THORNABY FC (Teesdale Park)

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND, THORNABY 0-2 SUNDERLAND RCA, ATTENDANCE: 300

My first long distance drive since March led me to Teesside for the all Northern League FA Cup clash between Thornaby and Sunderland Ryhope Community Association at Teesdale Park.

Due to the restrictions placed on clubs due to Covid-19, the capacity for today's game was capped at 300. This meant the game was all-ticket, so therefore it was the first time in all my years of groundhopping that I had to buy a ticket for a Preliminary Round tie. I was extremely grateful to the club for putting a ticket aside for me as I couldn't get to the club to collect before the game.

Thornaby are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, having been founded in 2000. Prior to that they were known as Stockton, having been established in 1980 when Stockton Cricket Club's football team joined the Wearside Football League.

The club play at Teesdale Park and the ground is well appointed and has certainly improved since they were demoted to the Northern League Division Two because of the state of the ground. Having previously been subjected to arson, graffiti, fly-tipping and vandals driving over the pitch the ground is now fully enclosed with cover behind one goal, an open stand with seats and a seated main stand. There is even a bus shelter thrown in for good measure! For me though the best vantage point to watch the action was at the top of the grass bank when runs the length of the pitch.

The game was far from a classic with chances few and far between. Thornaby made most of the running but couldn't convert the possession into chances. They had the ball in the net in the first half but it was ruled out for offside. 

The second half continued in similar vein but at least Sunderland RCA upped their tempo a little. I sensed the game was heading for penalties until the turning point of the match after 70 minutes. Sunderland brought on Layton Watts as substitute and within two minutes he had whipped in a delicious curling cross which was headed home by Callum Hope, giving Thornaby's ex- Hartlepool and Middlesbrough 'keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos no chance.

After 80 minutes, Watts was involved again when, after some good play down the wing, he played the ball through for James Fairley to slot home. Thornaby piled forward and it took a superb double save from Sunderland's Rob Dean to preserve their clean sheet and ensure their passage into the next round.

STOCKTON TOWN (Bishopton Road West)

FA VASE SEMI-FINAL, 2ND LEG, STOCKTON TOWN 1-2 MARSKE UNITED (Agg: 3-2) ATTENDANCE: 1,800

With 'the beast from the east' wreaking havoc in recent weeks it has been a while since I managed to visit a new ground. Fortunately today's game in the North East was on an artificial surface and what an occasion it was too.


Stockton Town were taking on Marske United in the FA Vase semi-final second leg for the right to play either Thatcham Town or 1874 Northwich at Wembley in May.

This all Northern League tie was finely poised after last weekends first leg. Stockton held a 2-0 lead after winning their "away leg" last Saturday. I say "away leg" because of the recent wet weather the first leg was also played at Bishopton Road West as Marske United's pitch was saturated and no other suitable alternative venue could be found.

The ground is situated on the edge of town, behind the local sixth-form college.This semi-final tie match was billed as the biggest game(s) in Stockton Town's 40 year history, certainly since they moved into senior football in 2009. The game was an all-ticket sell out with 1,800 packed inside the tight ground.

Marske really needed to score first to keep the tie alive and they did indeed do that. Liam O'Sullivan firing home after 8 minutes. This though was after Stockton missed a one-one-one chance after 30 seconds of the game, Fred Woodhouse squandering the opportunity. 

The Seasiders dominated the half but they could not find an aggregate equaliser. Stockton had their moments on the break and just before half time they were awarded a penalty. Kevin Hayes was fouled in the box and Nathan Mulligan stepped up to dispatch the spot kick and to restore The Anchors overall two-goal lead.

Marske came out for the second half and continued to pile on the pressure. A superb solo goal on 55 minutes from James Fairley, who picked the ball up on the wing before going on a mazy run and slotting home, putting Marske within one goal of levelling.

As the game went Marske pushed forward and took more risks, leaving gaps at the back, and there were chances for Stockton to seal the tie on the counter attack. The tie could have gone either way at this point. Michael Arthur in the Stockton goal pulled off a world class save to deny Curtis Round before Fairley had a goal disallowed moments from time due to a push in the box.

The final whistle sounded and the Marske players sank to their knees but it was jubilation for the Stockton players and supporters. In three short years they have gone from the Wearside League to Wembley. That is some journey! They will play Combined Counties League Thatcham Town in the final on 20th May.

The Stockton Town players who made history