THORNABY V ALNWICK TOWN

It is a warm and sunny day for my first ever trip to Thornaby FC’s ground and following a helpful sign on Acklam Road brings me down an unpromising pot-holed track for about half a mile to the car park. Five pounds gets me a concessionary entry, a programme and a ticket for the half time raffle (always worth a punt when the attendance is expected to be small) provided by a couple of polite and very welcoming officials.

Inside, the initial impressions of Teesdale Park are favourable. Importantly the pitch looks well grassed and flat. Trees surround the ground belying its urban location; tucked between the golf course and the cemetery it seems positively rural. There is a seated stand in front of the changing rooms and an open air bank of seats behind one goal; cover for standing is a tin shed behind the other goal and, on the half way line, a recycled bus shelter that could hold about ten spectators or about fifteen close friends. Behind that is a grassy bank that runs the length of the touchline.

The game commences a touch early by my watch. Thornaby play in blue with white shoulders while Alnwick are in what looks like a change strip of orange. Most of the early action is in the Alnwick half with Thornaby trying to play a neat passing game. Even when they lose the ball their opponents quickly give it back so the pressure grows.

With sixteen minutes gone Thornaby’s Joe Hillerby shoots from twenty five yards, beating the diving keeper but not the foot of the post, however Lewis Murphy has followed up and with the keeper still on the deck is able to knock the rebound into the net. It is a deserved lead and more chances come, either wasted or foiled by the keeper, Ian Todd, who looks a capable shot stopper and confident puncher of crosses.

As half time approaches Alnwick will happily settle to go in just the one down, but right at the death they get a corner and the big centre half Tom McPherson thumps a header against the bar to give Thornaby a fright and emphasising their need for a second goal to cement their dominance.

Half time gives a chance for a further stroll round the ground, calling at the refreshment hut for a decent cup of tea.

In the second half Alnwick are making a better fist if it. Within five minutes they win a free kick way out on the left and when it is swung high beyond the far post Joshua Hay is unmarked and free to loops a header back over the keeper and into the far corner of the net.

All square on the scoresheet and the game more even on the field. If anything it is against the run of play when, midway through the half, Thornaby score next. Having won possession down the left wing the ball is worked inside to give Daniel Chapman the chance, which he takes calmly, to sidefoot home.

It’s a blow to Alnwick and their frustration is starting to show in relations with both the officials and each other; Thornaby respond to the raised temperature and the game gets quite competitive.

With ten minutes to go Alnwick, who have had the better of the second half, swing in a corner kick. It leads to a scramble in the six yard box, with the keeper at one point sat on the ball but unable to get his hands on it. The centre half’s attempts to help out with some intricate ball control while facing his own goal is rudely interrupted by Hay who has the simpler job of just forcing the ball the two yards over the line for the equaliser.

In the last five minutes it is anyone’s game. Two Alnwick penalty shouts (both weak) and several Thornaby corners fail to produce a winner, so it ends in what was an increasingly entertaining 2–2 draw.