March 24, 2026
Tonight saw the third attempt to play this fixture, with attempts to play in late November and early February both thwarted by waterlogged pitches. This was now a match between 6th and 11th.
Since these diaries covered Thame’s 4-2 victory over Hertford Town they had taken 7 points from three away matches. A remarkable 6-0 win was recorded at mid-table MK Irish, followed by a hard fought 2-1 success at Stotfold. The run was completed with a 3-3 draw in the derby with lowly Aylesbury United, although this could be seen as a point gained as Thame were 0-2 behind in the first-half and needed a late equaliser to grab a draw.
On Saturday Thame hosted second from bottom Rayners Lane and struggled to a 2-1 victory, with the decisive goal only being scored in the 88th minute.
Hadley FC
Hadley play in Arkley, which is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet. Home is the 2,000 capacity Brickhill Lane, from which the nickname The Bricks is derived, and the club has no association with Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley !
The football club were founded in 1882 and played in local leagues until joining the Hertfordshire Senior County League in 1977, and progressed to the Spartan South Midlands League for the 2008/09 season. Hadley were promoted from Spartan South Midlands Premier League at the end of the 2021/22 season after finishing in third place and runners-up Princes Risborough were controversially denied promotion after failing a ground criteria inspection.
In their first season at step 4 Hadley finished a respectable 9th, improved to 8th the following season and then 5th last year, pipping Thame to the final promotion play-off spot. However, The Bricks were soundly beaten 0-5 at Berkhamsted in the play-off semi-final.
Hadley This Season
Hadley arrived at the ASM Stadium in 11th place in the table a 14-9-12 league record, and were an impressive 7-7-3 away from home.
On Saturday, Hadley drew 2-2 at Welwyn Garden City. Before this The Bricks had taken just one point from 5 games, drawing 2-2 at Flackwell Heath but had lost to top 5 sides Leighton Town ( A 1-2 ) and Biggleswade Town ( H 2-4 ), but also at home to struggling Marlow and Rayners Lane, both 1-2.
Prior to this Hadley had won three in a row, defeating Enfield ( A 4-0 ), Flackwell Heath ( H 2-1 ) and Hertford Town ( H 2-0 ). These wins had come after being thumped 1-4 at Beaconsfield Town and slipping to an unexpected 0-1 home loss to lowly Leverstock Green.
The Bricks other away wins in the league this season had been at Ware ( 3-2 ), Barton Rovers ( 4-1 ) and Stofold ( 1-0 ), Hertford ( 3-1 ) Marlow ( 3-2 ) and Northwood ( 2-0 )
Hadley exited the FA Cup at the hurdle with a 1-2 home loss to step 4 Maldon and Tiptree but they enjoyed a good run in the FA Trophy. A 5-1 win was achieved at Ware, then Hadley got past Ascot United on penalties after 2-2 draw. A shock 2-1 win over step 3 Dartford came next, but the cup run ended in disappointing fashion with a 0-1 defeat at step 4 Tilbury.
Hadley’s average home league attendance to-date this season was 164, the 9th best in the division, with the highest being 278 for the visit of Hitchin on the opening day of the season.
Hadley Squad
Former Southend Under 18 winger Lenny Asamoah was the leading scorer in the League for The Bricks with 15 goals, followed by ex-Leyton-Wingate striker Isaac Stones on 12 goals. Long serving captain and midfielder Luke Alfano, who had played for Kings Langley and Hanwell Town, had found the net 7 times.
Centre-back Hedley Ogebor was ever present this season whilst ex-Harrow Borough keeper Charlie Taylor had missed only three league games.
Midfielder Romey Meoded was previously with Southall, defender Prince Kandolo was with Ashford Town last season, and defender Alvin Kyeremeh had played for Leverstock Green.
Midfielder Cameron Ferguson had returned to Hadley after spells at Cockfosters and Northwood Town, wing-back Callum Ismail was with Haringey Borough last season, whilst midfielder Charlie Heyford started as a youth player at Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday, but had since played for 9 non-league sides before joining Hadley this season from Biggleswade.
Previous Meetings
In April 2023, Fatbear attended a match between these two sides at the ASM when Thame were comfortable 4-1 winners in an end of season encounter with little riding on it.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/04/thame-united-4-1-hadley-att-91-202223.html
The sides had met 7 times since Hadley joined this Division and Hadley had won all four of their home matches, winning 2-1 in 2022/23 and 3-0 in both 2023/23 and 2024/25.
Back in September, Hadley were victorious by a 4-3 margin, a result that left Thame bottom of the table at the time having lost their first 4 league games.
However, Hadley were yet to win at the ASM. After the defeat in 2022/23, they lost 1-2 the following year, and then last season played out a remarkable 4-4 draw. Hadley established a 3-0 lead midway in the first half, but Thame stormed back to take a 4-3 lead, only for Hadley to equalise late in the game.
Matchday Information
The journey from Arkley to Thame is 44 miles and should normally take an hour via the A41.
After a dry day, the weather at the 19.45 kick-off time was 10 degrees, but the forecasted light rain had just started. 40mph winds were forecast for later during the game.
Entrance to the game was £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, £3 for Under 16s, whilst under 5s went in for free. A pre-match pint of Poretti was £5.40.
An online programme had been produced for the match and free team-sheets were available at the turnstile.
Hadley made one changes to the side that started at Welwyn Garden City, with Stones returning in place of Timothy Ikechukwu, who dropped to the bench. Thame were unchanged from the side that beat Rayners Lane.
As Hadley’s usual colours are red shirts and black shorts, they were in a change kit of all blue today, whilst Thame were in their usual red and black shirts.
Matchday Report
Hadley kicked off towards the ring road end and into a strong wind which was building in strength, and already the linesman’s flag was making a hell of a racket every time he ran into the direction of the wind !
The early stages were scrappy with play twice held up for injuries to Thame players. Dan West needed to have a bandage applied around his chin when he returned to the pitch after being fouled, whilst keeper Matt Crowther needed treatment to his leg after making a clearance but was okay to continue.
Both sides were struggling to get to grips with the conditions and controlling the ball as the wind became increasingly stronger. Thame started looking to play long balls with the wind in their favour.
The first piece of action arrived in the 11th minute. A Thame long throw deflected off a defender’s head for a corner. Jack Tutton’s in-swinging delivery caught the wind and crashed against the crossbar. The rebound hit West and was hoofed clear. Thame recycled possession and a cross to the far post was well headed off for another corner by Kandolo. This time the corner was headed away at the near post.
Asamoah gathered the loose ball and went off on a run from deep inside his own half towards the Thame area and went down under a challenge from Brayden Daniel. From my seat a long way away, it looked like a penalty, but the referee awarded a free-kick just outside the 18-yard line, and showed a yellow card to Daniel.
Ferguson took the free-kick, which Crowther needed to tip over the bar. The corner was fizzed across the 6-yard line and Kandolo leapt the highest, but his mis-directed header went well wide.
In the 17th minute, a Thame long throw was headed away as far as Daniel, who went to ground when challenged, but the referee was unimpressed. Play moved down the other end where Curtis Brown bundled over Asamoah near the corner flag, but a goal-kick was the decision.
Three minutes later Thame full-back Brown attempted to clear a bouncing ball but only succeeded with making contact with Asamoah, who crashed to the floor in agony. The Hadley players, bench and supporters were furious, as three decisions within a few minutes had gone again them. They were clearly highly strung. Asamoah was in the wars, a case of the age of blows. In response, the four young Thame supporters behind the goal started singing, presumably it was their Chant No 1.
The first passage of passing football arose when Jack Tutton, Harry Alexander and Louis Walsh combined, but the pass intended to release Daniel was over hit.
In the 24th minute a long ball from Brown down the right-hand channel released Walsh, who ran into the Hadley area, but his shot from a narrow was saved by the keeper’s legs for a corner to Thame. Alexander sent the corner to beyond the far post but the unmarked West could not get his header on target.
Asamoah’s bruising continued as Thame centre-back Luke Tingay brought him down near the half-way line. The free-kick was over-hit but Ferguson was able to keep the ball in play but his low cross was put out for a corner by Thame captain Mark Riddick.
With 29 minutes played Asamoah was fouled again, this time by Riddick near the half-way line and with most of the Hadley players appealing for the foul, the referee played an advantage, but Ferguson’s ball into the Thame area was gathered at the second attempt by Crowther. When the ball eventually went out of play, a yellow card was subsequently shown to Riddick for the foul.
A few minutes later Ethan Lack’s attempt to run onto a flick from Walsh was halted by what looked to be a cynical obstruction by Kandolo, but the referee allowed play to continue.
Thame were slowly building some pressure on Hadley, but Lack’s chip over the visitors’ back four was well anticipated by keeper Taylor before Alexander could get on the end of it, and he dived on the ball at the second attempt.
The musclebound Hadley forward Jordan Edwards committed a bad foul on Tingay, long after the ball had been cleared by the Thame defender, but it was so late the referee and linesman didn’t see it as the ball was by now in the other half.
Five minutes before the scheduled break, Alexander played a ball over the top for Walsh to run on to but the Thame centre-forward was brought down by Kandolo, who was shown his side’s first yellow card. Tutton’s 20 yard free-kick sailed a couple of feet over the bar.
A minute later a Thame cross deflected off a Hadley defender and Taylor reacted and kept the bouncing ball in play. The Thame players appealed for a corner, but they were ignored by the referee. The keeper’s clearance was headed back by Tingay on the halfway line and Taylor was forced to come out of his area and clear at the expense of a throw-in. The communication from the Hadley shot-stopper to his team-mates was “set-up ******* quicker” !
Thame won a corner in the 44th minute, but the kick from Alexander sailed in the wind and flew just over the far post.
The rain was now falling much heavier and 10 added minutes were to be played due to all the injuries in the first half. Thame continued to press and Brown played a ball behind Ismail to put Alexander in space, but the cut-back from the byline was intercepted by Ogebor. A few minutes later, Alexander’s attempted chip into the area skidded off the turf and away from the advancing Lack through to Taylor.
It was still scoreless at the interval. There had been some wind-assisted near misses but very little quality football as both sides were rarely able to string three passes together in the difficult conditions. The home supporters would be hoping that playing against the elements might force Thame to keep the ball on the floor.
The weather got dramatically worse during the break, with the gale force wind now blowing down the length of the pitch. The conditions were now horrible but thankfully the players were in the dressing rooms !
Hadley made a good start to the second period. Asamoah made a break down the left-wing and progressed into the Thame area, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked by Crowther. The loose ball ran to the advancing Alfano, but his shot hit a Thame defender and went off for a corner. It was their best chance of the match so far. Hayford’s delivery went to the far post where Ogebor could only steer the ball a few feet wide.
Thame’s passes were not going very far in the gale but following a series of throw-ins they managed to work their way downfield, and Tutton won a corner off Kandolo, which came to nothing.
The weather nearly created a problem for Thame when Crowther attempted to control Tingey’s strongly hit back-pass and the ball flew in the wind of his foot for a corner. Hayford again sent his corner towards the back post but the contact from Edwards was poor, and Thame were able to clear.
Shortly after Thame were guilty of poor communication when Hall could have left a forward ball for a goal-kick, but with no message from his fellow defenders, he headed off for a corner. Hayford again took the set-piece, and this time it caught the wind and sailed high over the crossbar.
In the 54th minute Tutton played an incisive ball inside Kandolo for Daniel to run into space. Thame worked the ball across the Hadley 18-yard line and set-up Brown, but his 20-yard shot went straight at Taylor, who made a decent catch.
Thame’s defence were looking increasingly comfortable dealing with the wind, and West was able to leave a Hadley free-kick, allowing it to harmlessly bounce off for a goal-kick.
Tutton then played a classy through pass to release Walsh to run on goal. The centre-forward’s side-footed shot was pushed away by Taylor diving to this left, but Alexander was following up to finish into the empty net. It was 1-0 with 60 minutes played.
Almost immediately, Walsh was again put clear but the flag was raised for off-side, much to the displeasure of the Thame bench, one of whom was show a yellow card for what was said.
Despite playing against the elements, Thame were now winning all the loose balls and were on top. Walsh showed good control to move away from his marker, but with options to both his left and right, his pass to the left was cut-out. Tutton then shot from 20 yards but straight at the Hadley keeper.
With 65 minutes on the clock, Alexander ran from half-way down the right wing and cut inside into the Hadley area but went down far too easily when challenged and the referee allowed play to continue.
The Tutton-Walsh combination was becoming increasingly influential and Walsh this time won a corner after being put clear down the left-hand channel.
Shortly after, Hadley carelessly gave away possession just inside their half and Tutton collected and ran towards the Bricks area before putting Alexander clear, but with only the keeper to beat, the Thame young forward could only shoot against the legs of Taylor as the keeper advanced from his line. It was a great chance to double Thame’s lead.
The first substitution was made in the 68th minute as Hadley sought a reformation as Bobby Bircham replaced Ferguson, and it nearly had an instant impact when Crowther hesitated in collecting a long ball into his area, allowing Edwards to take possession, but the attempted pass across the Thame area was poor and was cleared.
Hadley were made to pay for failing to capitalise on the half-chance when Tutton played another lovely pass to put Walsh clear, and this time the Thame forward coolly finished past Taylor on his left-hand side and into the corner of the net. 2-0 with 75 minutes on the clock.
The storm was by now easing off a little as Brown intercepted a Hadley cross-field pass with his head and then ran from his own half but his attempted pass to put Daniel clear saw the off-side flag raised to halt the move.
Bircham had a go from long range, but the Hadley substitute’s effort bounced through to Crowther, who held well in the difficult conditions.
With 10 minutes remaining, Thame full-back Hall was under pressure as the ball bounced away from him with the wind towards the corner flag, but Hadley substitute Ikechukwu committed a stupid, unnecessary foul to relieve the pressure.
Thame were looking the side most likely to score the next goal. Hall, Daniel and Lack exchanged passes to force a corner of Kandolo, from which Tingey’s header looked to be goal-bound until it hit a defender and deflected wide. Substitute Greg Hackett was found in space by Walsh but his low ball into the 6-yard box was cleared before Riddick could apply a finishing touch.
Hadley were still searching for a lifeline, but Edwards was crowded out at the far post from a corner. Thame went down the other end and after Daniel made a strong run his low cross reached Alexander, who shot narrowly wide from around 12 yards.
Hackett then teed up substitute Abu Khan but the threatening low cross was cleared, after which Hackett played in Alexander, who was tackled by Harry Gallagher when trying to walk the ball into the net.
The final action saw Gallagher’s 35-yard thunderbolt with the wind go inches wide of the top corner with the Thame keeper an interested spectator.
To cut a long story short, Thame were ultimately deserved winners. After a difficult first half, they adapted much better to the conditions in the second half and could have scored more than two goals playing into the gale. However, both sides deserve credit for their performances in atrocious conditions.
With the victory, Thame moved up into 4th place in the table, Hadley remained in 11th.
Thame United : Crowther – Brown ( Khan ), Tingey, West, Hall – Lack, Tutton ( Hackett ), Riddick, Daniel – Alexander, Walsh ( Williams )
Hadley : Taylor – Kandolo, Gallagher, Ogebor, Ismail ( Shiham ) – Hayford ( Young ), Ferguson ( Bircham ), Alfano – Asamoah ( Lodovica ), Stones ( Ikechukwu ), Edwards
No comments:
Post a Comment