Thornbury Town 4 Reading City 1

Bluefin Supplementary Cup

Thornbury Town progressed to the quarter-finals of the Bluefin Supplementary Cup with what proved to be a comfortable win against Premier Division side Reading City thanks to Craig Lancastle’s hat-trick.

The visitors, making their first ever trip to the Mundy Fields, struggled to make any early impression on the game and Thorns dominated the early exchanges forcing a number of corners but without creating any clear cut chances themselves.

It was 20 minutes into the game before Reading had their first shot on target, Town keeper Kurtis Parkin easily saving Merrick’s shot.

A few minutes later Luke Franklin’s through ball set Craig Lancastle clear of the visitors defence but, although he netted, the offside flag ruled out the goal.

Town took the lead they deserved on the half hour mark when Tom Webb outpaced his marker down the left before crossing to the far post where Lancastle was on hand to rifle the ball past Reading keeper Carr.

Thornbury almost doubled their lead a minute later when Dave Jones goalbound effort was blocked for a corner.

Town didn’t have to wait long for their second goal when Webb again raced down the left before setting up Asher Budd to cross to the far post where Lancastle was again waiting to hammer the ball past Carr.

Thorns effectively won the game when they scored their third in the 38th minute.

This time a move down the right saw Joe Guest surge into the penalty area where he laid the ball off to Budd who steered the ball past Carr’s despairing dive and into the net.

The visitors were a different proposition in the second half with substitute Ousman Darboe proving a bit of a handful.

Butt had a header saved by Parkin in the first minute of the half as Reading pushed forward from the restart.

As the visitors enjoyed majority of the early possession, Thorns were reliant on breakaways and 10 minutes in one break involving Jim

Brock and Asher Budd saw Lancastle almost complete his hat-trick, but his shot was blocked on the line by Best, with the ball going out for a corner.

On the hour the visitors gave themselves a lifeline when Luke Franklin was adjudged to have fouled Davies in the area and Darboe gave Kurtis Parkin no chance from the resultant spot kick.

A couple of minutes later Darboe set up Butt, forcing Parkin into a good save.

Reading continued to press forward but Nathan Sage and Pete Fowler dealt with any real threat as Town gradually got themselves back in the game.

Thorns finally wrapped the game up six minutes from time when Mark Viner’s through ball found Harry Brock who ran clear of his marker before crossing to Craig Lancastle who turned back inside and steered the ball into the corner of the net to complete his hat-trick.

Town almost had another goal in the last minute but Matt Davies’ shot found the side netting.

Another good win for Thorns against higher ranked opposition and they’ll get the chance to do it again in the next round as they have been drawn at home to Premier Division Holmer Green, date yet to be confirmed.