Supersub Dom Swingler took the scoring honours on “Groundhog Day” at Station Road as Thorne paid their second visit in a week with league points at stake this time round. Rick Brewer, Will Nelson and Reece Self were missing from last Saturday’s line-up, Jordan Cummings, Luke Parsons and Danny Lee taking their places.
The Blues started brightly and got the early goal which eluded them in the previous game as Kieron Wall supplied Julian Joachim on the left, the veteran striker rolling back the years as he accelerated past his defender before expertly gliding the ball past the oncoming Pepper with 7 minutes played. The Blues exercised patience, probing for gaps in the Thorne rearguard as they enjoyed lengthy periods of possession. Richard Dent, Sam Wilford and Sam Betts combined to send in a dangerous ball across the area but Copeland just cleared as Wall threatened. Betts was unfortunate to get a slightly too heavy touch after being put in by Dent before Wall was forced off to be replaced by Tyler Martin who was on hand to double Town’s lead on 36 minutes. Good work by Wilford released Martin who came off best in a challenge with the Thorne keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
A long range shot from Jammy Lloyd was well saved by Pepper in the first action of the second half, but Thorne retaliated as Daniel Smith wriggled his way along the byline before grazing the far post from the tightest of angles. Joachim had released a string of inch perfect crossfield balls and one of these saw Martin go close as the Blues exerted pressure, the striker curling in a shot which was fingertipped against the bar, Betts scuffing the loose ball to the keeper. The introduction of Dom Swingler was to prove a big influence on the outcome of the match as with 71 minutes played, a teasing cross from Lee was met with a glancing header which put the Blues three up. His second goal, eight minutes later, was inspired, Jammy Lloyd’s left wing corner reaching Swingler with his back to goal, the ball finishing up in the net following an acrobatic hook over his shoulder, an early candidate for goal of the season. The match was all but over as a contest, but Swingler had the last word in stoppage time Swingler stretching to complete his hat trick after Martin had sent the ball goalwards.
The win was Town’s fifth in six starts but they now face a testing series of matches against the top three in the league beginning with a trip to Appleby Frodingham next Saturday, who will be keen to preserve their 100% record.