Thackley AFC were beaten 3-2 by Goole AFC in the extra-preliminary round of the 2023-24 FA cup as a Williams volley in the 100th minute sent the visitors into the next round. Thackley AFC made two changes from the side that narrowly lost to Barton Town during the week; as Claridge came in to replace Greaves and Ellison-Tope was replaced by A.Mitchell, who made his first competitive start since returning to the club.

Thackley AFC got the game started quickly as the first chance of the game came from the back as Luke Wilson found Mark Everingham, Everingham found Chippendale and a cross was cleared by Goole AFC and Claridge struck powerfully on the half volley from the edge of the penalty area, with the effort going just wide. Two minutes later Flanagan capitalised on a misplaced pass in the Thackley AFC midfield and both Billy and Hudson made important blocks on shots. Thackley AFC then took the opportunity to counter as Green picked the ball up on the halfway line and found himself three on three with Chippendale and Claridge in support. Green assessed his options and played in Chippendale down the right who carried down the line and managed to win a corner which was eventually headed over by Hudson from inside the 6 yard box with a great chance.

In the 13th minute A.Mitchell hit the post after he brought the ball down brilliantly and turned inside Hall and gave himself time to pick his spot. However, he only managed to place the ball onto the post before Barford climbed back up well and clawed away before Claridge could finish into the empty goal.

Thackley AFC then won themselves a throw-in high on the left after a lengthy stoppage due to a Goole AFC injury and McCready threw the ball towards the edge of the penalty area where Green turned cleverly and chipped the ball towards the edge of the six-yard box. Where it met the run of Claridge who looked to convert from a narrow angle but the offside flag went up. Thackley AFC then immediately won the ball back from the free-kick as Chippendale received the ball on the edge of the area and danced around three Goole AFC players but couldn’t quite work a shooting opportunity on his left foot and was disposed just inside the penalty area.

Thackley AFC then started to establish their dominance in the game as it was rinse and repeat in the 26th minute as Green once again chipped the ball into the run of Claridge who managed to entice the goalkeeper on the left edge of the six-yard box and an onrushing Barford just clipped the ankles of Claridge as he stretched for the ball and won a penalty for the home side. Chippendale stepped up to take the penalty and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to give Thackley AFC a first half lead in the tie.

GOAL Thackley AFC - Chippendale (27’) Thackley AFC 1-0 Goole AFC

A Chippendale shot came next from the edge of the area following a well worked free kick that went just wide in the 31st minute. Goole AFC responded as they worked themselves back into the game on the 35th minute as they hit the woodwork themselves after Flanagan crossed to Ben Gelder who waited on the penalty spot and his header hit the frame of the goal and bounced into the arms of Wilson. Pressure then continued as Hall’s low cross caused chaos in the penalty area as Gelder’s swing and miss allowed the ball to run to Everingham at the back post who put the ball out for a corner to delay any further danger. The corner was swung in from the left and it bounce around in the penalty area before it ended with Romeo Madhamu at the back post who finished low to the left of Luke Wilson to equalise for Goole AFC.

Goal - Goole AFC - Romeo Madhamu (39’) Thackley AFC 1-1 Goole AFC

Thackley AFC responded quickly as they won a free kick in the 44th minute of the game after a Green shot from distance was blocked by the arm of Goole AFC defender 25 yards from goal. Chippendale struck the central free kick on his left foot and Barford got down brilliantly to his left to divert away for corner. Chippendale then put the corner into box himself where Claridge charged in to head home from six-yards out to restore the lead for the Dennyboys.

GOAL Thackley AFC - Danny Claridge (45’) Thackley AFC 2-1 Goole AFC.

Thackley AFC then had a great chance to double their advantage just a minute later as Green crossed in from the right corner of the penalty area and Claridge found himself in oceans of space in the middle, but his diving header went just over the open goal as Barford found himself stranded.

Thackley AFC ended a half in which they were dominant on top and had plenty to build going into the second half and the home side looked in a strong position to progress into the next round.

HALF TIME Thackley AFC 2-1 Goole AFC

Goole AFC with nothing to lose came out the better side with chances in the first ten minutes of the half. Flanagan played the ball square across the edge of the penalty area three minutes into the half where Kral was waiting in space and his shot rattled the cross bar and gave the Dennyboys an early warning sign. This was quickly followed in the 53rdth minute win Wilson made himself big to deny Gelder from 8 yards after a deflected pass fortunately landed with the striker. Flanagan shortly afer used his pace to skip past Billy down the left and drove into the penalty area but Hudson came across to apply pressure on the byline and block the cut back to the edge of the area before Billy tracked back well managed to clear.

In the 63rd minute Donovan replaced A.Mitchell as Thackley looked tor regain control. The visitors responded as they brought on Williams in place of first goal scorer Madhamu. The substitutions would have an instant impact for the visitors as Williams chased down a long ball over the top of the Thackley AFC defence and Wilson was forced to come out of his area and head clear. However, Wilson’s header unfortunately landed at the feet of Washington who looped the ball back over the Thackley goalkeeper and backline into the bottom left corner from 30 yards out.

Goal - Goole AFC - Washington (64’) Thackley AFC 2-2 Goole AFC.

Thackley AFC then started to momentarily lose their way in midfield as Green was booked for a heavy tackle on Hall. Tempers flared up just a minute later with calls for a red card as Goole AFC man Williams was booked for a two-footed lunge over the ball that connected high with Harry Parsons. The referee kept all 22 players on the field as Parsons limped away following treatment.

The referee had more to do in the 82nd minute as he waved away Goole shouts for a penalty as Flanagan skipped past Everingham and went down but the referee waved away appeals. The Thackley AFC back-line then got some respite with 5 minutes of normal time left as substitute Prata won a free kick 30 yards out with a wonderful turn. Parsons looked to cross but it was blocked by the first man and it came back to Parsons who dragged his shot just wide of the post.

Both teams started to tire in the 10 minutes of injury time with a replay looming, but both teams were looking for a winner. Donovan won a free kick left of the penalty area after Greaves turned and had low shot gathered at the second attempt by Barford. But the cross came in from the free kick in the second minute of injury time and Greaves couldn’t quite direct a header goalwards.

Thackley won themselves a free kick in a similar position in the 8th minute of injury time but this one went out at the far side and was picked up by Hall on the far side of penalty area. He sent a long ball down the line to Flanagan who crossed to far side of the penalty area where Williams was waiting to break Thackley AFC hearts and volley into the far corner to win the tie for Goole.

Goal - Goole AFC Luke Williams (90+ 10’) Thackley AFC 2-3 Goole AFC

Unfortunately, there was not enough time for Thackley to mount one last attack to try and get an equaliser to force a replay.

FULL TIME - Thackley AFC 2 v 3 Goole AFC

A tough pill to swallow for the Dennyboys who could and arguably should have put the game to bed in the first half but focus now switches back to league where Thackley AFC face Pickering Town at home on Tuesday night.