Thackley were hoping for a bit of a run in the FA Vase, this hope was buoyed by their recent run of four successive victories, Thornaby were the next team that they had to overcome to progress in the competition. Although the ‘Blues’ had made a poor start to the league season, their cup form was much better, however, the had exited the third stage of the FA Cup in mid-week at Ossett United. Charlie Flaherty and Ryan Basi were unavailable from the team that beat Grimsby last week, Loz Hunter and Jerry White were brought in as replacements. New signing Jack Boyle was on the bench.

Thackley made a bright start and in the opening minutes Jack Normanton got clear a couple of times and Ray Sibanda had a shot that cleared the bar. The home side hit back winning a number of corners and Thackley were lucky not to go behind, Joe Scaife-Wheatley’s effort hitting the post before rebounding off of Luke Wilson and away. Whilst Thackley were looking to set Normanton free down the middle, Thornaby were getting the ball wide to get crosses into the box for their two strikers. Kieran Thompson’s effort from wide right was just wide before Wilson saved Ian Ward’s goal bound header. The home side were seeing more of the ball and Wilson was called on to make another couple of saves to keep the scores level. Thackley were floundering somewhat, unable to reproduce anything like last week’s performance. They did have the ball in net just before the break with a well worked move but it was ruled out for offside. The Dennyboys would be the happier of the two teams going into the break still all square.

Half time: Thornaby 0 Thackley 0.

Thackley made a couple of changes at the start of the second half, Loz Hunter and Sibanda replaced by debutant Jack Boyle and Jordan Hines. Thackley again started the brighter and James Dawson had to make saves from both Hines and Normanton. An hour into the game and the home side hit the woodwork for the second time, Wilson giving away a free kick in the box after picking up a back pass. The Thackley keeper saved well from Jack Bailey’s long range effort before Kris Hargreaves picked up the softest of bookings. The Dennyboys took the lead with twenty minutes to go, Ben Grech-Brooksbank winning the ball in mid-field before firing off a shot from well outside the box to beat the diving Dawson. Thornaby had nothing to lose now and they began to pressurise the Thackley back line. Matt Hall was introduced in place of Grech-Brooksbank to give fresh legs to mid-field. With five minutes remaining Thackley went close to making the game safe, Thompson’s free kick from the edge of the box hitting the bar with Dawson transfixed. Two minutes later and Thornaby were level, Wilson got his body in the way of a well struck shot but could not hold onto ball, it rebounded to Adam Preston who lashed it into the net. Luck seemed to be on Thackley’s side a couple of minutes later when Preston got free but he put is effort wide. However, it ran out when Preston ended Thackley’s Vase run this season as the game went into time added on, the home striker was given plenty of space to head past Wilson and send the Teeside club into the next round.

Full time: Thornaby 2 Thackley 1.

A really disappointing afternoon for Thackley, nowhere near the performance of the last few weeks. Few could argue that on the day that Thornaby deserved to progress in the competition.

A rare, if not first, Friday night game for the Dennyboys next weekend when they travel to Hemsworth in the league.

Thornaby team: Dawson; Dougall; Wilson; Bailey; Simpson (Guru); Posthill; Scaife-Wheatley ©; Green; Preston; Ward (Murphy); Chapmen (Cooke). Subs not used: Drummond; Morrison; Beblowski.

Thackley team: Wilson; Thompson; Hunter (Boyle 45 mins); Whiteley ©; Hargreaves; White; Poole; Rothel; Normanton; Grech-Brooksbank (Hall 80 mins); Sibanda (Hines 45 mins). Subs not used: Marsh; Muller; Scaroni; Mitchell.

Thornaby scorer: Adam Preston 87 and 90 mins.

Thackley scorer: Ben Grech-Brooksbank 71 mins.

Attendance: 89.

Referee: Neil Howlett.

Photo: Thackley celebrate Ben Grech-Brooksbank goal at Thornaby.