January 31, 2026
Today saw a fixture between two sides chasing a place in the promotion play-offs as 7th placed Thame United hosted Barton Rovers in 6th place. Thame were two points adrift of Barton but had three games in hand. Of the top 9, Thame, still only had to visit league leaders Hitchin Town, but had to play nearly all of their promotion rivals at home.
Thame United Update
The last visit of these diaries to Thame United was at the end of December when Leverstock Green were soundly beaten 4-0. They subsequent suffered three consecutive postponements before coming from behind to beat Biggleswade 2-1 at home, and last Saturday travelled to back-markers AFC Dunstable and returned home victorious after a 6-1 win. A re-arranged fixture with Welwyn Garden City for Tuesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch
Thame were still on a run that had seen them take 19 points out of a possible 21 but had only played twice in January.
Former centre-back Leo Galpin had returned from the USA and signed on for the rest of the season, whilst winger Adam Smith returned to the club after having played for Didcot Town, North Leigh, Risborough Rangers and Milton United after leaving Thame having played 7 games in 2022/23.
Harry Alexander and Louis Walsh were joint top scorers with 11 goals in all competitions, followed by Dan West and Greg Hackett on 7.
Barton Rovers FC
Barton Rovers are located in in the village of Bedfordshire village of Barton-Le-Clay, which is 6 miles north of Luton. The population of the village is estimated to be 5,000.
The town’s football side were founded in 1898 and are known as The Rovers. They play at Sharpenhoe Road, which for sponsorship reason is now called The Winton Haulage Stadium
In the 1970s, Barton Rovers were very successful in the FA Vase, reaching the quarter finals in 1975/76, the semi-finals in 1976/77 and the final in 1977/78, where they lost 1-2 to Blue Star from Newcastle. The semi-finals were also reached in 1981/82.
Rovers have been at step 4 in its various different guises since 2002, reaching promotion play-off finals in 2014/15 and 2015/16, but then had to win an inter-step play-off against Thetford Town in 2022/23 to avoid relegation.
Barton again reached the promotion play-offs last season after a 4th place finish, but were beaten 0-2 at Flackwell Heath in the semi-final.
Barton Rovers This Season
Barton Rovers arrived at the ASM Stadium in 6th place in the table a 13-7-7 league record, and were a 5-3-3 away from home.
Rovers started the season well, and were unbeaten in their first 6 matches before unexpectedly losing 0-2 at MK Irish, but had lost only three times in their opening 19 league matches, with the other defeats being 0-4 at home to Thame and 0-2 at Marlow.
However, Barton came into today’s game on a run of just one win in their last 6 games, 4-1 at struggling Rayners Lane, with three consecutive losses at home, to Hitchin ( 0-2 ), Hadley ( 1-4 ) and last time out against MK Irish ( 1-3 ).
Barton had just one victory over a side in the current top 10 in the table, 1-0 at home to Ware, and had not beaten any of the 5 sides above them, although they did have 4 draws from 6 matches.
In the FA Cup Rovers eliminated step 4 Brantham Athletic with a 2-0 home victory but fell at the next hurdle, going down 1-4 at step 3 Billericay Town. Barton exited the FA Trophy after one match, losing 1-3 at step 4 Brightlingsea Regent.
Barton Rovers’ average home league attendance to-date this season was 173, the 8th best in the division, with the highest being 501 the visit of Hitchin during Christmas. The average for Thame United was 113.
I had been to Rovers’ Sharpenhoe Road on one occasion, visiting in 1995/96 to watch an FA Trophy tie against Crawley Town. In front of a crowd of 331, Crawley ran out 3-1 victors, with David Speedie, ex-Chelsea and Scotland International, and Raphael Meade, ex-Arsenal, Sporting Lisbon and Brighton, amongst the scorers for the Red Devils.
Barton Rovers Squad
Ex-Leighton Town and Newport Pagnell Town striker Albie Hall was the leading scorer in the division with 24 goals, with ex-Wealdstone and Leverstock Green forward Rawn Seale next on 9. Midfielder Alfie Warman had found the net 7 times.
Keeper Matt Boylan had played for FC Romania and Enfield, right-back Ryan Neufville was previously with Berkhamsted, centre-back Kai Phelan had played for Bedford Town and forward Marcus Gouldbourne was ex-Biggleswade Town.
Energetic midfielder George Joyce was in the AFC Dunstable side that drew with at Thame in October, left-back Murphy Culkin recently rejoined the club after playing for Redditch United, St Ives Town, Biggleswade Town and St Neots Town, whilst defensive midfielder Ayoub Enajar joined in December from Kempston Rovers.
Previous Meetings
Fatbear previously reported on Barton Rovers in November 2022, when they lost 0-2 at Thame.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/11/thame-united-2-0-barton-rovers-att-103.html
That was the third time witnessing Barton playing in Thame, in 2002/03 Thame won 1-0 at their old Windmill Road stadium in an Isthmian League Division One North fixture, but in 2018/19 Rovers ran out 2-0 winners at the ASM stadium.
Since Thame returned to step 4 in 2017, results between these two sides had been very even with 5 wins to each side and 5 draws. Last season Barton won 3-0 at home, and drew 0-0 in Thame. As mentioned above, Thame won the first meeting between the two sides the season, although the 4-0 scoreline was a little flattering, as three of the goals came in the last 5 minutes plus added on time.
Matchday Information
The journey from Barton-Le-Clay to Thame is around 35 miles and should normally take just under an hour.
After a mostly dry day, it was still dry at the 15.00 kick-off but some light showers were forecast for during the game. The temperature was around 10 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 cup of tea was £1.50.
An online programme had been produced for the match and free team-sheets were available at the turnstile.
Barton made two changes to the side that started against MK Irish. With Ashton Grant suspended after a red card, Enajar returned to the starting XI, whilst Mason Watkins replaced Gouldbourne, who dropped to the bench.
Thame also made two changes to the side that was victorious at AFC Dunstable, with Harry Alexander and Mark Riddick returning, with Abu Khan and Charlie Stow dropping to be amongst the substitutes.
Rovers were playing in all blue whilst Thame were in their usual red and black shirts.
Matchday Report
An even encounter finished in a 1-1 draw, which on the balance of play was probably a fair result. Both sides would probably have felt they should have taken all three points, and could point to good chances missed, but Thame missed a few more of the better chances than Barton.
Barton had the first half chance when a long ball from Neufville was headed on, but Searle’s tame header from 8 yards was easily caught by Thame keeper Matt Crowther. They created a better chance in the 7th minute when Seale chased a long ball, got past Thame left-back Callum Hall and ran into the Thame penalty area. His left-footed shot beat Crowther, but Luke Tingey covering behind his keeper made a vital block on the 6-yard line.
Already a good battle was developing between Seale and Hall.
Thame’s first real attack saw them win possession in midfield and West spread play wide to the right to Alexander, who played a threatening ball into the Barton area. West arrived to shoot from just inside the 18- yard line, but his goal-bound effort hit team-mate Louis Walsh to deny him a goal, and to add salt into the wound, Walsh was deemed to be off-side.
Barton quickly took play down to the other end of the field, where Hall ran on to a long ball down the left-hand channel and cut inside on to his right foot, but his effort was blocked by Tingey. The rebound fell to Joyce, whose left-footed effort from a tight angle was palmed away by Crowther.
Barton continued to have the better of the early exchanges, and after another long throw from Neufville was headed away, a left-footed volley from the edge of the area by Joyce took a touch off Ethan Lack to give Barton the first corner of the match after 15 minutes.
16 players crowded around the goal-keeper and the goal-line, but the delivery from Joyce was poor and cleared at the near post.
With 18 minutes played, Thame launched throw into the Rovers area, and although play was messy, the visitors eventually cleared. At this point the floodlights came on.
With 20 minutes on the clock, Barton won another corner, and this time there was a scrum of players around the penalty spot, but the kick from Joyce went under the crossbar, for Crowther to make a relatively straight-forward catch. Thame broke quickly and Walsh looked to be put clear, but the linesman’s raised flag ended the attack.
Thame created a good chance in the 24th minute. Jack Tutton chipped the ball into the Barton penalty area where West headed the ball back across the box, where Walsh gathered, flicked in to the air, but his volley was bravely blocked.
A minute later Walsh was put clear on the left-hand side of the Barton area with just Rovers’ keeper Boylan to beat. His left-footed scuffed shot went past the keeper, but agonisingly for the home side struck the post and stayed out of the goal. Alexander was able to play the loose ball back across the 6-yard box, but West, under pressure, could only put the ball over the bar from close range with the goal at his mercy. It was a great chance squandered.
West then became the first recipient of a yellow card after a late tackle on Neufville near the half-way line, with the noisy reaction of the Barton players perhaps being a contributor to the referee deciding to brandish the card.
Shortly after, Seale showed good skill to get past Hall, but the Thame left-back did superbly to recover and put the ball out for a throw-in. Another long throw from Neufville led to another Joyce volley from the edge of the area, which this time went straight to Crowther.
The yellow cards were then evened up when Enajar cynically fouled Alexander 10 yards outside of the Barton penalty area. Tutton’s delivery was headed high into the air by Curtis Brown, and Boylan made an easy catch.
Shortly after, Alexander played a slick pass for Tutton to run onto inside the Barton area but Charlie Mitson got there first and was clattered into by Tutton in his follow through as he shaped to shoot. No card was shown by the referee though.
With 36 minutes, played Brown did well to hold up possession and then turned past his marker, but the 25-yard effort was straight at Boylan who made the save.
With half-time approaching a cross went along the Barton penalty box which Brown retrieved and pulled-back to Alexander at the near post, but the shot lacked power and Boylan made a regulation save.
As first-half added time started to be played, Tutton slipped past Culkin and sent a fierce shot towards goal, but Phelan made a brave block at the expense of a corner. No-one was at the far post to knock in the corner, and keeper Boylan was able to run out of his area close to the corner flag to clear down the pitch.
There was still time for Thame to create one more chance. A good move involving Alexander, Tutton and West teed up Alexander, but his shot from 10 yards was cleared off the line by Phelan with Boylan beaten, after which the referee blew for half-time.
It was 0-0 at the interval after an even half with both sides playing good football in heavy conditions, but Thame had missed a couple of very good chances.
Barton started the second period on the front foot but although Enajar strode forward towards the Thame area, his long-range effort sailed 20 yards high and wide.
Shortly after, the Barton players and bench were angry at a challenge on Watkins near the half-way line, and when the linesman was challenged on the incident, he said he had a clear view and it wasn’t a foul. This was followed up by some foul-mouthed abuse from a Barton supporter.
Ironically, a minute later Seale jumped into Thame full-back Hall with next to no intent to go for the ball, forcing the Thame player to leave the field with a head injury. The referee deemed this to also not be worthy of a card, and strangely, there wasn’t any comment from the Barton supporter.
The free-kick from Thame was headed clear by the Barton defence, and when Riddick shaped to attempt a volley from the edge of the area, Warman stuck out a leg out so that Riddick ended up making contact with the Barton player first rather than the ball. In the modern game that it now a foul to the defender, but a few years ago it would have been a foul in favour of the attacker !
With 56 minutes on the clock, Lack played a great cross-field ball to Brown out wide on the left-hand side, who cut back on to his right foot, but 20 yard effort went narrowly over the Barton bar. A minute later, a good Thame move saw Tutton’s back heel tee up Alexander, but left-footed shot from the edge of the Barton area flew just over.
More noise from the Barton players and bench arose after a foul by Walsh on Neufville but again the referee didn’t think the offence worthy of any sanction.
Tutton showed good skill to beat two Barton defenders but with at least three passing options available he dithered, turned and lost possession. Barton broke swiftly and Hall was sent galloping towards the left-hand touchline. His pull back went across the 6-yard line to Seale at the back post, who had an easy tap in. From a Thame perspective it was a terrible goal to concede but it was a cylinical counter from Barton, which gave them a 1-0 lead with 61 minutes played.
Barton’s Watkins was the next to see yellow after a violent foul on Walsh, but again the Barton players and bench were strangely quiet about this offence !
It got more amusing a couple of minutes later when Phelan made a blatant dive to win a free-kick just outside his area when under pressure, which conned the referee, especially as the Barton manager had earlier berated the referee for falling “for the oldest trick in the book” when a free-kick had been awarded to Thame in the first half. Not particularly picking on the Barton manager, but coaches frequently have little sense of self-awareness or their hypocrisy with their comments to the officials !
Thame were now getting on top and drive from substitute Abu Khan was well blocked by Milton for a throw in. A minute later Khan put a cross into the mixer where keeper Boylan, two Barton defenders and Riddick went for a header, and the ball seemed to be missed by everyone and bounced into the empty net. It was another poor goal to concede from a defensive perspective, and Riddick was credited with the goal. It was now 1-1 with 69 minutes on the clock.
Thame substitute Stow then beat Culkin and Phelan on the left wing but his low cross was effectively cleared by Milton.
With 15 minutes, remaining Phelan sent a long ball over the head of Tingey, and Hall ran clear into the Thame area. With just Crowther to beat, the division’s leader scorer screwed his finish horribly wide of the near post. It was a great chance wasted, and the rain now started to fall.
Hall made another good run, this time down the right-hand channel but under pressure from Tingey and from a tight angle, his shot was partially blocked, and Crowther completed the save whilst sprawled on the floor.
In the 78th minute Seale ran past Khan but was scythed down by Finlay Murray 10 yards outside the Thame area, who became the latest player to see yellow. The free-kick was hammered into the defensive wall, and Thame broke, with Walsh sending a fabulous pass to release Stow, who then found Alexander to run to the edge of the Barton area, but the left-footed shot went straight at Boylan, who parried and then gathered.
With 84 minutes played, Barton’s Phelan saw a volley from 20 yards heading for the top corner, but Crowther dived to his left to tip away for a corner. The Thame keeper flapped at the corner, but the home side were able to break and Walsh ran at the two covering defenders. He looked to have beaten both as he cut inside, but Miftari stuck a foot and deflected the ball away from the Thame forward.
Two minutes later, Lack crossed from the right wing, but Tutton’s flick on from the edge of the area went harmlessly wide.
With two minutes of normal time remaining, a Barton corner by Lynn was won by Phelan, but Thame were able to clear the header. Barton continued to press but the Thame defending was resolute.
As the game entered added on time, a Thame long throw fell to Alexander, but the left-footed drive from the edge of the area flew narrowly over the bar. Shortly after Stow shot horribly wide after being teed up by substitute Smith.
A collision between Tutton and Seale just inside the Thame half led to more furious complaints from the Barton bench, but the referee merely stopped play, and awarded a drop-ball to Thame when play was ready to resume.
Eight minutes of added time were played and both sides strived for the winning goal, both but defences held firm, and an entertaining game finished as 1-1 draw. The result left both sides in the same positions they started in.
Thame United : Crowther – Lack, Tingey, Murray ( Galpin ), Hall ( Khan ) – Brown, Tutton, West ( Smith ), Riddick, Brown ( Stow ) – Alexander, Walsh
Barton Rovers : Boylan – Neufville, Milton, Phelan, Culkin – Seale, Warman, Enajar ( Lynn ), Watkins, Joyce ( Miftari ) – Hall
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