GFA Challenge Trophy 2nd Round

Tytherington Rocks 1 Thornbury Town 5

THORNBURY Town progressed an outstanding display to beat Tytherington Rocks and progress to the next round of the County Cupon Wednesday evening.

And Thornbury's performance - they were unbeaten in five Gloucestershire County League games before kick-off - was all the more impressive as The Rocks play in the Hellenic League, one step higher than the Gloucestershire League.

The game started at a fast pace but it was Thorns who got the all important early goal. In the 6th minute a ball forward found Craig Lancastle in space and his pass to Toby Bennett saw the midfielder skip past his marker and bury his shot past the despairing dive of Chris Manns.  
Town almost doubled their lead five minutes later but Nathan Sage’s header from a Danny Haines corner was easily gathered by Manns.

Whilst Town looked the more dangerous, Rocks had their moments and almost grabbed an equaliser but keeper Alex Lippiatt tipped Charles’ curling shot round the post for a corner. Thorns doubled their lead from a disputed penalty following an handball incident, Tom Webb sending Manns the wrong from the resultant spot kick. 
Rocks continued to look for a way back into the game and came close when a header from their centreback was turned round the post for a corner.

However Thorns virtually killed the game off on the half hour mark when a good move down the right saw the ball played into the Rocks penalty area, the ball was only partially cleared and Danny Haines controlled the loose ball before rifling a shot past Manns from 25 yards out.
Town continued to press but it was the home side who almost grabbed the next goal, but defender Billy Bond couldn’t quite steer the ball home after Lippiatt had spilt the ball at his feet. However Thorns immediately broke up the other end of the field and a pass was threaded through to Danny Haines to net the fourth.
The second half was only three minutes old when a mix up in the Thorns defence saw Shomari Sengor pounce on a slack back pass to steer the ball past the stranded Lippiatt into the empty net. Whilst Rocks might have thought this was a way back into the game, Town restored their four goal advantage a minute later, Craig Lancastle finishing off a quick break when he waltzed past his marker and the keeper before firing home. 
To their credit, Rocks kept pressing and Pritchard’s header was tipped onto the bar before Pete Fowler cleared for a corner. Thorns started to sit a little deeper as Tytherington pressed forward and there were half chances at either end, with Lancastle, Franklin and Irwin going close for Town, whilst Pritchard and Charles had chances for Rocks. Ten minutes from time the hosts almost benefitted from another defensive error but Lippiatt was able to block Pritchard’s effort and Pete Fowler cleared the follow up shot off the line.
In the end a comfortable win for Thorns against their higher ranked opponents and they now wait to see who they meet in the next round.