Thornbury Town 5 Rockleaze Rangers 2

GFA Challenge Trophy 1st Round

THORNBURY Town marched through to the second Round of the Challenge Trophy with a convincing 5-2 victory over a good Rockleaze Rangers side and will now play near neighbours Tytherington Rocks in a local derby in the second round.

In an entertaining game play swung from end to end but it was the visitors who created the first chance, Fitzpatrick miscuing his shot when well placed in the 3rd minute. It was Rangers who had the early pressure but Town almost took the lead in the 10th minute when Scott Macleod’s thunderous shot from 20 yards struck the underside of the bar, bouncing down on the line before being cleared.

Thorns defence looked solid and they eventually took the lead they deserved after 33 minutes. Toby Bennett’s sweeping pass out wide found Scott Macleod and his cross eluded the Rockleaze defence to find Craig Lancastle unmarked at the far post and the striker curled his shot round keeper Burgess. Town almost doubled their lead 5 minutes later but Burgess dived full length to turn Luke Franklin’s shot from 25 yards out round the post for a corner.

The second half saw Thorns just get better and better and they extended their lead in the 49th minute after a Rockleaze attack broke down.

Nathan Sage’s quick ball forward over the top of the visitors defence saw Lancastle latch on to the ball, shimmy past a defender before placing his shot past Burgess into the corner of the net. Rangers had their moments and Fitzpatrick again blazed wide when well placed a couple of minutes later.

But Thorns looked to have killed the game off on the hour mark when Pete Fowler’s sweeping ball out wide saw Macleod and Joe Guest link up well and the young full back’s cross into the box caused panic in the visitors defence and gave Craig Lancastle the simple task of tapping the ball home at the far post.

A couple of minutes later Rockleaze were back in the game, Richard Bray running in unmarked at the far post to fire home a cross from the left.

The visitors then enjoyed a spell of pressure but the Thorns defence held firm and extended their lead again 10 minutes from time with the best goal of the game.

A patient build-up with at least 20 passes eventually led to Macleod’s cross into the box and Joe Guest poked the ball home from close range. Guest was involved in Town’s fifth goal when, after a 1-2 with Luke Franklin his close range shot was turned home by Craig Lancastle for the striker’s fourth goal of the game.

Thorns then switched off for the closing moments of the game allowing Fitzpatrick to net a second for Rangers with virtually the last kick of the game.

This was Town’s best performance of the season so far and they now face a trip to near neighbours Tytherington Rocks in the 2nd Round. Meanwhile this Saturday they face a trip to league leaders AEK Boco but their convincing cup win should give them confidence that they can get a result.