06/09/2026
10-men Thornton Cleveleys scrape an anxious 1-0 win against league leaders Maghull at a packed-out Gamble Road.
An 18th-minute goal from number nine Ben Duffield proved decisive as the Reds were made to work hard to protect their lead whilst 286 spectators watched.
A red card for substitute Dan Stoney, as well as an injury to fellow sub Josh Edwards, set up a nervy finale, but the hosts overcame the adversity to climb up to second and close the gap with Maghull to four points.
To open the action, Jacob Aspinall had a curling effort travel wide when the game was just four minutes old, and Luke Harris fired over from a similar position four minutes later.
Oli Lombard, making his third start for the Reds, made a confident claim early on before catching a header following a Maghull corner on 10 minutes.
The positive start continued as Harris almost squeezed through the Maghull defence to poke the ball home after 11 minutes, but Maghull goalkeeper Patrick McLoughlin beat him to the ball.
Duffield broke the deadlock on 18 minutes to gift his side the lead. The forward’s hold-up play helped win the throw-in that created the goal. Adam Sumner’s long throw was flicked on by Ben Reader from the edge of the box. Duffield jumped off the grass and managed to get a good connection to the ball with his boot, sending it past McLoughlin, who couldn’t keep it out despite getting a glove on the ball.
Lombard was called into action on the half-hour mark. The shot-stopper parried an effort behind for a corner, before denying the opposition once again from the subsequent set-piece, with the ball being cleared away comprehensively.
After going to ground in pain, Reader had to receive some treatment, but he soldiered on for the remaining 10 minutes of the half before ultimately coming off and being replaced by Jackson Bateman during the break.
Maghull ended the first half the strongest of the two, but Lombard and the woodwork kept TCFC’s lead intact. Lombard made a simple catch initially, but TCFC lost the ball instantly and Maghull had another crack at goal – the Liverpool-based side didn’t punish the hosts though, as the effort flew over.
Joe Robinson had his name and number taken by the referee after a late challenge in the middle of the park, and Lombard made another composed save, before half-time was called.
Seven minutes into the second half, Sumner made a good defensive header that acted as a springboard for a Thornton Cleveleys counterattack. Josh Winder dashed towards goal with the ball from the right but was tackled just before entering the penalty area. The forward had another run at goal on 54 minutes. Again, he was stopped as he looked set to shoot.
In between both of Winder’s chances, Lombard was on hand to make a superb point-blank save to preserve TCFC’s precious lead on 53 minutes, coming off his line quickly to close the angles for the opposing attacker.
Following a foul on the edge of the Thornton Cleveleys penalty area on 58 minutes, Maghull had a great opportunity to get back into the game. However, the set-piece was struck over the crossbar.
Sumner’s throw-in trick almost works a treat again. The lofted ball was headed back to Edwards, whose first time pass back to Sumner allowed the skipper to fake a cross. His ball to the backpost was headed back across to Kyle Higham, but he failed to keep his header down. The linesman had his flag up anyway.
Maghull hit the post on 71 minutes. The pressure went up a notch as Sumner cleared the first ball before a rebound flew onto the post and bounced out of play.
Having just entered the field, Dan Stoney picked up a yellow card on 78 minutes for a foul in the final third. The cross led to another chance but Maghull couldn’t take it, with the ball flying over the bar from a volley.
Maghull had another chance soon after, with a floated cross into the box almost catching Lombard out. The ball didn’t dip under the bar in time, but it was another close call.
As part of a double substitution along with Oliver Wilkinson, Edwards went down clutching his hamstring, but with TCFC completing all of their changes, the midfielder had to continue.
Jackson Bateman almost killed the game on 85 minutes as his clever run caught the Maghull backline off guard. However, he failed to hit the target, giving the visitors hope that they could still nick a point.
Stoney was given his marching orders a minute in the form of a second yellow later to set up an incredibly anxious end to the game for the 10-men of Thornton Cleveleys. Wilkinson made a goal-line clearance from the resultant free-kick before darting up field to almost break away against the run of play.
The pressure continued to grow as Bateman defended well to send a cross behind for a corner. Maghull had another shot, but the attacker was leaning too far back as his effort flew into the sky and behind.
With five additional minutes following the 90 minutes, Maghull continued to ramp up the pressure and knock on the door, but they just couldn’t get the goal they craved. Those in red shirts put their bodies on the line to deny any final attempts at goal, leaving the home fans proud as the game came to a close.
First team coach Mike McGarvey was “absolutely delighted” for his side’s belief after narrowly holding onto the three points, whilst also praising the goalscorer after his notching his second of the campaign.
“Nothing is easy in this league, but I don’t feel we have even got started yet. We had to strip it back a little bit and ask them to do the basics today. On the back of Tuesday [after the 2-2 at Squires Gate], we were absolutely gutted and we weren’t happy with the performance – we know this group has got more in them. Today, we just started on the right mentality and at it from the off. It was superb – it wasn’t the prettiest game you will ever see but they did exactly what we asked from them.
“When we went down to 10 men when all the subs were on and Josh Edwards pulled up with a hamstring injury, we were up against it at that point. Then, we go down to nine men with the sending off and it challenges them again but sometimes, adversity in football can show a different side to you – it can change a season, and I hope they take belief after that.
“We have gone 1-0 up around the 20-minute mark. It was something we have worked on and when it comes off like that, it’s fantastic. Duffers is an unbelievable team player who does a great job wherever he plays. I am so pleased that he got his goal. Yes, we had to hang on, but that’s football. In previous seasons, these scrappy goals go in, but the desire and belief from the lads was there in abundance and it was brilliant.”
When asked about early news of injury concerns and player availability ahead of next week’s game, McGarvey said: “The fixture list is relentless, and we have needed the squad. Going behind in previous games, we have had to rely on the bench at it has worked. In terms of personnel, Edwards has obviously picked up a hamstring injury today so we will have to see how he is, Lewis Walmsley is on his way back from a hamstring injury so we hope he will be alright, Josh Winder won’t be there, Jordan Beavers is suspended from last season which is a shame.”
They take the momentum of five games unbeaten into next Saturday’s 3pm FA Vase Second Round Qualifying kick off against Ebac Northern League Division One side Newcastle Benfield, with the winner earning a place in the First Round Proper.
The management team of Paul Gregory, Chris Bond and Mike McGarvey are all sponsored by Stepping Out at the Ruskin Hotel, Blackpool.
This match report is kindly brought to you by MJR Services, Welding and Fabrication.
By Sam Lawson
Image by Debs Armstrong High Definition Media
