November 7, 2026
Since these diaries witnessed Thame ending their barren run with a controversial 2-1 home win against Welwyn Garden City, they had subsequently won three more matches, winning 3-2 at high-flying Potters Bar Town, 4-0 at home to MK Irish and 3-1 at Barton Rovers. Striker George Cleveland had joined from Aylesbury United, and opened his account for Thame in the win at Barton Rovers.
These results took Thame up to 10th place in the table prior to today’s game and with anywhere from 3 to 5 games in hand of the sides above them. If they won all their games in hand, and that is a big if, they would go top !
Today’s opposition were Stotfold, who had enjoyed a good start to the season and arrived at the ASM in 7th place in table.
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 7th place, but in the 2024/25 season they ended up in 17th place, two points clear of the relegation places. Last season Stotfold were again 17th, but comfortably clear of danger.
Stotfold This Season
Stotford came into today’s game with an impressive 6-7-2 record, and were 2-5-1 away from home.
Stotfold began the season with a 4-1 home win over step 5 Basildon United in the FA Cup, and beat step 5 Cockfosters 3-0 at home in the next round. However, dreams of Wembley were extinguished in the next round with a 2-3 lost at step 4 Witham Town.
In the league, Stotfold began with a tough run of fixtures against sides expected to be at the top end of the table this season, but emerged unbeaten after three games, with a 2-2 draw at Biggleswade, a 1-1 draw at Royston, then a 1-1 home draw with Winslow United.
The bubble burst with a 0-5 defeat at Welwyn Garden City, followed with a 0-1 home loss to Hadley. However, since then Stotfold, had played 10 more league matches, winning 6 and drawing 4. Four draws had been played in their five most recent fixtures until last time out, they beat Flackwell Heath 2-0.
In the FA Trophy, Stotfold got past fellow step 4 side Hadley 2-0, but crashed out 0-3 at home to step 4 Gorleston Town.
The average home league attendance so far was 133 so far, compared to 214 last season.
Stotfold Squad
From the squad that played at the ASM stadium last season, only keeper Liam Gooch, defender Lewis Thomas and forward Richesse Mvicki were still with the club.
Last season’s top scorer, striker Henry Snee, was now playing for step 3 Hanwell Town, whilst winger Luca Cardines had joined Biggleswade FC, and midfielder Mitchell Gooch and defender Jake Bunyan had signed for Biggleswade United.
Ex-Dunstable Town and Kempston Rovers striker Plamedi Bomole was their top scorer with 6 goals, level with Taylor Franklin. Veteran striker Taylor Rhiney had previously played for Hitchin Town, Barton Rovers, Biggleswade United, AFC Dunstable and Bedford Town amongst others.
Ex-Sheffield United, Northampton Town, Hayes and Yeading United, Hemel Hempstead, Wealdstone, Thame United and Beaconsfield Town amongst others midfielder Matty Harriott recently advertised on social media that he was coming out of retirement looking for a side at step 3 or 4 side, and seems to have settled on Stotfold.
Spanish born left-back Hugo Valencia joined Stotfold after being released by Norwich City, winger William Ademiluyi signed from Biggleswade United, whilst defender and captain Pierce Mitchell joined from Berkhamsted Town.
Previous Meetings
These two sides had met on 6 previous occasions and Stotfold were yet to record a victory.
Last season, with Fatbear in attendance, Thame needed a goal in the 11th minute of added time to win 1-0 at home, whilst in the return, Thame were 2-1 winners despite Ed Daffern, now with Thame, opening the scoring for Stotfold.
The season before saw a remarkable game at the ASM Stadium. With less 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 that match too.
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.
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 9 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, and free team sheets were available at the turnstile.
Stotfold made two changes to the side that beat Flackwell Heath last Saturday, with Matt Moloney coming in at right-back and Dylan Logan into midfield, and Enock Ekongo and Harriott were missing. Thame were unchanged from the side that was victorious at Barton Rovers.
Stotfold were playing in a change kit of all purple, whilst Thame were in their usual red and black shirts.
Matchday Report
A minute’s silence was observed before Thame kicked off attacking the ring-road end. In the first minute Josh Stranks ran from just outside the Thame area to the Stotfold byline and his cut-back reached Cleveland, but a Stotfold defender was alert and took the ball off the Thame centre-forward.
At the other end, Franklin dramatically fell to the floor holding his head after being tackled by Thame full-back Callum Hall. The referee correctly allowed play to continue for a short while, before stopping the game for Frankline to receive treatment. He recovered, but had to spend a minute on the touchline before returning to the game.
Thame were having the better of the early stages without creating too much danger for the visitors, with Ethan Lack’s pull back from the byline finding Daffern, whose shot was blocked, then a long range shot from Harry Alexander lacked power and rolled gently through to keeper Gooch.
Stotfold were first seen as an attacking threat when Joseph Beardon’s chip towards the far post was met by Franklin, but the header sailed high and wide.
Alexander skipped past Valencia but Joseph Beardon was covering back and put the ball out for a throw-in. Hall’s long throw was headed away to Alexander just outside the Stotfold area, but the shot went harmlessly over the crossbar. Shortly after, Lack had a long range effort blocked.
At the other end, Dan West needed to make a sliding interception to prevent Ademiluyi running onto a through pass.
With 19 minutes played, Franklin’s long throw into the Thame area was headed on by Thomas, but West was on hand to clear from inside the 6-yard box. Thame looked to counter-attack, and Cleveland played a cross-field ball to find Alexander in space on the right wing, but Stotfold were able to able to half the move at the expense of a corner. The set-piece was headed away and Stotfold had a 3 vs 3 break, but the attempted pass by Valencia was poor and easily cut-out by Hall.
The visitors created the best chance of the game so far in the 20th minute. Simo Mbonkwi slid a lovely pass through the Thame back-line for Rhiney to run onto, but the shot across the face of the goal rolled just wide of the far post.
A minute later Franklin sent a 20-yard thunderbolt goal bound, but the shot was straight at Thame keeper James Callan, who spilt the ball but gathered at the second attempt before Rhiney could take advantage.
Cleveland then appeared to be brought down by Mitchell just outside the Stotfold area, but the referee thought otherwise and waved play on.
The visitors though were enjoying a good spell and Franklin was put clear down the left-hand channel. However, after cutting back inside onto his right foot, the low shot lacked power and was a comfortable save for Callan.
Thame captain Mark Riddick played a through pass for Cleveland to run for but he could only get clear after pulling back Thomas for an obvious free-kick to Stotfold.
Valencia was not having a good game for the visitors, and after he lost possession near the half-way line, Thame were able to build an attack which saw Stranks cross toward the 6-yard line, where Cleveland stuck out a foot, but could only deflect the ball narrowly wide of the near post.
From a Stotfold corner, a header by Thomas from beyond the far post was pushed away for another corner by Callan. The following corner was headed away by West for a throw-in, from which Thomas was penalised for pushing.
Another Stotfold long throw saw Thomas win a header and Mitchell turned on the ball, but could only scoop the ball over the bar from 10 yards.
With 37 minutes on the clock, Lack ran past Logan but was brutally upended by Moloney for a free-kick not too far away from the corner flag and the referee’s cards stayed in his pocket. However, Jack Tutton’s free-kick was well claimed by keeper Gooch. A minute later Cleveland shot horribly wide with a long-range effort.
With half-time approaching Daffern was brought down just outside the Stotfold area by Mitchell, who was shown the first yellow card of the match. Tutton free-kick produced a great save from Gooch, diving to his left to push the ball away for a corner. Thame took a short corner routine, but Alexander’s shot nearly went out of the ground.
With 45 minutes played, the visitors managed to put the ball into the net. Rhiney managed to get his head to a ball into the Thame area, and although Callan managed to get a hand to it to push away, the ball struck Hall and went into net for an own goal. However, the linesman’s flag was raised for off-side so it remained goalless.
The last action of the first period saw a powerful header by Thomas from the edge of the Thame penalty area go a couple of feet wide with Callan beaten.
The teams headed for their half-time oranges with the score still 0-0, which seemed to be fair scoreline. Thame were winning the midfield battle and had enjoyed more of the possession, but Stotfold had created the better chances, and their front three were looking sharp.
Thame started the second half strongly and Daffern had a 20-yard left-footed effort pushed away by Gooch, this time diving to his right to make the parry. Hall then played a pass which put Cleveland clear but as the Thame striker attempted to go round the keeper, Gooch managed to get a strong hand to push the ball away. Thame reworked possession, but the attempt from Daffern sailed high over the bar.
Alexander then cut back in from the right touchline but his left-footed shot from just outside the Stotfold area bounced narrowly wide.
In the 55th minute, Tutton charged towards the Stotfold area only to be chopped down by Logan, who received the second yellow card of the game. Logan was substituted almost immediately after.
Daffern, Cleveland and Stranks exchanged passes around the edge of the Stotfold area before the low cross from Stranks was blocked by Moloney.
After a move from Stotfold broke down just inside the Thame half, Daffern spread play wide to Alexander who made his way into the visitors’ penalty area. Looking up, the pass was played across the edge of the penalty area where the on-rushing Daffern sent the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give Thame the lead against his former club. It was 1-0 with 59 minutes played.
A minute later Alexander, Stranks and Riddick all exchanged passes until Tutton saw his effort blocked. Valencia went on a good run for Stotfold but Ademiluyi’s control was poor and the ball rolled away for a Thame goal-kick.
At this point it was starting to get misty.
With Thame having taken the lead, the pattern of the game changed, with Thame content to move the ball quickly deep into the Stotfold half and to keep the visitors as far away as possible from their goal. Stotfold made changes to their formation but never looked capable of getting back to level terms.
Ademiluyi had two strong runs down the right wing. The first time Stranks made a great tackle to thwart the danger, but on the second occasion got past Stranks only for his low cross to be cleared. In-b6etween, Tutton did well to get to the left byline and find Alexander with his pass, but the touch was poor and Stotfold were able to clear.
Thame substitute Roger James robbed Mbonkwi mid-way inside the Stotfold half and fed Alexander, but the shot was weak and a regulation save for Gooch.
A minute later, Mbonkwi again lost possession, this time Lack took the ball off him and ran for goal. Gooch bravely came out of his area to make a block as Lack attempted to prod the ball past him.
A quick free-kick by Thame put Stranks clear of the dozing defenders but the shot from a tight angle was blocked for a corner, which was followed by another corner, from which Alexander put a right-footed shot a yard wide.
Gooch was called into action again, under pressure punching away a corner from under his own crossbar.
With three minutes remaining it looked like Thame must score again. Lack won the ball in the middle of the park and put Alexander away on the right wing. Alexander got to the byline and his pull-back found James 10 yards out. The Thame substitute took a touch, then took his time deciding where to place his shot, but finally his shot was blocked for a corner.
With added time being played, Stotfold managed to play the ball to Olayinka inside the Thame area, but rather than look up to assess his options, the Stotfold substitute shot wildly and the effort was blocked by the Thame defender two yards from him. Stotfold managed to regain possession but Franklin shot meekly from outside the area and Callan made an easy catch.
In desperation, Stotfold launched a long throw into the Thame penalty area but Callan rose the highest to punch the ball away.
At the final whistle, Thame had claimed an important victory which took them up to 8th in the table, above Stotfold on goal difference, whose unbeaten run had come to an end. The game wasn’t the highest quality, and although Thame probably should have won by a greater margin, they won’t mind too much as Stotfold look to be a hard side to beat.
Thame United : Callan – Hall, West, Murray, Stranks – Lack, Tutton ( Beadle ), Riddick, Daffern ( Brown ) - Alexander, Cleveland ( James )
Stotfold : Gooch – Moloney, Mitchell, Thomas, Valencia – Beardon ( Jordan ), Mbonkwi, Logan ( Mvioki ) – Ademiluyi ( Olayinka ), Rhiney, Franklin
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