Gloucestershire County League

Thornbury Town 3 Hardwicke 2

THIS was very much a case of better late than never as Thornbury Town kept up the pressure on league leaders Stonehouse after coming from a two goal deficit to win 3-2 at home to Hardwicke.

After last weeks fine display, Thorns were really out of sorts in the first 45 minutes and could easily have gone behind after 6 minutes but the unmarked Steve Bick headed wide at the far post.

Town struggled to play there usual passing game but had a couple of half chances with Marcus Wormwell shooting wide and Mark Viner having a shot well saved by Edwards in the visitors goal.

Hardwicke took the lead in the 24th minute when Steve Bick broke to the by-line pulled the ball back across goal and, in his attempt to clear, Peter Fowler steered the ball into his own net.

Ten minutes before the break Nathan Irwin’s shot on the run was well saved by Edwards and the keeper also turned a dangerous looking Joe Guest cross out for a corner.

Thorns came out for the second half looking to put things right but matters only got worse for them within two minutes of the restart as Hardwicke worked the ball into the left side of the box and the unmarked Bick drove his shot low past stand in keeper Scott McLeod.

The visitors seemed to be in charge at this point but the game changed in the 55th minute when Hardwicke’s Squires received a second yellow card following an incident at a Hardwicke corner and was dismissed.

The visitors had a good chance to extend their lead but Bick drove wide when well placed.

As they tired the visitors sat back on their two nil lead and Thorns began to create chances firstly when Danny Thompson shot too high following a good interchange with Craig Lancastle and then Guest’s driven cross was beaten away by Edwards.

With just 17 minutes left on the clock Tom Webb’s driving run was brought to an unceremonious end in the box and the referee awarded a penalty.

This was a chance for Town to get back in the game and Craig Lancastle made no mistake from the spot. Hardwicke’s final attempt on goal almost brought them a third on eighty three minutes but Craig Harris missed the target.

In time added at the end of the game, Lancastle was then brought down in the box for a second penalty.

Thorn’s leading scorer picked himself up and again gave Edwards no chance from the penalty spot to draw the sides level.

Town still found time to grab an unexpected winner in the 93rd minute when a long throw from Luke Franklin caused problems in the crowded visitors penalty area.

The ball fell to the feet of Danny Thompson whose sweet strike from 12 yards out breached all ten players that Hardwicke had in front of goal and nestled in the back of the net to set off the victory celebrations.

A vital three points for Thornbury but they know they will have to play much better than this when they entertain third placed Frampton United in a key fixture on Saturday, 2pm kick off at the Mundy Field.