Thame United played the first home game of the season when Berkhamsted travelled to the ASM stadium in the first midweek fixture of the 2024 / 2025 Pitching In Southern League Division one season. Both teams won their opening day fixture, Thame beating Ware 3 - 2 and Berkhamsted an emphatic 4 - 0 victory over Stotfold. After dropping down from the Premier League Central last season the visitors arrived with a strong squad, looking to bounce straight back.

Manager Ben Williams was forced to make some changes to the starting eleven and bench due to injuries picked up in the game against Ware, James Towell, replaced Oscar Lucy at right back, who dropped to the bench, Fin Murray was replaced by Jefferson Louis. Ollie Hogg came back into the team, along with Curtis Brown and Reece Cameron, with Fabian Garcia dropping to the bench and Tom McElroy and Rocko Tamplin missing out on the squad altogether after picking up knocks. Craig Alcock made the bench for the first time this season.

The game kicked off with the visitors starting strongly, neat passing movements and overlapping full backs putting pressure on the Thame full backs saw Thame under pressure from the start, and were finding it difficult to get a foothold in the game. The pressing shown against Ware on Saturday was missing from the home team, but wasn’t helped by the quick interchanges and passing of Berkhamsted. Although they dominated possession in the first 25 minutes the Thame goal remained relatively unscathed, and on 23 minutes Thame had the best chance of the opening accounters, when Curtis Brown was played through and only had the keeper to beat, but his shot was over the bar.

That missed effort seemed to spur the visitors on and on 28 minutes another attack on the right hand side saw the ball crossed into the box and JJ Lacey was there to tap into the near post., 3 minutes later it was two, another overlap on the right hand side saw the ball crossed into the net where Bateman was on had to slot home, Thame were on the back foot and just before half time considered a third, this time from the left hand side with a neat finish from Collier. The half ended with the visitors comfortably 3 - 0 up.

Berkhampsted kicked off the second half, which Thame started much better the pressing on the ball that was missing in the first half was back and were making it difficult for the visitors the home side were forced to make their first sub on 55 minutes, with James Towell limping off replaced by Oscar Lucy. Thame then had a good chance to pull one back, Harry Alexander saw his jinking run and shot just miss the top left hand corner of the goal, more changes followed with Craig Alcock making his debut replacing Jack Tutton, then Alfie Tucker and Fabian Grace coming on for Reece Cameron and Ollie Hogg.

But Thame did create some changes in the second half with Mark Riddick having three headed chances, two were off target and one the keeper saved, all three were unmarked so would have expected something out of them, but it wasn’t to be.

Berkhamsted wrapped it up with ten minutes to go, JJ Lacey attacking on the right hand side his shot took a deflection off of the Thame left back and looped over keeper Crowther and into the net., a bit harsh considering Thames second half performance. But as the game ended, 4 - 0 was nothing more than Berkhamsted deserved a very good side, and were clinical in attack taking their chances where as the home side had five good efforts but couldn't find the back of the net.

We move onto cup action again this weekend with the visit of Beaconsfield in the Preliminary round, kick off 3pm at the ASM stadium

Team
1.Matthew Crowther
2. Josh Stranks
3. James Towell (Oscar Lucy 55 minutes)
4. Leo Galpin
5. Jefferson Louis
6. Mark Riddick (Captain)
7. Ollie Hogg (Alfie Tucker 67 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton (Craig Alcock 60 minutes)
9. Reece Cameron (Fabian Garcia 67 minutes)
10.Curtis Brown
11. Harry Alexander (James Towell 10 minutes)
12. Jefferson Louis
14. Craig Alcock
15. Oscar Lucy
16. Fin Murray
17. Alfie Tucker