THAME united 2 afc 2
Thame United 2 AFC Dunstable 2 (1-0 Half time)
Southern League Central Division 1
The ASM Stadium aka Meadow View Park, Tuesday 30th September 2025
Attendance –
Match report by Tony Barbato.
On a pleasantly warm early Autumn evening we made the journey West over to Thame with some fond memories of previous games, usually mid-week at the ASM Stadium. Looking at the team selection, it was noted that some of the players may have been given reduced minutes owing to the big Trophy game the following weekend.
The first 10 minutes were all Thame as they looked to dominate physically in midfield and they created within that time 3 good half chances primarily down their right with Sam making one tidy save amongst them. Our opposition were keen to mix it up with a combination of both short passing and long balls over the top that we struggled to deal with. Such was their dominance that we didn’t even get the ball into their half until the 11th minute. On 12 mins a decent cross came in from Bruce that Ike headed well wide and a minute later Bruce again manages a decent cross into the box after a neat interchange of passes with JCA but the chance was spurned. We continued to struggle to link our forwards in and compete in midfield despite the best efforts of Kyle Brooks who was our stand-out player in the first half. On multiple occasions we seemed to slip at key moments and I hope that Santa will be kind to the AFC team this Christmas with some new boots that are suited to playing on soft surfaces. Before Christmas would be better!
The balance of play continued to be with Thame and after a few more wasted half chances on 26 minutes there was a further slip in defence leading to their pacy left inside forward Alexander driving into the box and smashing the ball low into the far post. It had been coming I am afraid and for the next 10 minutes we were right under the cosh with Thame again spurning a further 2 or 3 chances to double the lead.
On 37 minutes Maks fired in a fierce shot from outside the area that their keeper on loan from Wycombe tipped over the bar after some good work from Carmichael and Ike down the left. Again, Thame still looked dangerous and missed a sitter, but on 43 mins and after some good individual play Blennerhasset generated a chance on the edge of the box but scuffed wide. Fortunately for AFC, the whistle soon blew for half time and we trudged off happy to only be 1-0 down after a dominant Thame display.
I have no idea what was said or thrown at half-time but AFC came out for the 2nd half totally re-energised and ready to trade. 50-50 balls were now being won instead of lost and we pushed Thame back from the off resulting in good chances for Ike with a swerving stinger saved by the keeper and Blennerhasset turning neatly in the area but shooting wide. 4 minutes later Carmichael pinged a low cross in that Blennerhasset controlled well but again fired wide. The first 10 minutes were all AFC as Thame dropped deeper probably mindful that they needed a win and looked to protect their lead, but we were reminded on 56 mins that they could still be dangerous with Sam being called into action for the 1st time in the half saving a long drive well. On 56 mins Tali was introduced into the mix for George and his introduction appeared to be pivotal as he exerted his physical presence and forced Thame back even further. Brooks was now firing on all cylinders and sent in a fierce effort from the edge of the box that moved left to right and up and down forcing the keeper to make a panicky push over the bar and AFC were well on top at this stage with attack after attack.
19 minutes in and Avto was introduced for Bruce and his confidence and pace caused the left side of Thame’s defence some real problems with further chances being created for Ike and Blennerhasset during a period of play that was just crying out for an equaliser with Thame literally on the ropes. On 78 minutes it finally came with Tali dancing past at least 3 tackles in the box with the ball laid off to Ike who calmly placed the ball under the advancing keeper – great goal and nothing less than we deserved. A couple of minutes later Avto danced past 2 defenders and played a lovely cross come shot into the box that beat the keeper but alas not the bar. AFC continued to press on both left and right flanks aided and abetted with some great long ball switches from Shawn Joseph, desperate to get the winner – Thame at this point had literally lost the will to live.
However, football can be cruel and un-forgiving and after a rare foray up the field on 82 minutes a right-side corner was awarded to Thame that was slung into the box resulting in Riddick winning a one man jumping contest to neatly head past Sam from the penalty spot. Ouch - we didn’t deserve that but concentration reminders can be timely, so to their credit the AFC players rolled up their sleeves and went again but this time Thame really sensed that they could now close out the 3 points. For the remainder of the game AFC continued to probe and push as extra time was called at 5 minutes. AFC were then awarded a cheap free kick down the left near the penalty area that was looped into the box by Shawn. The keeper made a critical error in assuming that he could get through 6 or 7 players to take the cross and stopped in his tracks when he realised that he had mis-calculated. The ball fell kindly to Kyle Brooks who still had the instinct to loop his header over the stranded keeper to nestle in just under the bar in the 94th minute.
Very shortly thereafter the ref blew for time and we managed to get the draw in a game that on probability we probably had the best 55% of. A classic and very entertaining game of two halves. Great credit has to go to both sides for being both effective for a half and equally as charitable for the balance.
Man of the Match was definitely Kyle Brooks who put in a stellar captain’s performance and deservedly scored to top off a very strong individual game from him.
AFC Starting Line up:
Carmen, JCA, Carmichael, Maks, Mwita, Ben Lynch, Ike, Bruce, Blennerhasset, Joyce, Brooks
Subs (all came on)
Addy, Lucas, Joseph, Jallo, Avtandil
