Category: Sports News

THAME United saw early drama at Creasey Park, Dunstable, on Saturday (March 02), when ten minutes before kick off, the Thame visitors had to make a late change to the starting line up due to injury to top scorer, West.

He was replaced by midfielder Peake-Pijnen, playing on his 21st birthday, and Thame’s Fasanmade made the late move to play up front. AFC Dunstable elected to play the first half with the wind which was to have an impact on both teams’ play.

The first five minutes was tentative from both sides until the first chance of the game fell to Dunstable when a move down the left wing resulted in a shot from distance going wide of the post. Thame made a tactical change and were attempting to hit balls to the flanks and started to have more possession of the ball via Tack and Peake-Pijnen, and forward Fasanmade.

In return AFC Dunstable were trying to find Christie playing up the top to the left. But Dunstable were found offside multiple times in the first 15 minutes. Their direct play towards Christie and behind the defence did actually work in the first half, making it a difficult for Mepham, Essex and Jewell. One of the best passages of play in the first half came when Thame threatened from their left wing, when an attacking run by Fasanmade led to him cutting inside the defender and drilling a shot inches past the post – much to Green’s relief.

Thame appeared to be more organised, keeping their formation and pressing as a team. Then, against the run of play, no challenge on the midfielder led to a through ball to Hall who was able to slot the ball past Hill to make it 1-0 to Dunstable. The home side continued the pressure for the next five minutes with successive corners, one of which created a half chance for a goal, when Ajayi in the box narrowly headed wide. Thame had to wait some time until another opportunity. Then, a well struck half volley by Peake-Pijnen hit Green’s legs for a corner.

The half ended in controversy whereby a foul on Goss, which appeared dangerous, was deemed only a yellow card by the referee and resulted in seven minutes of injury time. This led to verbal exchanges between both sides following the half time whistle.

Second half

Thame responded with a positive start to the second half, playing the ball on the ground rather than in the air. The first chance of the half led to an unmarked Tack shooting over the bar. Thame continued the positive spell by another amazing run by Fasanmade down the right wing, crossed towards a running Tack inside the box who appeared by taken out by the defender. But no penalty was awarded – much to Thame’s displeasure.

Dunstable slowly made it into the second half and in the 60th minute a diagonal ball behind the defender found Christie unmarked who scuffed the shot. But the placement was there for the ball still to find the net to give Dunstable a 2-0 lead at home. In the 65th minute a foul outside the box led to a free kick which was fired in, and Thame’s sturgess lept up attempting to head the ball away, but instead headed the ball into the top corner of the net to seal the victory for Dunstable. Thame were still searching for a goal attempting crosses into the box from both flanks. But often these were easily picked up by the Dunstable defence.

The final scoreline flattered Dunstable but it was a case of taking the key chances when they came. Dunstable did however play well to the conditions, and the tactic of getting the ball to Christie when possible paid off. This may not have been a pleasing game of football to watch for a neutral because of all the stoppages in play but it certainly wasn’t without drama.

Following three points on Saturday, AFC Dunstable have climbed the table up to 10th place and just four points behind the playoff hunt. Despite the defeat on the road, Thame have remained in fifth place due to Berkhamstead losing at home to Bedford Town.

*** NEXT GAME ***
Thame United v Corby Town
Saturday 9/3/19
15:00
ASM Stadium, Thame

THAME United put their recent run of six games without a win to bed on Saturday (23/02) with a resounding win over Dunstable Town at the ASM Stadium.

In truth the scoreline could have been much greater had the hosts taken their chances, but the three points were enough to lift the Oxfordshire side back into the play-off places in the Southern Football League Division One Central table. Because Berkhamsted lost, United were able to take their fifth place spot. With just eleven league games remaining, the battle for those play-offs is incredibly tight as just eight points separate eighth place Coleshill and fourth placed Didcot.
In Saturday’s game, Thame got off to the perfect start when centre-half Aaron Jewell nodded his side ahead after just three minutes and from there the home side never really looked in any danger of not taking the points. Three up by half-time saw the game done and dusted and the second half was never going to match the determination of the first. However, two further goals in the final quarter of an hour put the finishing touches to an excellent performance from Mark West’s squad.

Thame took the lead when a free kick from their right was curled in by Lynton Goss and ready to execute the perfect header in the middle was Jewell who nodded the ball past Town keeper, Connor Coulson. A couple of early corners for the visitors were dealt with comfortably and from one a goal kick from United custodian Craig Hill, sent Dan West away down the middle of the pitch, and evading a challenge, he fired straight at Coulson and the chance was gone. But on eighteen minutes they were given the opportunity to double their lead when a Goss run into the penalty area saw him brought down and a penalty awarded.

Captain Ben Sturgess assumed responsibility and duly sent Coulson the wrong way to drill low into the bottom corner, and from there Dunstable seemed to concede as heads dropped. They were offered a lifeline back into the game when a cross from their right wasn’t cleared by the home defence and pouncing on the loose ball, Saul Williams on the half volley fired high over the bar. Dunstable’s afternoon of misery was compounded on twenty-three minutes when they were forced into an early substitution as Joshua Bailey was replaced by John Sonuga. Liam Tack was released down the United right in behind the Town backline in acres of space, as he tried to pick out team mates in the box. A superb sliding block from Daniel Trif saw him trap with his leg and recover quickly enough to get back on his feet and clear.

Goss continued to make a nuisance of himself up front for the hosts. A ball over the top for him to chase saw him shoulder to shoulder with Sonuga who ended up bringing the striker down, earning himself a yellow card for his troubles. Just past the half hour mark, Goss again got down the right wing into the corner where he cut back inside his marker and a clever reverse pass set in Matt Peake-Pijnen who fired across the six-yard box; Coulson got his hands close enough to stun it dead allowing Sonuga to clear downfield. With three minutes of the half remaining, Thame made it three when Tack slid in to get his foot to a cross which wrong footed Coulson as it rolled slowly into the bottom corner. H/T: 3-0

Second half

The second half took a while to get going as was only to be expected, as Dunstable huffed and puffed but never really troubled the home defence. It took until the fifty-eighth minute for a worthwhile effort on goal when a Thame free kick was headed over by Jamie Essex at the back stick, whilst at the opposite end, a corner played short to Marcus Goldbourne on the corner of the eighteen yard box allowed him to shoot but way wide of the intended target. The visitors were then almost the architects of their own downfall when an attempted header back to his keeper from Sonuga was far too short, allowing Peake-Pijnen to nip in and get his head to it first, nodding over the stranded Coulson but wide of the empty goal.

Another intrusive run from Goss down their right saw him play the ball across the eighteen yard box, where there were three or four close range shots that the away defence did well to get in front of each time. Hill was equally as good with a save at the other end when Williams went for goal from close range. A corner to the hosts curled in by Peake-Pijnen was met at the front of the box by a glancing header from West that flew across the goal face but wide of the back post. This was closely followed by a poor clearance from the Town defence that went straight to Peake-Pijnen giving him the opportunity to cut infield before powering a dipping drive over the top. Then on seventy-seven minutes, Thame finally got their fourth.

A corner from their left curled in by Tack, saw Jewell climb highest to thump his header past Coulson for his second of the afternoon, and from there it was all about game management for the home side. A plethora of substitutions from both sides interrupted play but eventually a late corner was half cleared by the Dunstable defence but only as far as substitute Jack Tutton who tried to place inside the far top corner. But there was never enough bend on the shot to threaten, but in added time Thame got their fifth when their guests surrendered position high up the pitch allowing Andy Gledhill to explore the left wing. Losing his marker he then put the inch-perfect delivery to the back of the six yard box where West headed back across Coulson into the far corner. F/T: 5-0

SOURCE: Contributed by Carl Catling

FOLLOWING three defeats in all competitions, Thame were on the hunt to get out of a bad run and continue pushing for the playoffs. Kempston started the weekend in 15th place and wanted not to get dragged into a relegation battle come March and April

In the early five minutes both teams were attempting to play long balls forward which were intercepted by the defence of both sides. Kempston began to look threatening from set pieces with Thame unable to head the ball away in corners. Kempston created half a chance from Hyde’s throw in towards the forward which was then hit over the bar for a goal kick.

Kempston continued this style of play for the first quarter of a hour which led to key moment in the match when a long ball down the middle towards Crawley led to a misjudged header by Carter allowing Crawley to gain possession and run towards goal. Carter sprinted back but was deemed to have pulled Crawley back. Therefore, a penalty was awarded and Carter was given a straight red card. After a quick pause in play, Joseph stepped up and powered the penalty kick to Hill’s right which was parried and only just went over the line to give Kempston an early lead. Thame would now face an uphill struggle to get anything from the game.

Thame then produced one of their best periods of the game due to their pressing and work rate. It took until the 23rd minute for Thame to be awarded their first corner from where Goss put it into the box and it was cleared out. Tack was able to get on the ball and put an excellently weighted through ball towards the running West who calmly controlled the ball before putting it past Martin along the ground. For the rest of the half the game proved to be more open and possession became evenly matched. Thame resorted to counter and when in possession breaking quickly with both Goss and Fasanmade out wide. This pressure perhaps did result in Kempston then giving the ball away for the rest of the first half.

A threatening attack down the left by Kempston resulted in a full stretch challenge by Tack to win the ball. He was then able to pass up the wing to Fasanmade who would travel with the ball 20 yards before being fouled. The free kick was put into the box with pace by Goss when unmarked Essex leapt up to head the ball narrowly wide of goal. The first half ended as a real physical battle with multiple fouls by both sides in midfield with very little created.

HT Score – KEMPSTON 1 – 1 THAME

Both side’s started the second half at a slower pace perhaps easing their way into the game, and there were very little long periods of possession to begin with. The first chance of the second half fell to Thame when Martin saved the first shot, resulting in the ball coming out to West who scuffed the follow up but still managed to find the target until Kempston could get back and clear the ball off the line. Thame’s West continued to hold the line and ball when possible to encourage Goss and Fasanmade to attack the wings. This was similar to Kempston’s approach having McLeod as a lone striker for much of the second half with very little coming here his way.

Kempston nearly took the lead again when a cross by Shepherd into a dangerous area had to be cleared away by Lynn which proved to be Kempston’s best chance in the second half. This did enhance the team’s confidence and did encourage them to get forward more. An example of this was when a long run up the left by Hyde led to him getting the ball on the touch line and crossing the ball across the face of goal. But Hill was able to collect the ball and stop the attack.

One of Thame’s final attacks was a cross by Peake-Pijnen with his left foot which did find the timed jump of West who could only head it towards Martin. Thame’s players were extremely tired in the last 15 minutes, with both Thame’s Ashworth and Sturgess in midfield still closing down and trying to make tackles to break up play which was a great defensive partnership by the two.

In the final five minutes the ref decided to not award Thame a penalty when Fasanmade appealed for being brought down in the box when he was running towards goal. Both teams seemed content with the draw at the final whistle and both teams were warmly applauded by sets of fans.

Following the result both teams will be satisfied with a point. Thame remain in fifth place following results elsewhere in the league and Kempston drop to 16th place but are now 11 points above relegation. Thame’s Fasanmade had a great debut with his defensive work rate and attacking runs and positional play.

FT Score – KEMPSTON 1 – 1 THAME

*** STARTING LINE-UPS ***
Kempston Rovers – Martin (GK), Akubuine, Hyde, Wright, Powell, Boland, Joseph, Shepherd, Crawley, Bush (Cpt), Tshikuna
Subs Used – Riley, McLeod and Sambu

Thame United FC – Hill (GK), Tack, Lynn, Essex, Carter, Ashworth, Fasanmade, Sturgess (Cpt), Goss, West and Peake-Pijnen
Subs used –

*** MAN OF THE MATCH ***
As awarded by Kempston Rovers – #3 Cameron Hyde

*** KEY STATS ***
Shots on target – Kempston 2 – 6 Thame
Corners – Kempston 2 – 4 Thame
Yellow Cards – Kempston 1 – 0 Thame
Red Cards – Kempston 0 – 1 Thame
Penalties – Kempston 1 – 0 Thame

*** NEXT GAME ***
AWAY @ The BP MITCHELL STADIUM
Saturday 16/2/2019
Kick Off 15:00 – Welwyn Garden City V Thame United

SOURCE: Contributed by Carl Catling

THIS fixture offered both sides a great opportunity for silverware this season and it was Thame United, eight times winners of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, who hosted Ardley United FC in this knockout encounter on Tuesday (05/02/19).

The game started slowly with Thame attempting to keep the ball all over the pitch and Ardley easing into the game. It didn’t take long until West was adjudged to be fouled in the box and Thame were awarded an early penalty.

Ben Sturgess stepped up confidently and placed the ball to the GK right side. Thame had a half chance shortly afterwards to double their lead when a cross by Peake-Pijnen was headed by West but no one was able to put it into the net. Ardley began to fight back and Hill was forced into a reaction save following some great one touch passing inside the box by Ardley. They showed further threatening attacks down the right side attempting to hit early crosses into the box. Thame did respond when Lynn made numerous runs down the left and eventually was able to hit a powerful cross into the box which was headed wide by West.

In the 26th minute of this, the first half, a lapse in concentration led to an easy through ball, played behind Gledhill, being shot past Hill by Ardley’s Bryan. Ardley continued their dominance and Essex had to resort to a diving header from a long cross field ball to avoid a one-on-one with Hill. Ardley took the lead on 32 minutes when a deflected shot from inside the box from Gillett left a fully stretched Hill with no chance to save the shot. Ardley’s tactic of playing the ball behind the defence was evident and they continued playing this way through the first half which saw Smith make multiple runs and dribbles.

HT Score – THAME 1 – 2 ARDLEY

Thame did respond in the second half and nearly equalised shortly after kick off, following a ball over the top by Sturgess which was intercepted by Lawrence before an incoming Tack could get to the ball. Goss had been substituted at half time which led to Tack moving to a more attacking position. One excellent creative attack was when Thame’s Martin chipped a pass over the back line and West’s shot hit a defender and went out for a corner. There was a claim for a penalty by Ardley when Smith went down in the box but he was booked for diving by the referee.

At this point Thame’s defence began to appear more robust with players dealing with balls in the air comfortably and Ardley being limited to shots from outside the box. Half way through the second half, Thame’s Peake-Pijnen produced a drilled cross towards goal which was anticipated and dealt with by Lawrence. A Thame mistake at the back when a header towards Hill was short meant a gambling Bryan was able to get to the ball before Hill and head it over him to make it 3-1.

Thame finally pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when the ball was bouncing around the box. But a determined West got to the ball two yards out to make it 2-3. Thame continued to be awarded corners and free kicks in the last 15 minutes but were unable to find an equaliser. Ardley continued to slow the game down and defend in numbers and happy to attack on the counter and managed to hold out for a huge victory.

FT Score – THAME 2 – 3 ARDLEY

Ardley will be relishing the semi final cup draw in the hope of drawing one of Oxfordshire’s big clubs. Ardley defended with heart and determination in the second half and their forwards were threatening on the counter attack, proving they have quality finishing within the side. Thame on the other hand face a tough trip away to Kempston in the league on Saturday, February 9, and aim to stop the current run of three successive defeats.

*** STARTING LINE-UPS ***
Thame United FC – Hill (GK), Tack, Lynn, Essex, Gledhill, Tutton, Martin, Sturgess (Capt), Goss, West and Peake-Pijnen
Subs used – Ashworth and Murray

Ardley United FC – Lawrence (GK), Griffiths, Moore (Capt), Giles, West, Jenkins, Gillett, McKiernan, Smith, Bryan and Harris
Subs used – Woodall and Yusuf

*** MAN OF THE MATCH sponsored by Figaro’s Barber in Thame ***
The Thame United Man of the Match selected by Figaro’s Barber was #11 Matt Peake-Pijnen.

*** KEY STATS ***
Shots on target – Thame 6 – 7 Ardley
Corners – Thame 6 – 2 Ardley
Yellow Cards – Thame 0 – 3 Ardley
Red Cards – Thame 0 – 0 Ardley
Penalties – Thame 1 – 0 Ardley

*** NEXT GAME ***
AWAY @ Hillgrounds Leisure, MK42 8SZ
Saturday 9/2/2019
Kick Off 15:00 – Kempston Rovers v Thame United
EVO-STIK Southern Division One Central

SOURCE – Contributed by Carl Catling