Thirsk men’s seconds travelled to York with a strong team, and were able to build some nice play in the first quarter of the game. Patrick Hunt, and James Laking combined well down the left, and James cut into the circle forcing a penalty corner. Thirsk converted this with a fine strike from Andrew Jackson. Thirsk continued to play well and forced the York goalkeeper into two good saves, thanks to great wing play from Richard Taylor. But a ball given away too easily in centre field led to York’s first attack of the half, and a quick through ball was latched onto, and the shot neatly dispatched for an equalizer. Within two minutes Thirsk were behind when the defence allowed them to penetrate easily down their right.
At 2-1 down, Thirsk needed to get back into the game straight after the break. But this only occurred in brief patches as York grew in confidence. Rafe Skippings had a couple of nice openings at the back post. But it was York who scored next extending to 3-1, and try as Thirsk did they could not break York down effectively. York scored a fortunate late fourth goal, when a deflected cross fell easily to their centre forward. Final score York 4-1 Thirsk

Saturday 26th November saw Thirsk men’s seconds at home against Ben Rhydding 5th team. Thirsk were the first team into their stride in this close encounter, and built several periods of good pressure on the opposition circle. Richard Taylor down the right caused problems for their defence and forced a penalty corner, but Thirsk did not convert. Ben Rhydding started to get their play going, and Joe Dickinson made a good save, and Dean Porter relieved the pressure well. Thirsk took the lead through a slick attack down the right as Richard and John Atkinson combined well, feeding Liam Evans, who put away a neat reverse slap inside the far post. They could of made it two when another attack down the right fed Peter Woodward, but he was unable to get his shot away.
Ben Rhydding equalized early in the second half, after a half clearance, allowed them a second shot at the back post. Ben Rhydding could have gone ahead, when they were awarded a penalty flick, but Joe magnificently saved it, and this gave Thirsk a greater sense of urgency. Rafe Skippings failed to put away a chance at the far post, Richard and Chris Gabbot fired narrowly wide. Thirsk built more pressure on their circle, and a Trevor Bosomworth drive lead to a penalty corner. A slick move was executed as Trevor set up Liam for his second goal, and a 2-1 lead. Thirsk had chances to go further ahead, but conceded with 5 minutes to go from their penalty corner. In the dying seconds Thirsk could have sealed a victory, but Richard fired just wide of the post, and Trevor’s dive could not connect with the ball. Final score 2-2.

Thirsk Mens 2nd team played away at Harrogate on 19th November 2011, and started with a rearranged defence. Harrogate were quick to exploit the disorganization in the Thirsk ranks and with 20 minutes gone Harrogate had scored 5 goals without reply. Another swift change of formation lead to Thirsk not conceding again before half time. Ben Irving and Dean Porter in particular were fantastic in slowing up and breaking down the Harrogate attacks. As the half wore on Thirsk did start to put pressure on the Harrogate circle, and Nathan Harding was denied by a good slide from there keeper, and Andrew Jackson’s penalty corner was well saved.
The second half was a more even affair, with Mike Rushmere, the late arriving Jon Statham, Ben and Dean really starting to limit Harrogate’s attacks. Patrick Hunt was able to threaten the Harrogate circle regularly, and Nathan again went close. Thirsk did concede a very soft sixth goal following a mix up between goalkeeper and defender. But Thirsk can be pleased with the resolve shown in the second half. Final score 6-0 to Harrogate.

Thirsk mens seconds entertained York on Saturday 12th November. The game was dominated from the beginning by Thirsk, with Ian Foxley and Andrew Jackson in particular helping to control the midfield. This allowed for some excellent attacks down both wings. Thirsk took the lead, when Andrew followed up a blocked effort, beating two players before squeezing it past the goalkeeper. Thirsk made it two when Richard Taylor was able to pounce on a rebound.  It was 3-0 at half time thanks to great play from Patrick Hunt down the right, who cut inside and set up Nathan Harding at the far post.

The second half was a similar story as Thirsk piled on the pressure. Liam Evans got the first of his two goals, mainly thanks to Ian’s incisive pass finding Trevor Bosomworth, and his great cross. Rafe Skippings then stylishly met a cross from Richard, firing the ball into the roof of the net. Liam second goal was from another cross from the right, which he put in giving the goalkeeper no chance. The final Thirsk goal was put in by Nathan, following a penetrating run from the back from John Atkinson.  York did manage a consolation goal, however it was thanks to a deflection from a Thirsk player. Final Score 7-1.

Thirsk Mens second team played away at Bradford on Saturday November 5th. From the start the Thirsk defence was put under a lot of pressure, James Laking in defence did well to thwart their attacks down the left, and Joe Dickinson was forced to make several telling saves, but after 10 minutes Thirsk were behind when a well struck shot flew into the goal. This spurred Thirsk into action, and the rest of the first half was more even. It wasn’t long before Thirsk equalized after Liam Evans had earned a penalty corner. Andrew Jackson was able to beat two players before slamming his shot into the corner. Thirsk grew in confidence, and good work down the right from Patrick Hunt, saw his cross partially cleared, only for Rafe Skippings to get a goal through his deflected shot.

Bradford came back strongly in the second half, and Thirsk were pegged in their half for much of the time. Jon Statham and John Atkinson cleared well, and Joe made more great saves to keep Bradford out. With 15 minutes to go Thirsk were clinging on to their 2-1 lead, and finally Bradford managed to equalize. Thirsk did have chances, forcing two penalty corners but did not convert them. In the final 10 minutes Bradford managed to score twice more, and complete a 4-2 win despite Thirsk’s best efforts.

The Men’s 2nd team achieved their first points of the season in an end to end game against Driffield with a thrilling 6-5 last minute victory. Thirsk went 2-0 behind before coming back to level by half-time. After the break Thirsk went on to deservedly lead 4-2 before Driffield drew level and eventually took the lead again with 10 minutes to play. With time running out and following strong midfield play by Ian Foxley and sound defensive work by Mike Rushmere and John Atkinson, two late goals gave Thirsk the win by the narrowest of margins; the goal scorers being Liam Evans, with a hat-trick, Rafe Skippings, Tom Moody and Peter Woodward.

Saturday 15th saw a much changed Thirsk team from last week, with Oliver Hill making his debut. Thirsk started brightly with Nathan Harding, and Chris Gabbut creating chances. But as the half went on Harrogate began to put sustained pressure on the Thirsk defence, and took the lead through lapses in concentration. But Thirsk fought back well with several well constructed passages of play. From one passing move on the left James Laking was able to fire in a cross, and Trevor Bosomworth read it well to squeeze it under their goalkeeper and bring the score to 1-1 at half time.

At the beginning of the second half Thirsk had a lot of pressure on their defensive circle, and despite the efforts of the defence and an ever youthful Mike Rushmere, were unable to prevent a second Harrogate goal. Thirsk felt badly done by with their third goal though, as the Harrogate first strike at the penalty corner was well over the back board, but was still awarded. Moments later Harrogate were awarded a penalty stroke following a indiscretion by Joe Dickinson in goal, but justice was done as the stroke could only find the post. Thirsk kept going well, and a drive by Chris set up Andrew Jackson to score well and bring it back to 3-2. Only minutes later Thirsk were unlucky not to be level when Trevor’s thunderous deflected shot smacked into the post. Thirsk battled to the end with other close chances, but could not find the net. Harrogate with the last play of the game scored from a penalty corner to make it 4-2.

Thirsk Mens 2^nd XI v York 6^th , Saturday 1^st October

Thirsk Mens 2^nd team, having gained promotion to League 5 North, were up against York 6^th, and started brightly. Debutants, Tom Sowerby, Peter Woodward and Mathew Cockerill, all getting into the game right from the start. Thirsk were unable to make the pressure count, and  as York got into their stride, the defence became stretched. Four York goals in the half definitely flattered them. After half time Thirsk started much more positively, with a fine solo goal from Nathan Harding. Thirsk created several chances, and forced saves from their keeper. But as Thirsk tired, so York came back into it, and despite a lot of effort, were unable to prevent 3 more York goals. A 7-1 defeat was not the welcome to League 5 North we had been hoping for.

Thirsk men’s 2nds played the final game of the season at Halifax, and Thirsk travelled there knowing that if they avoided defeat they would end the season,  equalling last years’  third place in the league. Thirsk were the better team in the first half, creating several clear chances, and forcing 4 penalty corners. John Atkinson and Chris Gabbut combined well in midfield, and crosses from Richard Taylor were always a threat. One cross bobbled over Trevor Bosomworth’s stick at the back post. Trevor also had a penalty corner shot well saved by their goalkeeper. Thirsk had to defend at times, Mike Rushmere and Jon Statham used all their experience to make it difficult for Halifax, and Dean Porter and Patrick Jackson were dynamic bursting out of defence. Joe Dickinson was called into action making two good saves.
The second half was more even, and proved to be quite an open affair. Thirsk had a lot of possession, and as the game went on Rafe Skippings and Dean down the left created a lot of pressure. Liam Evans shot just wide. Halifax forced a penalty corner, and took the lead when their well worked move was fired in at the near post. With ten minutes left Thirsk worked hard and they were rewarded with an equalizer, when Chris’s cross was picked up by Liam, and he cleverly lifted his shot into the left top corner.  Ben Irving played his part in defence as Thirsk held out for a 1-1 draw.
Congratulations to Liam Evans as Top goalscorer for the season with 24 goals, and well done to Dean Porter who was voted young player of the season.

Thirsk Mens 2nd were slowly into their stride away at Bradford, allowing the opposition to get nice passing going. Thirsk had to defend a series of early attacks, but allowed their centre forward too much time, and he managed to squeeze his shot in the corner for a 1-0 lead. Thirsk continued to struggle, but equalized when a Bradford penalty corner broke down and a rapid break down the right saw Richard Taylor’s cross met at the back post by Rafe Skippings. Phil Young was forced to make a great save in the Thirsk goal, and  Thirsk’s defence did start to look more assured and Ben Irving making his debut and Ben Scaling helped to launch the next attack, again down the right, with Rafe again finishing well at the back post. Thirsk then had a penalty corner shot saved off the line.
With a 2-1 lead at half time Thirsk should have taken control of the game, but within two minutes of the restart the game was level, as Thirsk failed to close them down and Phil was again beaten. Thirsk were though soon back in the lead, as Chris Gabbut’s long ball found Rafe, and he took on the goalkeeper one to one and confidently completed his hat-trick. Thirsk then started to take control of the game and had a series of penalty corners, their goalkeeper saving well, before a well executed routine was put away by Trevor Bosomworth. The pressure was now permanently on the Bradford circle, and Liam Evans opened his scoring from a penalty corner rebound. Thirsk ended up 6-2 winners as Liam got his second slapping in from another cross from the right. With one game to go Thirsk are now 3rd in the table, just two points behind leaders Harrogate.