
^^David, back-up! You are way too close, you're chopping the top of the flame! There's a lot of other things you should look out for but naming them all would discourage you. Simply start by backing off, like way off. Let the match and flame be a portion of your picture, not the entire picture.
But keep trying, you're getting better

That's great advice and I like criticism so don't worry about it. I'm a big critic, so I understand a little more than the average person.
BTW- I'm trying to do a macro-shot, and trying to keep up with someone who does it extremely well. This is a very hard shot to do. If anyone else wants to take the challenge, you know what to do.
Check it out here ... https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=982364