Marras pick up three points at Thornaby

Horden Community Welfare picked up three points with a 2-1 win away to Thornaby on Wednesday night.

Goals from Chris Wallace and Robbie Bird helped Horden to the win, despite Charlie Hindson scoring late on for Thornaby.

It was a lively start at Teesdale Park. Kyle Middleton had an early chance for the Marras, while Thornaby also went close.

Around the quarter of an hour mark, Thornaby had a goal ruled out for offside, and then the home support again thought they’d taken the lead when Ryan Wright put a shot into the side netting.

Sixteen minutes in, Bird had a good chance for Horden, but his shot from 16 yards was too high.

Five minutes later, the Marras had the ball in the net, but like Thornaby, it was ruled out for offside. Bird’s long range strike was well saved, and Middleton was ruled offside when converting the rebound.

Chances continued to flow at both ends, and the most notable of them was when Wright rounded Craig Foster and got a shot away from a tight angle for the home side, but it could only hit the outside of the post.

With half an hour played, Horden took the lead. A corner was whipped into the near post where Middleton flicked it on. Another flick on, this time by Bird, saw it drop to Wallace, and he was able to divert the ball into the net to put the Marras ahead.

In first half injury time, Thornaby should have equalised. A good passing move saw Wright put Phil Caley through on goal, but he could only drag his shot wide.

The second half was 11 minutes old at the time of its first half chance, and it definitely was only a half chance as Middleton blazed over from 20 yards.

Twenty minutes into the second half, Horden’s lead was doubled. Barney Dobinson switched play with a lovely ball over Bird. Robbie found a bit of room and curled a lovely strike into the top corner.

After having plenty of chances in the first half, chances were somewhat limited for Thornaby in the second half, and after Horden doubled their lead, it was comfortable for the Marras.

There was almost another assist for Dobinson with six minutes to play. He whipped a cross into the penalty area to find Pounder, but his header couldn’t find the target.

A minute later, at the other end, Thornaby halved the deficit. Gary Mitchell played the ball into Hindson, and his well struck finish gave the hosts hope.

Thornaby’s heads were up now back within one, and they were committing bodies forward. A couple of crucial blocks denied them, but at the other end, Horden had a big chance on the break. Taylor Campbell broke forward and played Pounder in. Jack’s shot was saved, but it wouldn’t really matter as the final whistle soon followed to give the Marras the three points.

Full-time: Thornaby 1-2 Horden Community Welfare

Next up for me is Wakefield vs Nostell Miners Welfare on Friday night.

Thornaby: Makepeace, Verity (Gant, 75′), Joynes, David Mitchell (Gary Mitchell, 75′), Proctor, Booth, Priest (Hindson, 64′), Rowe, Wright (Clark, 85′), Caley (Stapley, 64′), Milburn

No unused subs

Horden Community Welfare: Foster, Dobinson (c), Simpson, Fowler, Riding, Turnbull, Middleton, Wallace (Osborne, 78′), Pounder, Campbell, Bird

Unused subs: Broom, Wright, Bowes, Doughty

Admission: £7 adults, £4 concessions

Programme: Don’t know

Attendance: 111

Double cheeseburger and chips: £5.50

Referee: Richard Rowe