Sunday Mar 9th, 2025

Thornbury Town

TEAM - Tim, Brendan, Jason L, Draner, Jamie, Arron, Si R, Jason H, J Snook, Morgs, Jon C.

SUBS - Al

CAME UNSTUCK ON THE FARMERS FIELD Monday went into this fixture off of a very disappointing draw against Cowboys the previous week. A draw against Cowboys is not a bad result, but the nature of the result having been leading 2-0 and their keeper scoring in the last second of the game was a lot to handle.

Thornbury have proven themselves in their debut season in the top division. The first result of 2-2 was fair and in the second game against Monday - they just fell foul to a great display.  Their other results have also not been too bad only narrowly losing to Yate. So this game was not going to be easy.

Once again Monday struggled for recruitment and to make matters worse - Thornbury's first two comments upon arrival were;

• We've given the youngsters the 1st team pitch

• We've got a 20 year old playing on the father-son rule!

Not a great start to the morning!

The pitch was truly awful. On par with Frampton's pitch from the previous couple of seasons! Within the first 60 seconds, Thornbury had a corner that was dealt with and Arron had space to run into, but the ball bobbled so high - it went over his hip!  To rapturous laughter!  There were numerous other examples of this throughout the fixture!

Thornbury were seeing slightly more of the ball and were getting the ball out wide well.  Their final execution was largely poor for the whole of the first half.

Chances for Monday were few and far between. Arron had a nice run (despite being studded on the ACL half way through) that resulted in a shot blasting just over. James Snook playing in the middle of the park had a shot from the edge of the box that went just wide. And Jason Hughes had a nice header at the back post that he couldn't direct on target.

After 10 minutes - Morgs pulled his hamstring and had to hobble off. Monday were down to 10 men for a short while before Al came to the rescue. He went straight up top alongside Jon. But then just a few minutes later Brendan playing at centre back also got an injury. He was ok enough to stay on but couldn't do a lot of running. The team reshuffled again with Jon dropping back into centre mid and Jason H making it a Jason double act at centre back

0-0 at half time

At the start of the 2nd half - Monday started very much on the back foot. Thornbury were seeing much more of the ball and were playing it around nicely. They were getting to every second ball and were not giving Monday any time on the ball.  

Thornbury's possession paid off and caught Monday sleeping! A neat throw in and interchange in play found them free down the right.  The ball was played into their excellent striker, and he slotted home past Tim to make it 1-0 to Thornbury.  By this time, it was also apparent that the ref was very much one sided. Any time Brendan got near the ball he blew his whistle for something, and numerous late challenges were left 'unnoticed'.  

After this Monday reshuffled again and the remainder of the half felt much more even.  Thornbury still had the majority of the ball, but Monday had a few chances of note. Arron shot down low after neat play from Al and Jamie. The keeper made a good stop down to his right. Brendan and Arron (now the strikers) were playing nicely together but with Brendan unable to run - it was very difficult.

I think it's fair to say that when the final whistle blew - everyone was glad it was over.  Monday were rarely in the game and didn't deserve to get anything from the fixture.

Once again - recruitment played the biggest part of the downfall of the day (and the pitch and the ref). Taking 4 points from a possible 9 against Thornbury isn't enough to win the league. Monday's record against top opposition remains good but the lower teams over the last few seasons have often tripped Monday up. Frampton, Clevedon, Thornbury to name a few - have all taken vital points off Monday at key stages of the season.  

Onwards to the game against Yate under the lights!

MOM - Jason Hughes