Match 2: Dreaming of the FA Cup Qualifying Rounds
- Kevin Dunkerley
- Aug 4, 2024
- 3 min read
I was back at Dennyfield on Saturday for Thackley’s FA Cup Extra Preliminary round match against Frickley Athletic. The road from Thackley to Wembley is a ridiculously long one and starts in early August. The Dennyboys need 13 more wins to claim the FA Cup – unlikely, but the beauty of the cup lies in the wild possibilities. While I was all pumped up for the game, my dear wife decided that a shopping spree at TK Maxx was more thrilling than another Thackley match. So there I was, basking in the cup's magic with 231 fellow enthusiasts, from eager/sad groundhoppers, oddly abusive Frickley fans, and a sprinkle of annoying kids. The crowd was almost 20 more than Thackley's opening game, presumably after people had read my match report.
I arrived early to avoid the 'rush', so early that neither the pie nor the peas were ready. Instead, I had to settle for a cheeseburger and chips and being attacked by a stray dog. I ran away and sat on a wall behind a group of kids wearing Thackley tops, a young lad recording commentry for the Frickley fan listening at home and a strangley angry Frickley supporter who seemed upset even before the game had kicked off. Both the commentator and angy fan possessed an impresively wide range wide range of vocabulary but it was the irate middle aged fan who used it to the greater effect. There were the usual insults, but by far the most pleasing was when he loudly declared Thackley’s left-back, Lewis Gardner, to be a "turd." Gardner, looking a bit surprised and confused, replied, "That's a bit much," but seemed to take it in stride. The same fan gave the referee and linesman some advice throughout the match as well as well as teaching the nearby kids some new words for them to use the next time they go to school.
The match itself began quietly, with the first real chance falling to Frickley on nine minutes. Hudson made a crucial goal-line clearance after Cairney’s looping header threatened to sneak in. Thackley responded immediately, with Grech-Brooksbank intercepting a long ball and setting up Donovan, whose shot was blocked for a corner.
The game continued in a scrappy fashion until Thackley took the lead late in the first half. A quick one-two between Hunt and Grech-Brooksbank led to Hunt being rather unceremoniously taken down in the penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty, which seemed a bit dubious to some, but Grech-Brooksbank stepped up and calmly slotted it into the top left corner. The FA Cup gods were smiling on Thackley!Goal Thackley! Grech-Brooksbank (45’ pen).
Half-time: Thackley 1 Frickley Athletic 0
Despite a few sloppy moments, Thackley arguably deserved their halftime lead and looked to build on it in the second half.
The second half started brightly for Thackley, with Grech-Brooksbank striking the post from a tight angle after some nifty footwork by Ahmed. Ahmed had a mixed game; while he showed some nice touches and dribbling skills, his passes often missed the mark. Wilson then pulled off a fantastic save from a Frickley free-kick, parrying the ball away low to his left and quickly gathering it.
Thackley continued to press, and their persistence paid off in the 80th minute. Donovan broke down the right and squared the ball to Bradshaw, who rolled it to Holcombe. The youngster showed great composure to finish through a crowd of defenders.Goal Thackley! Holcombe (80’) Thackley 2 Frickley Athletic 0
The match was effectively over when Frickley were reduced to ten men. Donovan was pulled back by Stobart, and while both players were tugging at each other's shirts, the referee opted to send Stobart off. It seemed a bit harsh and only added to the impression that the ref might have been leaning towards Thackley.
New signing Xantino McNally came on and almost added a third, striking the post with a strangely scuffed shot that almost trickled in, and then firing miles over in quick succession. The final whistle blew, sealing a 2-0 victory for Thackley and progression to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2015. Up next for Thackley will be either Golcar or Padiham, who drew 1-1 in one of the other 221 games that made up the first round of this year's cup.
Thackley’s improved second-half performance deservedly saw them through. They now await the winner of the Padiham vs. Golcar United replay. Next up, a trip to Bottesford Town as Thackley 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
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