No midweek action for the lads as they headed into a tough test against a free-scoring Route One side - a team that recently put seven past NCEL Premier Division outfit Parkgate in their 7-1 League Cup win.
There were six changes to the Thorne side following last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Ilkley in difficult conditions. Luke Williams missed out through suspension after his red card against Maltby Main, meaning Ethan Harrison came into the XI alongside Lewis Walker and Alex Peterson.
Thorne came into the game unbeaten in four of their last five, while Route One had picked up nine points from their previous five, scoring 16 goals in the process.
The game started quietly, with both sides easing into things, but after the opening ten minutes, the chances started to flow. Route One went close first - a goal-bound effort was brilliantly tipped around the post by Musselwhite. Moments later, Reiss Harrison fired narrowly wide with a sweetly struck volley from the edge of the area.
The visitors took the lead shortly after through a scrappy goal. A well-worked set-piece saw a deep cross force another good save from Musselwhite before a chaotic scramble in the box ended with the ball trickling over the line for 0-1.
Thorne reacted superbly. Ten minutes later, their pressure paid off. Ben Stobart pressed hard to win the ball back, feeding Reiss Harrison, who delivered a superb cross into the area. Lewis Walker met it perfectly, looping his header over the keeper and into the net to make it 1-1.
And just five minutes later, Thorne turned it around. A clever flick from Harry Brown sent Stobart racing down the flank - he slid to cross, and there was Walker again, taking a touch and poking it past the keeper for his ninth goal of the season.
A minor setback followed when Ethan Harrison was forced off in the 36th minute after suffering a nasty knock above his eye.
Half-Time: Club Thorne Colliery 2–1 Route One Rovers
The visitors came out fired up after the break and found an equaliser just two minutes into the second half. Reece Thompson was played through with a clever pass, beating Kemp for pace and slotting into the bottom corner.
Nathaniel Muenda replaced Ben Stobart in the 56th minute as both sides pushed for a winner. Chances came at both ends, but neither team could make them count.
With twenty minutes to go, Route One’s discipline fell apart - Musa Corrah saw red for a rash challenge on Dom Mellor, and just four minutes later, Mohammed Kanyi followed him down the tunnel after a late tackle on Alex Peterson.
That left the visitors with nine men for the final 13 minutes, giving Thorne a golden opportunity to find a winner. Ryan Ellison and Louis Seddons were introduced late on to pile on the pressure, but Route One held firm with a deep defensive block to deny Thorne all three points.
A frustrating afternoon in the end, but plenty of positives to take - especially another goal-scoring display from Lewis Walker and a performance that showed real fight and togetherness from the lads.
Full Time: Club Thorne Colliery 2-2 Route One Rovers
Man of the Match: James Baxendale - Sponsored by While She Sleeps
Club Thorne Colliery - Ryan Musselwhite, Ben Stobart (56’ Nathaniel Muenda), Dom Mellor (80’ Ryan Ellison), Andy Wright, Harry Brown (C), Alex Kemp, James Baxendale (87’ Louis Seddons ), Reiss Harrison, Lewis Walker (30’, 34’), Alex Peterson, Ethan Harrison (36’ Marc Newsham). Substitutes: Louis Seddons, Ryan Ellison, Nathaniel Muenda, Jake Robinson, Marc Newsham.
Route One Rovers - Hagie Damba, Eburaema Suko, Omar Anjum, Mohammed Kanyi, Raeece Ellington, Tawheed Ahmed (75’ Mohammad Hasnain (88’ Thomas Dear)), Umar Alizahoor, Reece Thompson, Zak Khan, Musa Dukuray Corrah, Gauderic Totap. Substitutes: Thomas Dear, Mohammad Hasnain, Awais Khan, Anees Younis, Bilal Hussain
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