Life, for a diehard supporter, can sometimes be painful, especially if hopes are raised and then dashed. Thackley’s faithful have had their fair share of raised hopes this season and more than their fair share of dreams that have been dashed. One of the delights of supporting a team can be generated by a cup run, the mix of new experiences and success bring an extra sparkle to cup games and, by the same yardstick, much more of a setback when things don’t go our way. So it was on Saturday. We competed well, worked hard and deserved more. The fact that is was denied us due to circumstances that were arguably beyond the players’ control makes defeat even harder to accept. As well as that, we have had the misfortune of going out of the same competition twice this season, which means double the agony.

Thackley made two changes from the team that lost to Penistone in midweek. Joe Hughes was recalled to start the game and Callum Padgett made his first appearance of the season. Kevin Sanasy was not available and Sam Cable was named as substitute.

In the opening period the game was largely being contested in midfield with Ashington edging the possession and putting more pressure on the Thackley defence. Luke Wilson was dealing comfortably with any threats that were arising and the Thackley goal remained intact. Ashington are a tall side and posed a threat from set pieces but Wilson was effective when dealing with crosses. The closest that Ashington came were from these set pieces, the height of Ben Harmison and Craig Scott creating half chances that were not taken. The Thackley forwards were being contained by a solid Ashington defence but with their first piece of passing football they created a goal just before half time, Hughes heading home following a right wing cross.

Half Time Thackley 1 Ashington 0

Ashington made changes to personnel and brought on Dale Pearson to spark their attack. They continued to exert pressure on the Thackley rearguard and Paul Whiteley was showing his usual resilience in breaking up their attacks. The pressure paid off after sixty five minutes. Pearson seizing on a Bentham slip before beating Wilson from close range. Thackley had their backs to the wall at this stage and had opportunities to increase their lead but Wilson was proving equal to anything that they could throw at him. With ten minutes remaining and Thackley hanging on to achieve a draw the referee, in what appeared to be a fit of pique, dismissed captain Pat McGuire for not retreating from a free kick. Thackley had to dig deep and they almost capitalised when substitute Cable outpaced the Ashington defence to slide the ball home. But the referee disallowed the goal for handball. So the game finished all square with Thackley having a distinct disadvantage having to play the final period with ten men.

Score after ninety minutes – Thackley 1 Ashington 1

Ashington wasted no time in going ahead. In the second minute of extra time Callum Johnstone, another Ashington substitute, outpaced the Thackley defence to slot the ball past Wilson. Undeterred Thackley pressed on and were fighting to regain a foothold in the match. This came just before the extra time break. The ball broke to Jerry White from a corner and he lashed the ball into the net. In terms of match time the lead did not last long. In the first minute of the final period Dale Pearson scored his second goal and Ashington hung on to their slender lead to win the tie.

Final score Thackley 2 Ashington 3

An exciting game for the neutral, heartbreak game for the Thackley followers, delightful for the enthusiastic Ashington visitors.

Thackley team: Wilson, Garrod, White, McGuire, Bentham, Omolokun, Padgett, Whiteley, Hughes, Broadbent, Matthews. Subs: Cable (Hughes), Marshall (Broadbent), Harper (White). Not used Broadley and Higginson.

Referee: Neil Howlett.

Attendance: 96

Photo: Terrace Man of the Match: Luke Wilson