It was the opening round of the FA Vase on Saturday, Northern League side Thornaby were Thackley’s opponents at the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield. The two had met once previously at Teesdale Park, it was in this competition and the Dennyboys progressed in a nine goal thriller after extra time. ‘The Blues’ had started the season well winning five of their opening six league games. Thackley made one change to the side that recorded their first victory of the season against Athersley, Jordan Hines replacing the injured Adam Muller.

It was the away side that were first to threaten and came close to scoring following a long throw in but the ball was cleared. Thornaby were forced into making an early substitution, Lewis Murphy replacing Kyran Clark, the Thornaby striker had fallen badly and dislocated his shoulder. Following the early scare, Thackley took the game to their opponents and opened the scoring on eighteen minutes following a corner on the right. Luke Robinson got his head to Pat McGuires’ flag kick to force the ball though a ruck of players into the net. Although the home side were seeing plenty of the ball, Thornaby looked quite slick on the break and Luke Wilson did well to come out of his area to tackle Matt Osmond after he got clear. Ryan Basi picked up a yellow card for pulling back Murphy as he raced past him; the away side were starting to exert some pressure on the home defence. Joe Scarfe-Wheatley went close, firing across goal, the ball going just wide before Thornaby drew level. It came from a soft free kick just inside the Thackley half, the ball was knocked long to the far post, Jordan Wilson converted from close range. It was a poor goal to give away just ten minutes before the break. Basi was lucky not to get a second yellow card for a challenge on Scarfe-Wheatley and Robinson headed over from a McGuire free kick. The teams went into the break all square.

Half time: Thackley 1 Thornaby 1.

In what was a tactical change, Jerry White came on for Basi at the beginning of the second half. It was the home side that pressed early on and the Thornaby keeper, James Dawson, was in the right place to save from Kieran Thompson following Nicky Matthews’ head on. A couple of minutes later the home side had regained the lead. It stemmed from a free kick, in a well rehearsed move the ball was knocked to Kris Hargreaves, McGuire knew exactly where it was going to land and made no mistake from close range. Thackley went two in front four minutes later, Robinson’s glancing header from a Thompson free kick sneaking just inside the post. Two in front, Thackley started to slow the game down, whilst the away side pushed forward in the hope of getting back into the game. Thackley’s defence stood firm as Thornaby forced a number of corners in quick succession. Jordan Hines limped off to be replaced by Adam Simpson. Jerry White’s last ditch tackle thwarted another Thornaby attack before Thackley made their third change, James Rothel replacing James Ngoe. Thompson hit the post for the Dennyboys after the Thornaby defence failed to clear and Hargreaves picked up Thackley’s second yellow card for kicking the ball away as the game entered time added on. With virtually the last kick of the game Thornaby got their second goal, Murphy racing clear and slotting the ball past Wilson. The goal came too late to cause any last minute nerves and Thackley recorded their second victory of the season.

Full time: Thackley 3 Thornaby 2.

Thackley deserved to progress to the next stage of the competition, all of their goals came from set pieces, which perhaps says something about training paying off.

No mid week fixture, next weekend the Dennyboys make the trip to Bracken Edge to meet up with another of last year’s promotion teams Yorkshire Amateur.

Thackley: Wilson; Marsh; Hargreaves; Whiteley (C); Thompson; Basi (White 45 mins); McGuire; Hines (Simpson 64 mins); Robinson; Matthews; Ngoe (Rothel 78 mins). Subs not used: Lee; Trueman.

Thornaby: Dawson; Posthill; Wilson; Burton; Morrison; Crainey; Scarfe-Wheatley (C); Osmond (Simpson); Clark (Murphy); Chapman: Howes (Blake). Sub not used: Foley.

Thackley scorers: Luke Robinson 18 and 57 mins; Pat McGuire 53 mins.

Thornaby scorers: Jordan Wilson 35 mins; Lewis Murphy 90 mins.

Attendance: 110.

Referee: Daniel Sanderson.

Photo: Thackley's match day sponsor Stuart Thorpe presenting Nicky Matthews with The Terrace (Saltaire) MOM award.