PROUD boss Bobby Coltman has urged everyone connected with Thornaby FC to repeat the heroics of Tuesday night by delivering promotion back to Ebac Northern League Division One this weekend.
The Blues turned in a solid and effective display to beat Yarm & Eaglescliffe, who finished second in the league, 3-0 in the play-off semi-final to set up a winner-takes-all dual with Jarrow this Saturday.
A first half header from Jack Proctor was followed by Ryan Wright’s brilliant lob after the restart to put Thornaby well on their way against Yarm.
Then substitute Charlie Twinn capitalised on a late Yarm surge to round off the win with a third goal – sending the travelling Blue Army support crazy at Billingham’s Bedford Terrace.
Thornaby eyes have quickly turned to this Saturday at Perth Green (kick-off 3pm) when Coltman and his players want to stun a Jarrow side that finished 18 points above them in the table, albeit two points below Yarm.
The Thornaby boss said: “It was an amazing feeling and it felt like a home game on Tuesday night at Billingham, I had a feeling it would be like that.
“Saturday will be different, it will be more difficult because they are at home, so they are sure to have plenty fans there. We do know we will be well backed, there will be a lot of neutral fans there too, and I’m sure the fans will be amazing again.
“One of the big pulls for me coming to Thornaby was the fans and knowing how the games really matter to the people of this proud club. We just want to do it all over again on Saturday and make sure it is a great day for everyone.”
Jarrow will clearly be no mugs. Not only did they finish third, they successfully overcame a strong Chester-le-Street United on penalties after a goalless draw on Monday night. Coltman was there.
He said: “It is about fine margins over the 90 minutes, we know that. Jarrow are a really good side and at the start of the season they were flying before champions Horden kicked into gear.
“We know it won’t be easy, but the players have to believe because they can do it.
“They do have a lot of belief in themselves, we believe in them, but it doesn’t mean we expect it to happen. Things can happen in football that you can’t account for. On Tuesday, everything went for us, now roll on Saturday.”
Thornaby stood tall throughout the 90 minutes against Yarm and deserved to win.
After Harry Alderson had made a couple of strong stops early on, Thornaby’s gameplan worked and earned a 25th minute lead when the impressive Proctor headed in Charlie Hindson’s corner.
Soon after that Jack Robertson had an effort bounce clear after hitting the inside of the bar, while Wright was also denied by goalkeeper Lee Roberts.
Within seven minutes of the restart Wright lobbed the goalkeeper to extend the lead following a quick break when Max Booth made a telling block at the other end.
Yarm battled away and went close a couple of times late on, including an incredible Shaun Ryder clearance off the line after Alderson had made another strong stop.
With time running out for Yarm, Roberts was caught out as he charged back from a corner that was poorly taken. When the keeper made a hash of a clearance, Twinn side-footed over the line deep in stoppage-time.
Coltman said: “It was an unbelievable feeling to win with a clean sheet and three goals to the good. We had a clear gameplan before the game but it means nothing if the players don’t deliver, and they were absolutely excellent to make sure they did.
“We were the best team in both boxes on the night and the scoreline reflected that against a Yarm team who have been outstanding all season in those key areas.
“We are lucky that we have unbelievably talented players who want to pull things together, we have good options on the bench and all of those could have started. Now we look to Saturday, we can’t wait.”
