Thackley AFC’s road to Wembley began with a 2-0 victory over league rivals Frickley Athletic in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round to progress for the first time in nine years. However, there are still lots of things to be done until the Dennyboys can march down Wembley Way with 11 wins still needed just to reach the semi-final. Despite this, a Grech-Brooksbank penalty and a late strike from Holcombe, in just his second competitive appearance, capped off an improved second half performance and saw the Dennyboys through to the next round.

It was a quite start to the game, the first chance fell on nine minutes when Hudson was forced to head the ball off of the Thackley goal line following Cairney’s looping header. Before Thackley went straight up the other end, Grech-Brooksbank intercepted an attempted long ball and released Donovan down the left. His shot was blocked out for a corner by a sliding Elkin Sheppard just inside the penalty area. Thackley then looked to attack down the right, Donovan looked to be fouled on the halfway line, before the ball was switched to the right where Ahmed took one touch before shooting over. That brought a relatively quite first 20 minutes to a close. Dempsey slid inside the centre circle to win the ball back, before spreading it to Donovan who couldn’t quite take on his man, but he instead found the run of Gardner just inside the penalty area. However, the full-back was always stretching for the ball and he couldn’t quite work an opening. Our opponents then came straight up the other end, Williams shot straight into the arms of Wilson, aiming high at the near post from a promising position inside the penalty area. There was a brief scare for the home side on 28 minutes, Wilson and Everingham both came under pressure before Hudson was eventually forced to concede possession 18-yards from goal. The ball was laid off for Spence five yards back, who shot first time, but it was well blocked by the Thackley defence and Wilson gathered the ball as it looped up in the air. The half came to a close as Everingham was released down the right, he used his pace to break away and play a square ball to Donovan waiting on the penalty spot, he fired over while under pressure from Elkin Sheppard. Thackley then took the lead late on in the half following a quick one-two between Hunt and Grech-Brooksbank. The former running into the penalty area, where he was rather rudely taken down from behind. Grech-Brooksbank slotted the resultant spot kick calmly into the top left corner.
Goal Thackley! Grech-Brooksbank (45’ pen).

Half time: Thackley AFC 1 Frickley Athletic 0

Despite being sloppy at times, Thackley still created enough chances to arguably deserve their half-time lead and would continue to push forward going into the second half.

The first chance of the second half fell for Grech-Brooksbank, he struck the post with his effort from a tight angle after good work from Ahmed down the right, working his way out of a tight space. Wilson was then called into action, from a Frickley free-kick, just short of the hour mark, Guilfoyle striking the ball over the wall from the right of the ‘D’. Wilson parried the ball away well low to his left before recovering quickly to gather at the second attempt. A flurry of substitutes then followed over the next ten minutes. Thwaites was replaced by Holden on 61 minutes and Hunt by Bradshaw for the Dennyboys. On 65 minutes. Donovan dispossessed Brook on the edge of the penalty area, he played the ball left to Ahmed who shot high and wide, before he was replaced by Holcombe. Guilfoyle followed suit to be replaced by Spooner for the visitors. Thackley looked to put the game to bed on 76 minutes with a move straight off the training ground. Donovan played a corner in low from the right, Hudson stepped over the ball at the near post, which allowed it to run through to Dempsey on the penalty spot but he fired wide. Holcombe sealed progression into the next round with his first involvement, Donovan broke brilliantly down the right, he squared the ball to Bradshaw, who rolled it to Holcombe, he showed good composure to finish through a crowd of bodies from a tight angle.
Goal Thackley! Holcombe (80’) Thackley 2 Frickley Athletic 0
The visitors would then play the final eight minutes with 10 men. Dempsey cleared the ball up field, Donovan nicked the bouncing ball away from Stobart who pulled Donovan back as he broke away. The referee considered playing advantage but pulled play back while the attacker still had a goal scoring opportunity, much to his dismay, but he was relieved when the referee pulled out a red card. New signing Xantino McNally then replaced Grech-Brooksbank in time added on. He had the opportunity to score a brace himself, as he struck the post after winning back possession inside the Frickley penalty area before firing over, following a swift counter attack with the final kick of the game.

Full-time: Thackley 2 Frickley Athletic 0

Thackley fought hard to claim victory through a much more assured second half performance. This allows the side to progress into the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2015. They will face the winner of the Padiham v Golcar United game in Tuesday’s replay. Thackley travel to Bottesford Town on the same evening, all support would be much appreciated, as the side look to continue their winning start to the season.

Thackley team: Wilson; Everingham; Gardner; Sugden; Dempsey; Hudson; Donovan; Mitchell; Grech-Brooksbank © (McNally 90 mins); Hunt (Bradshaw 64 mins); Ahmed (Holcombe 80 mins). Unused subs: Billy; Forrester; Bako; Terrelonge-Jones.

Frickley Athletic team: Hewitson; Elkin-Sheppard; Stobart; Mannings; Brook; Cairney; Varley ©; Spence; Guilfoyle; Thwaites; Williams. Subs: Holden; Clegg; Spooner; Rowe; Johnson; Horniman; Flanagan.

Thackley scorers: Ben Grech-Brooksbank 45 mins (pen); Jake Holcombe 80 mins.

Attendance: 231

Referee: Lee Corns

Thackley MOM: Finn Donovan - Photo receiving award from Thackley Treasurer David Stott.