Match report - Campion AFC - 6 v 3 - Thackey AFC (League)

Match report by Joshua Birkin

With the play-offs no longer possible for the Dennyboys the importance of this result lessened compared to what it would have been if the original fixture wasn’t postponed just over 10 days ago. However, both sides would ensure that the spectators in attendance would get value for money with 9 goals in a match which both teams went out to attack.

A Thackley AFC side with one change, as Dempsey replaced the suspended Green with Parsons stepping back into midfield, were 2-0 down inside 17 minutes in. Arguably against the run of play as Thackley AFC threatened themselves from a short corner won by Ellison-Tope that eventually landed with Donovan 18 yards out who shot wide four minutes in. Campion threatened themselves on six minutes as Day fired over from distance after picking the ball up from a Thackley AFC clearance. Campion got a slice of fortune to take the lead as the ball was crossed from the left by Sykes and Dempsey’s headed clearance deflected straight back to the open feet of Kirby who rolled the ball into the empty net from eight-yards out.

Goal Campion AFC- Kirby (9’) Campion AFC 1-0 Thackley AFC

That lead would be extended as a ball from deep from Boshell rolled down the left touchline used “the slope” which allowed the ball to run to Sykes who was clear through with the Thackley defensive line claiming offside. Sykes advanced forward and from just outside the ‘D’ rolled the ball beyond an onrushing Wilson into the bottom right corne.

Goal Campion AFC- Sykes (16’) Campion AFC 2-0 Thackley AFC

Despite the early set backs, Thackley were quickly back on level terms in front of a strong crowd of 147 at Campion AFC, and it was no surprise that their direct runners out wide helped to get the team back into the game. Donovan drove down the left before taking a tumble inside the penalty area under a challenge from and before Donovan stepped to convert the penalty high to his left. Donovan then set off again on 24 minutes as he forced Emerson into a good save from a tight angle after breaking away from Smith. Nothing came from the corner but J.Mitchell won the ball back on half-way with a brilliant sliding challenge before releasing Ellison-Tope down the right to win a corner from the other side. This was one was worked well with a routine straight off the training ground as Donovan set up Mitchell on the edge to hit first time. Unfortunately, his shot was blocked but Grech-Brooksbank was there to turn home the rebound on the turn.

Goals Thackley AFC! Donovan (P 19’) Grech-Brooksbank (25’) - Campion AFC 2-2 Thackley AFC

Thackley AFC continued to fight as Bradshaw held to ball up well and took his chance to drive at the Campion AFC back four just two minutes later and looked to break through into the penalty area before being sandwiched and brought down. The Campion defenders did not try to contest the challenge and awaited the referee’s whistle, which came, but to the shock of many Bradshaw was penalized for an alleged dive. Campion AFC then capitalised on this and retook the lead on 29 minutes as Sykes rose high to attack a cross from the left and headed powerfully beyond a stretching Wilson.

Goal Campion AFC- Sykes (29’) Campion AFC 3-2 Thackley AFC

The final two chances of the half both forced good saves from distance first as Kirby drove at Everingham who stood up well before it was squared to Boshell whose first time curling effort was brilliantly saved by Wilson high to his right. Donovan had a go himself from the other hand just a minute later as Bradshaw held the ball up well left of the penalty area and this time was awarded a free kick as he was brought down. Donovan tested Emmerson with his powerful effort on the Campion AFC goal but it was palmed away well.

Half-time: Campion AFC 3-2 Thackley AFC

The first chance of the half fell for Thackley AFC as they worked the ball wide from a free kick just in front of the centre circle and Donovan’s cross was fired at goal for Emmerson to tip on the woodwork and behind for a corner. However, Campion AFC did restore their two-goal lead 15 minutes into the half as the ball was flicked on with a header from the edge of the area and found Cartman on the penalty spot unmarked who rolled it first time beyond Wilson. However, Thackley AFC quickly pulled one back again as Grech-Brooksbank capitalised on Campion AFC’s failure to clear a bouncing ball in the penalty are and fired through a sea of bodies to get his second of the game

Goals- Cartman (59’) Grech-Brooksbank (61’) Campion AFC 4-3 Thackley AFC

Thackley AFC almost had the chance to level for the second time as Ellison-Tope chased down a loose back pass up the slope and was inches away from nicking it ahead Emmerson but the Campion AFC goalkeeper just about managed to clear the ball for a throw-in. Before Ellison-Tope did managed to latch onto a through ball at pace as Grech-Brooksbank played him through just inside the right of the penalty area but he could only fire over from 15-yards out. Thackley AFC continued to assert themselves on the second half as Edson Prata made his return to the side after re-joining the club recently and Greaves also came on in place of Ellison-Tope and Bradshaw just short of 70 minutes. Donovan continued to pile on the pressure as he received the ball on the left touchline and cut inside before he shot narrowly over from inside the penalty area. Thackley thought they were level at 4-4 when Greaves was played through by Donovan and he finished from the edge of the area, but the linesman raised his offside despite it looking that Harper at left back had played him onside.

That moment was again crucial as Campion made the Dennyboys pay in the final fifteen minutes as Illingworth first got on the end of a number of headers and finished past Wilson, before Sykes completed his hat trick after a defensive error saw him played through and Sykes finished well into far bottom left corner.

Goal Campion AFC- Illingworth (75’) Sykes (79’) Campion AFC 6-3 Thackley AFC

This prompted the final three changes from the joint management side as Everingham, Dempsey and Hudson were replaced by Terrelonge-Jones; Billy and Morgan. This meant that Thackley AFC found time for one more chance as Grech-Brooksbank broke the line down the right and drilled a low cross to the backpost but it was inches away from finding both the bottom corner and Donovan who was sliding in at the far post.

Full-time: Campion AFC 6-3 Thackley AFC

A frustrating game for Thackley AFC that was decided by key moments in which Thackley AFC were unable to take their chances however, the home side continued to be clinical showing no signs of slowing down heading into the play-offs. We would like to thank Campion AFC for their hospitality and wish them good luck in their play-off campaign.

Campion AFC team: Emmerson; Smith; Harper; Bradley; Hurtley; O'Briend; Kirkby©; Day; Cartman; Sykes; Boshell. Subs: Graham; Crawford; Illingworth.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson; Everingham (Billy 84'); Bodle; Parsons; Dempsey (Morgan 84'); Hudson (Terrelonge-Jones 84'); Ellison-Tope (Prata 70'); Mitchell; Bradshaw (Greaves 70'); Grech-Brooksbank© ; Morgan. Unused subs: Morgan; Billy; Chippendale; Greaves.

Campion AFC Scorers: Kirby (9'); Sykes (16', 29', 74'); Cartman (59'); Illingworth (75')
Thackley AFC Scorers: Donovan (19'); Grech-Brooksbank (26', 60');

Attendance: 147