Thornaby FC performed a dramatic comeback win over Tadcaster with goals from James Threw, Alexander Walker and a fine finish from number 10, Shaun Ryder seeing them into the next round. Tadcaster’s goal-scorers, Andrew Shephard and Callum Hudson had sailed the away side into a commanding lead in the first twenty minutes, before the game began to unravel.

The Brewers made the better start of the two teams, piling pressure onto the Thornaby defence early in the fixture including a golden chance on the second minute which saw Mulhearn only manage to find the goalkeepers waiting arms from six-yards out.

The home side were barely threatening at all and it was only a matter of time before Tadcaster took a well-deserved lead through Andrew Shephard with a wicked delivery from a Curtis Senior corner in the 13th minute. 0-1

Thornaby had seemingly not quite got over the first before a second arrived in the same manner only four minutes later. An in-swinging Senior corner from the right, but this time a sublime, glanced header across goal into the top left corner by centre back Callum Hudson brought forward a change to the scoreboard. 0-2

The Brewers continued to press the Thornaby defence. Oliver Green went close but his low goal bound shot struck the underside of goalkeeper, Harry Alderson before being cleared. Charlie Owen saw his shot from the edge of the box sail over the bar, ditto Mason Wilson although Alderson made a terrific save.

Teams tend to rue missed chances in evenly matched games and that is exactly what it looked like Tadcaster would be doing when Thornaby finally strung together a quick break on the 41st minute and Thew found himself through on goal after an effective flick on by Ryan Wright. The winger made no mistake with his finish and pulled the hosts back into the game before half-time. 1-2.

The second half really played on the “game of two halves” phrase as Tadcaster suddenly struggled to string passes together and Thornaby looked to have a newfound skip in their step.

Five minutes after the break saw Tadcaster’s last attempt on goal for half an hour when Mason Wilson’s ambitious, dipping volley sailed well over the bar.

In the 56th minute, Thornaby made it all square as the game saw its third goal from a corner. Dale Milburns’ whipped delivery met the head of the hosts, number 5, Walker, and flew passed Ally Hughes in the Tadcaster goal to make it 2-2, taking away the comforting advantage Tadcaster had previously boasted.

The game appeared to reflect the scoreline from here as both sides looked incredibly even, finding it increasingly difficult to break each other down, limiting their attacks to only half attempts from 25 or more yards out.

But upon the 83rd minute, the hosts jumped ahead as lacklustre defending from Tadcaster allowed Thornaby’s number 10, Shaun Ryder to make a darting run past the central defence to slot a calm and composed finish into the bottom left corner of Ally Hughes’ goal. 3 -2

Tadcaster struggled to gather a reply after that. A sliced effort from the edge of the box from Mulhearn failed to trouble Alderson in the Thornaby goal and that saw Tadcaster fall at the first hurdle of this year’s FA Cup.

The magic of the cup was clearly alive for Thornaby as their inspired comeback sealed their place in the Preliminary round.

Tadcaster must now focus on the upcoming away fixture against Eccleshill United on Wednesday night as they aim to bounce back with a win. Eccleshill were beaten 1 – 0 in their FA cup match away to Parkgate. Please note that Eccleshill now play at the ground of Keighley Cougars at Cougar Park, Hard Ings Road, Keighley, BD21 3RF. Kick Off is at 7’45 pm

Hughes, Pilkington, Senior, Shephard, Heaton, Hudson, Mulhearn, Owen, Green (Okoro), Wilson (Guilfoyle), Thompson (Clark)

Report from Charlie Ashworth – Pictures Courtesy of Keith Handley