Thackley booked their place in the hat for the next round of the NCEL League Cup, following a 2nd Round victory versus Swallownest. Basi and Berchil scored a goal in either half, which saw a number of Thackley AFC Reserve Team players step up to the bench for the First Team. With Tom Greaves rested and starting on the bench, Waddington moved into the number 9 position and Frankie Sinfield returned to the starting XI. Prince Attakorah replaced Jason St.Juste, who picked up a knock at the weekend, in the back line.

On 2 mins Chippendale had the opportunity for a shot from range from a free kick from a central position, but his effort hit the wall and went behind for a corner which the visitors defended. On 6 mins, Attakorah had to be alert as a deflection somehow player Monteiro for the visitors through in the right side of the box. Attakorah had tracked the run and managed to get a block in to clear the danger. On 11 mins, good play by Berchil moving from the left wing to central allowed him to play Attakorah in down the right wing. He cut back to Murphy in centre midfield who, after stepping past his man, hit a shot over the bar from range. On 17 mins, Thackley did take the lead. In the end, it was a near post corner which found Basi rise highest and to head home at the near post (1-0 - 17 mins).

On 20 mins, Swallownest put a deep free kick into the box which Williamson got on the end of, but his header was wide. Although Swallownest were having attacking moments in the game, Wilson in the Thackley goal had not yet been tested. Towards the end of the half, good play almost ended with Sinfield sliding Chippendale through for a clear run at goal but the pass was just in front of him. Moments later Murphy played Waddington in through from a deep through ball, but the Swallownest keeper was quickly off of his line and smothered the danger.

Half time: Thackley AFC 1 v 0 Swallownest

The second half started with Wilson having to make his first real save of the game, making himself big to block as Bytheway got clear in the left hand side of the box. The ball went for a corner which, after being played short, ended in a free kick to the visitors after Attakorah committed a foul, the free kick eventually coming to nothing. It was a warning sign that despite being comfortable, Thackley could not become complacent.

And in the next phase of play Thackley extended their lead. A through ball to Waddington wasn't cut out by the sliding Swallownest defender, and Waddington found himself running at the last defender with Sinfield and Berchil either side of him. He chose to play in Berchil to the right, who entered the box and smashed an effort into the near top corner with a great finish (2-0 - 51 mins).

During the remainder of the match both teams continued to show attacking intent, but there were no real clear efforts on goal for either side. Both teams had a few corners each which were dealt with by the defending team at the time. Manager McGuire used the opportunity to use all 5 substitutes in the game, which meant some game time for the Thackley AFC Reserve Team players who had stepped up and got some minutes on the pitch under the lights at Dennyfield in a First Team shirt.

Full time: Thackley AFC 2 v 0 Swallownest

Our next match is back in the NCEL Premier Division as we travel to Yorkshire Amateurs on Saturday 8th October (3pm KO) at the Southerns Stadium.

Thackley team: Wilson; Attakorah (Allison 68mins); Haigh; Poole; Basi; Hargreaves (c); Berchil; Murphy (Mitchell 73mins); Waddington (Borja 86mins); Sinfield (Ash 86mins); Chippendale (Greaves 68mins). Unused subs: None

Swallownest team: Walker; Sawyer; Cooper; Smart; Haigh; Donoghue; Monteiro; Williamson (c); Bytheway; Agbakosi; Kenny. Subs: Skelton; Nightingale; Booth.

Thackley AFC Scorers: Basi (17 mins) Berchil (51 mins)

Man of the Match: Amir Berchil, chosen by Match Sponsors Colin Appleby & Ian Shepherd

Attendance: 68