In a thrilling and very wet encounter at The ASM Stadium on 22 September 2024, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos faced off against Thame Utd FC Black in a league home match that ended with a scoreline of 3-5 in favour of the home team. The match, which kicked off at 9:30 am, showcased a series of attacking plays and dramatic moments, leaving the Dynamos ruing their missed chances from a game in which they could have won.
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos set up in a 3-4-1 formation, which is typically designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for creative play through the midfield and attacking support. Charley Sweeny took his position as goalkeeper, supported by a back three comprising Harrison Walcott on the right, Ryan Goldan centrally, and Ali Khan as the left defender. The midfield quartet featured Max Cantwell on the right, Manni Taylor and Noah Stappard in central roles, and Noah Weaving on the left, while Kai Vaughan led the line as the lone striker. This tactical setup aimed to dominate possession and transition quickly into attack, with the midfielders expected to contribute both defensively and offensively.
The substitutes for Aylesbury Vale Dynamos included Oli White, Teddy Cheesman, and Caleb De Silva, who would later be called upon to make an impact during the course of the match.
The action began briskly, with Noah Weaving testing the Thame Utd goalkeeper just a minute in, but his attempt was saved. Thame Utd quickly responded, winning a penalty in the fourth minute after a debatable foul, which was converted to give them an early lead. Aylesbury Vale Dynamos tried to find an equaliser, with Ryan Goldan delivering a long pass that created a chance in the eighth minute, though it did not result in a goal.
Kai Vaughan had a flurry of opportunities in the opening stages, taking a shot in the eighth minute which was saved, followed by another attempt just two minutes later, which also failed to hit the target. Not to be discouraged, Vaughan continued his pursuit of a goal when he tried again in the tenth minute, but once more, he was thwarted by the Thame Utd goalkeeper. Max Cantwell also had a promising shot in the twelfth minute, striking the post, and Noah Stappard followed suit with a saved effort in the thirteenth minute.
Thame Utd doubled their advantage in the fifteenth minute, capitalising on Aylesbury’s missed opportunities. In the wake of this setback, Vaughan's persistence showed again as he took another shot in the eighteenth minute, but it was saved yet again. Faced with a dire situation, Aylesbury made tactical changes in the twenty-first minute, substituting Kai Vaughan with Oli White and Noah Weaving with Teddy Cheesman to inject new energy into the attack.
Harrison Walcott sought to shift the momentum back in favour of the Dynamos with a shot in the twenty-sixth minute, but it again was saved. However, Aylesbury found a lifeline towards the end of the first half when Ryan Goldan coolly converted a penalty in the twenty-ninth minute, after a foul on Max Cantwell, closing the gap to 2-1. Shortly after, a substitution saw Caleb De Silva come on for Ali Khan as the first half drew to a close.
The second half started with Thame Utd striking again in the thirty-fifth minute, extending their lead to 3-1. But Aylesbury responded almost immediately when Max Cantwell scored a stunning solo goal just a minute later after a short pass assist by Noah Stappard, providing hope at 3-2. Unfortunately for Aylesbury, Thame Utd struck back again in the thirty-eighth minute, further stretching their lead.
Aylesbury's Teddy Cheesman had an opportunity in the fortieth minute but was unable to find the back of the net as his attempt was saved. Just after the half-time substitutions were completed, in the forty-second minute, Noah Weaving returned to the pitch, replacing Noah Stappard, and set about making his mark.
The second half grew tense, with both sides creating chances, but Aylesbury couldn’t convert. Ryan Goldan was off target in the fifty-third minute, sending his shot just wide. Teddy Cheesman also missed the mark in the fifty-sixth minute with a wide attempt, showcasing the increasing pressure on Aylesbury to close the gap further.
Thame Utd sealed their victory in the fifty-eighth minute, scoring yet again and stretching their lead to 5-2. But Aylesbury refused to go down without a fight, and in the closing moments of the match, Kai Vaughan, who had been reintroduced after half-time, finally got the goal he deserved with a close-range effort following a short pass from Harrison Walcott, bringing the score to 5-3.
The match concluded with both teams having demonstrated their attacking prowess, but ultimately, it was Thame Utd who emerged victorious capitalizing on the Dynamos not clearing their lines, leaving them to reflect on a game rich with opportunities that slipped through their fingers. Manni Taylor was recognized as the standout player of the match for his contributions throughout the encounter, embodying the fight and resilience of Aylesbury Vale Dynamos.
Player of the match went to Manni Taylor. Runner up players of the match went to Teddy Cheeseman, Max Cantwell and Kai Vaughan.
Goal scorers: Max Cantwell, Ryan Goldan and Kai Vaughan. Assists from: Max Cantwell(Fouled), Harrison Walcott and Noah Stappard.
