Thackley 2-1 Garforth (Match report)

Garforth never seem to have an easy ride against lower opposition in the cups - see the likes of Jarrow Roofing, Tadcaster Albion and now add Thackley to the list.

Town put out a very strong line-up, with a three-pronged attack of Walker, Priestley and Brown, and Lee Kelsey between the sticks. On paper there were plenty of goals in the side. Indeed, the Garforth strikeforce had notched up almost forty goals between them up to now, but the team has hit a collective blip in front of goal.

Thackley were a big physical team but had more than tough tackling in their armoury. They took the game to Garforth from the start, playing the ball from the back when they could. Town seemed nervy, and passes were not quite connecting, while anything in the air was cleaned up by the tall centre backs.
Thackley had two glorious chances to take an early lead. They played their way far too easily down the left and when the cross came in, it needed a simple tap-in, but was side-footed over the bar. The second chance was a close range effort that Lee Kelsey did well to stop. Kelsey went on to make a number of decisive saves throughout the match.
The misses weren't rued for long though, as in the twentieth minute Luke Richardson received a corner unmarked on the edge of the box and had time to lash a shot accross into the far corner of the goal.
Matt Morgan added a second, five minutes before the break with a cheeky finish.

Town got the ball down and started playing in the second half and looked far better for it, but still the goals wouldn't come... until, after eighty minutes Thackley failed to clear a goalmouth scramble and David Brown pounced to set up a barnstorming final ten minutes.

The visitors poured forward, aided by the cries of the travelling support. Paul Walker started to slalom through the midfield like a snowboarder as Thackley were pinned back for long spells. Jamie Price almost brought things level after an Andrea Pirlo-esque build-up, but couldn't keep his left foot effort from flying over. It was dogged determination by Thackley that saw them through in the end and they were still clinging on as the final whistle blew.

Thackley deserved the win through good play when they could and through sheer determination, although an in-form Garforth would have claimed victory.