Thame United travelled to Hertfordshire for the opening round of the 2024 / 2025 Pitching In Southern League Division One Season. Ware finished last season in the playoff places but were defeated in the semi finals. When Thame visited Ware back in September, they were unlucky to come away with a 4 - 4 draw with the home side scoring a 98th minute equaliser, the return at the ASM stadium resulted in a 3 - 1 victory to the visitors.

On the back of last weeks 3 - 0 victory in the FA Cup against Aylesbury United, Manager Ben Williams made two changes to the starting eleven, with Fin Murray replacing Jefferson Louis at centre back and new signing Jack Tutton making his debut in midfield, with Alfie Tucker dropping to the bench, James Towell also returned to the squad for todays match.

Thame kicked off playing from right to left, with the home side forcing the early pace, but Thame were up for the battle and were fighting for every ball, and it was the visitors that had the first chance, Harry Alexander with a good run into the Ware's box, laid the ball to Fabian Garcia but he couldn't convert the chance. Ware's number 7 went into the book midway through the first half for simulation when he went down far to easily on the edge of the box, Mark Riddick was then presented with a chance only for the linesman flag to go up.

As the half went on, it was becoming a real battle, both teams putting in hard challenges and the game was being played at a really fast pace on the 3G surface. Ware's wingers were causing the Thame full backs some trouble, while Thame were playing well on the counter attack. The half ended with the scores level, and in fairness not many chances for either sides.

The second half began with Thame kicking left to right on a slight incline, and within 5 minutes of the restart were ahead, a quick break on the right hand side found Fabian Garcia who took it to the edge of the area, and crossed into the box, where Tom McElroy was waiting unmarked to rifle the ball into the back of the net. The lead lasted 6 minutes, when the visitors conceded a sloppy goal after a hint of a foul on one of the centre backs the ball fell to a Ware player in the 18 yard box, his shot took a slight deflection and beat keeper Crowther.

Thame made their first substitutes with Curtis Brown replacing Rocko Tamplin and Fabian Garcia was replace by Reece Cameron, both had put in hard shift.

The home team were piling on the pressure using the wide areas to stretch the Thame defence, but against the run of play Thame went back in front on 78 minutes, after winning a corner Harry Alexander picked up the ball on the edge of the area fired in a shot, which hit Reece Cameron, only for the ball to rebound to Fin Murray who’s low shot beat the keeper and defenders on the line. The home side ramped up the pressure and on 85 got their second equaliser, the the visitors will be kicking them selves the defence failed to clear a cross and a mix up with the keeper presented Ware with a tap in.

Thame made their third substitute with Harry Alexander replaced by James Towell for the final ten minutes.

As the clock ticked over to 90 minutes the referee added six minutes of added time, on 94 minutes Thame won a free kick on the right hand side in the Ware half after Josh Stranks was bundled over, he got up and played the free kick into the box, only for it to be cleared, Fin Murray picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired in a cross, which was met first time by Reece Cameron on the six yard box, his shot flew past the keeper into the back of the net. There were wild celebrations from the Thame players and on the bench, Ware kicked the game off again but the visitors saw out the final couple of minutes to secure an opening day away victory. Thame were under the cosh for large parts of the second half but showed the character to continue fighting to the end. A great team performance against a very good Ware side. And a good watch for the neutral.

We now move onto to a home tie on Tuesday night agains Berkhampsted at the ASM Stadium, 7.45 kick off.

Scorers

Tom McElroy 50 minutes
Fin Murray 78 Minutes
Reece Cameron 90+4 minutes

Team
1.Matthew Crowther
2. Josh Stranks
3. Oscar Lucy
4. Leo Galpin
5. Fin Murray (Yellow Card)
6. Mark Riddick (Captain)
7. Fabian Garcia (Reece Cameron 60 minutes)
8. Jack Tutton
9. Tom McElroy (Yellow Card)
10.Rocko Tamplin (Curtis Brown 57 minutes)
11. Harry Alexander (James Towell 10 minutes)
12. Jefferson Louis
14. Reece Cameron
15. Curtis Brown
16. James Towell
17. Alfie Tucker