After an extended Christmas break and not playing any football since 30 November, Stewkley started their 2025 with a tricky looking fixture away at AFC Carpathians. Budgen and Howard had a strong squad to choose from apart from the missing Okolie, Cristofoli and long term absentee Ewan Reeves, they also had the added bonus of welcoming back Waldram who had been out since August.

Despite the drop in temperature the Carpathians pitch was in great condition and the boys in yellow kicked off looking to assert their lead at the top of North Bucks Premier. It was a bright start to the game and the visitors should have taken the lead in the early exchanges when Scrivener and McKenna combined, the latter cut the ball back to the onrushing Hardings who from 12 yards out smashed his shot over the bar. Stewkley were in again not long after, when Roadnight set Carter away down the right, he fronted up the Carpathians centre back and sent a stinging drive towards goal, which the home side's stopper was eqaul to.

Soon enough the pressure told, as McKenna found Hardings 20 yards out from goal and he slipped the ball out wide to Roadnight who smashed his shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net. AFC Carpathians 0-1 Stewkley.

It was pretty much all one way traffic in the first half and plenty more chances came and went as the half drew on, Carter couldn't find a way past the Carpathians backline and McKenna had an effort blocked in a last ditch attempt. Eventually Stewkley found a way through again, this time down the right. Roadnight threaded a ball into the path of Alligan who made a great run from midfield, as he advanced into the box the hosts stopper came rushing out to cut down the angle but Stewkley's number 8 calmly slotted the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net. AFC Carpathians 0-2 Stewkley.

Before the half the hosts thought they had pulled a goal back but their strikers goal ruled out for offside. That brought the first 45 minutes to a close. Half-Time AFC Carpathians 0-2 Stewkley.

The boys in yellow again started the second half in quick fashion - a well worked move down the right saw Roadnight cut the ball back to Budgen who's shot was half blocked and looped up towards the back post, Carter's header was then parried by the keeper into the path of Roadnight and in a panic the Carpathians keeper upended Budgen in the 6 yard box and the ref had no option but to point to penalty spot. Budgen then dusted himself off to step up and take the penalty, duly sending the keeper the wrong way and slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner. AFC Carpathians 0-3 Stewkley.

The hosts did manage to get a foothold in the game when they worked the ball down their left and found their striker who broke into the box and slammed the ball beyond Essex in the Stewkley goal, who could do nothing about the strike. AFC Carpathians 1-3 Stewkley.

It didn't take long for Stewkley to respond to conceding, and McKenna and Roadnight were replaced at this point by Kirchin and Faulkner. It was the former who was involved in the fourth as he worked some space down the right flank and laid the ball back to the onrushing Hardings, who cushioned his shot beyond the keeper and into the far left hand corner. AFC Carpathians 1-4 Stewkley.

It was soon five for the visitors and they were really beginning to look dangerous with every attack, that also saw the final slue of changes made as Budgen, Hardings & Carter were replaced for Atkinson, Bailey & Waldram. Soon after their introduction Stewkley had bagged another as Scrivener drove forward from left back and his cross deflected into the path of Alligan who from the edge of the box hit a shot towards goal which squeezed underneath the Carpathians stopper and in for Alligan's second and Stewkley's fifth of the game. AFC Carpathians 1-5 Stewkley.

It wasn't long before Waldram made his impact on the game after being out with an ankle injury since August. Reeves moved forward and played a lovely ball into the path of Waldram who took a touch glided into the box and slotted the ball beyond the hapless Carpathians stopper. AFC Carpathians 1-6 Stewkley.

The substitutes were having a real impact on the game now and it was Faulkner and Waldram who combined for the sixth. Faulkner battled well on the left wing and intricately played the ball inside to Waldram who drove forward and for some reason the Carpathians stopper came charging out of his box to challenge the Stewkley striker, he comfortably rounded the stopper and looped the ball into the back of the net with his left foot. AFC Carpathians 1-7 Stewkley.

The hosts were running on fumes now and the barrage on their goal wasn't quite finished yet. Again Faulkner combined with Waldram on the left and the latter cut inside onto the edge of the box and he unselfishly laid the ball off into the path of Kirchin who was unmarked on the right handside, he calmly took a touch and slotted the ball beyond the keeper into the far left hand corner. AFC Carpathians 1-8 Stewkley.

There was no more time for any goals but Stewkley start 2025 how they finished it and continue to stamp their authority at the top of the league. Attention now turns to the quarter finals of the Oving Cup as we look to retain the trophy after last year's triumph, the lads would love your support as we welcome Long Crendon to the rec.

Full- Time: AFC Carpathians 1-8 Stewkley

Scorers: Roadnight, Alligan x2, Budgen, Hardings, Waldram x2 & Kirchin

Next Up: Long Crendon (H) - Oving Cup 13:30 kick-off