-1 home victory on the August Bank Holiday Monday, with Noguera Leon twice on target, including a 97th minute penalty.
Matchday Information
The journey from Leverstock Green to Thame is 30 miles and according to AA Route Planner should normally take 47 minutes via the A41. There were three Green’s fans behind the goal their side was attacking in the first half with two flags draped over the fence, with a few more dotted around the main stand.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was grey and overcast and 6 degrees, but it was freezing at the end of the match !
Entrance to the game was £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, £3 for Under 16s, whilst under 5s went in for free. A cup of tea was £1.50.
An online programme had been produced for the match and free team-sheets were available at the turnstile.
Leverstock Green made six changes to the side that started against Biggleswade Town. In came Tommy Boxer and Dan Casey at the back, Jamal Yates, George Mitchell-Gears and Joe McCarthy in midfield and Jack Allen up front. None of the 6 players missing out were named as substitutes. New signing, ex-Aylesbury United and Aylesbury Vale Dynamos defender Prince Madu, was named as one of the substitutes.
Thame made three changes to the side that was victorious at Marlow. Goalkeeper Matt Crowther was back after being out injured for three months, and Abu Khan and Luke Tingay were back in the defence. Jack Tutton dropped to the bench, whilst Lance Williams and Wycombe Wanderers loanee keeper Johnny Pettitt were missing.
Leverstock Green were in a change kit of all grey with lime trimming whilst Thame were in their usual red and black shirts.
Matchday Report
Frankly, this won’t be a game that will live long in the memory. For the first 70 minutes, if one was being generous the words to describe the match could have been battling, endeavour, committed, industrious or hardworking etc. If one was not so generous, mundane or mediocre might have been appropriate.
There had not been much quality on show, apart from ironically, three quality finishes which gave Thame a 3-0 lead. The game improved in the final 20 minutes as Thame started to pass the ball confidently with Leverstock Green looking a beaten side, then Leverstock Green had a good spell near the end as they strove for a consolation. The game finished with a fourth quality goal for Thame.
The start of the game was delayed a couple of minutes whilst everyone waited for the Leverstock keeper to come on to the pitch. I don’t know why he wasn’t ready in time but unless it was for something instructed by the referee, the game should have started on time with Leverstock a player short !
Leverstock looked much the better team in the opening phase of the match, as Thame looked out of sorts. In the first minute, ex-Harrow Borough striker Allen optimistically tried his luck from 30 yards but the ball rolled harmlessly through to keeper Crowther, then immediately after Thame’ Curtis Brown ran onto a long ball, prodded the ball past the onrushing keeper but Green left-back Freddie Newing was back covering and cleared the ball, which was probably going wide anyway, off for a throw-in.
After Thame had a corner headed clear, McCarthy set off on 50-yard run and released Allen down the right-hand channel, but the cross was poor and went straight to Crowther for an easy catch.
A Thame long throw-in bounced across the Leverstock area but Harry Alexander could only spoon the bouncing ball high over the bar.
In the 8th minute Sekyere laid a pass off to Mitchell-Gears, but his shot was blocked and looped high in the air and went well wide for Leverstock’s first corner of the match, which was headed well wide by Mitchell-Gears.
Thame’s wayward shooting continued when Louis Walsh sent an effort out of the ground after exchanging passes with Alexander.
Alexander’s accuracy improved as after chest controlling a pass from Dan West, he sent a left-footed volley goalwards, only for keeper Way to tip over the bar. Thame centre-back Fin Murray was unmarked at the corner but his header bounced gently through to Way.
At the other end, a left-wing cross was punched away by Crowther to Mitchell-Gears, who had his shot blocked by a Thame defender. After Leverstock reworked possession, Mitchell-Gears shot again and Crowther produced a full-length diving save to push the ball away.
A mix-up in the Thame defence allowed Allen to run onto Way’s dropped goal-kick but the Leverstock forward’s lob over the advancing Thame keeper went comfortably wide. It was a good chance missed.
A minute later, Sekyere ran clear onto a long ball down the right-hand channel and despite looking suspiciously offside, play continued. The Wealdstone loanee cut back inside, but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Tingey.
The game became very scrappy, with neither side seemingly able to hold onto possession or string three passes together. Dan West’s free-kick for Thame came to nothing, then after a nice move involving Khan, Lack, Alexander and Walsh, Brown shot high over the bar from 20 yards.
Out of the blue, Thame scored the opening goal of the Thame. There didn’t seem to be much on but the mercurial Walsh skillfully turned past Carruthers and sent a delightful shot from just outside the D curling into the bottom corner and past Way’s despairing dive. It was an outstanding finish and Thame led 1-0 after 32 minutes.
Leverstock looked to quickly strike back and a long throw found Sekyere with his back to the goal, but he fell as he attempted to turn and the ball went off for a goal kick. There were a few half-hearted appeals for a penalty, but the referee was unimpressed.
Alexander ran onto a cross-field pass from Tingey and sent an inviting cross towards the far post, which was met by West, who headed wide on the stretch. However, he would have been better off leaving the cross to Walsh standing behind him in a much better position.
With 37 minutes on the clock Ethan Lack played a through pass intended for Brown to run onto but Way came out of his area to clear. However, Mitchell-Gears hurt himself in his efforts to tackle Lack and needed treatment.
A long Leverstock throw saw Allen tee up Yates, but again a shot from outside the Thame area was blocked by a defender. Thame quickly countered and Lack crossed from the left, Walsh took a step to make space for a shot, which was blocked by a defender.
Shortly after Brown ran into the Leverstock area and slipped in the act of shooting. He was able to get up and took a shot which Way blocked, but had Brown looked up he would have seen Walsh and Alexander unmarked on the 6-yard line.
Leverstock were forced into an early substitution as Mitchell-Gears’ injury meant he wasn’t able to continue and Madu came on for his debut.
Nothing of any consequence occurred in the remaining minutes of the first half, and Thame headed to the dressing rooms with a 1-0 lead after an even first half, thanks to a moment of skill from Walsh.
Thame started the second half on the front foot but Alexander volleyed well over the bar from just outside the area after a free-kick had been headed out to him. Shortly after, keeper Way was fouled at a Thame corner.
However, when there didn’t appear to be any obvious danger, Thame doubled their lead through a fantastic 25 yard left-footed effort from Lack into the bottom corner, again Way had no chance. It was now 2-0 with 52 minutes played.
Thame pressed for a third goal, and after Hall was put in space on the left wing, Boxer needed to put the cross out for a corner. A cross from Brown was met with a glancing header that went well wide for a goal-kick.
Abu Khan, who was having a good game, produced an impressive tackle to stop McCarthy as he ran at the Thame back-line. The battle between the two continued shortly after when McCarthy ran into the Thame penalty area, and with both players seemingly pulling each other, McCarthy hit the deck. The referee awarded a free-kick to Thame rather than a penalty, and showed a yellow card to McCarthy for simulation. It was in the category of “I have seen them given”, but from where Fatbear sat it seemed to be a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other, and a yellow card seemed unfair. Naturally the Leverstock Green players and bench were furious.
A minute later McCarthy hit the deck again after a tussle with Khan by the touchline and the referee waved play on, which hardly improved the sense of humour in the Leverstock camp.
Thame were not particularly bothered and Alexander and Walsh combined to find West on the edge of the Leverstock area, and the Thame midfielder flicked the ball past Neal to have a sight on goal, but was unceremoniously tripped. No card was produced for the cynical foul, and West got up to take the free-kick himself, which was drilled wide of the defensive wall but Way made a regulation save.
Walsh then made a strong run down the left wing and sent a stinging cross along the 6-yard line which Way dived to punch away, and Leverstock cleared before West or Alexander could reach it.
Another moment of quality arrived shortly after. Lack followed up his superb goal with an eye-catching through ball which Alexander ran onto. Leverstock appealed in vain for offside, as Alexander moved into the Leverstock area, and as Way came off his line to narrow the angle, the Thame winger delivered a tremendous finish into the opposite bottom corner. 3-0 after 69 minutes.
When Leverstock were awarded a free-kick there was some sarcastic applause from their bench, and a minute later Sekyere went down after a challenge and remained down. The referee allowed play to continue, and about a minute later Sekyere got up without having received any treatment and sprinted after a long ball with no apparent discomfort.
Thame were now in total control and the visitors were offering nothing apart from a 30-yard snap shot from Sekyere which went well wide. At times, Thames passing now verged on show-boating.
McCarthy again went down easily after a challenge from Lack, and again the referee ignored the appeals for a free-kick.
Alexander was shown a yellow card for a blatant trip of Neal, and was promptly substituted. The visitors’ play picked up and substitute George Eldridge delivered an excellent cross from the right-wing but Neal couldn’t rise high enough, and his header went narrowly over the bar.
Walsh then went on a run at the heart of the Leverstock Green defence and slid a pass for substitute Ashley Moakes, but the 18 year old shot narrowly over the bar.
With time running out, McCarthy, who was probably Leverstock’s best player on the day, made a good run down the left wing and won a corner, which after being headed out at the near post, Yates shot wide from 25 yards.
17-year old Charlie Stow skipped past Madu to have a 1 on 1 with keeper Way, but from a fairly tight angle his shot across the goal deflected of the foot of Way and just past the far post, but the referee awarded a goal-kick.
Leverstock pressed again and after one attack was halted, Neal hit a fierce 20-yard drive which Crowther dived to his left to parry.
In added on time Lack passed to Jack Tutton inside the Leverstock, and in a display of twinkle-toe footwork got past two defenders and then produced a left footed finish past Way for another top finish. 4-0 with 92 minutes played.
There still time for Thame’s teenager substitutes to combine, but Way produced a good save to deny Stow.
The final whistle blew shortly after, and with their victory, Thame moved up 8th place whilst Leverstock Green slipped into the relegation zone.
Thame United : Crowther – Khan, Tingey, Murray, Hall – Lack, West ( Tutton ), Riddick, Brown ( Stow ) – Alexander ( Moakes ), Walsh
Leverstock Green : Way – Casey ( Grieves ), Boxer, Neal, Newing ( Petagine ) – Carruthers, Mitchell-Gears ( Madu ), Yates, McCarthy – Allen ( Eldridge ), Sekyere
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