ASHBY IVANHOE 3-1 THURNBY NIRVANA
LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINAL
SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY 2012

Ashby Ivanhoe produced a superb second half performance and goals from Phil Gibson, Jack Willars and Luke Thorogood saw them overturn a half time deficit and stun East Midlands Counties side Thurnby Nirvana 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Leicestershire Senior Cup.

Ashby made a slow start to the match and in the opening minutes the visitors were passing the ball around easily with Ashby unable to get a touch and with just four minutes on the clock a challenge inside the area brought a penalty to Thurnby but fortunately for the home side the powerful kick struck the foot of the post and bounced cleared.

Thurnby continued on the front foot and in the 13th minute they took the lead when more good passing set up the chance and from 25 yards an unstoppable shot from long range flew past the outstretched hand of John Noon and into the top corner.

Midway through the first half Thurnby went close to doubling their advantage when they broke forward down the left and from a narrow angle the shot went across goal and wide of the far post.

Ashby had improved as the first half progressed and in the 26th minute they had a chance to level the scores when a free kick was taken quickly and from the left side a cross came into the area too quickly for Gibson and his first time effort was wide.

With nine minutes of the half remaining Thurnby should have added to their earlier goal when a player beat a couple of Ashby defenders before seeing his powerful effort cannon back of the crossbar and then a minute later a shot from range forced Noon to tip the ball over the bar.

Ashby did have another chance before the end of the half again through Gibson but his shot from the edge of the area was narrowly wide and then on the stroke of half time Noon was called into action again to keep his side in the match with two fingertip saves from a header and then a shot to keep the score to just 1-0 at the break.

The second half saw an outstanding performance from Ashby as they totally outplayed their higher level opponents and produced some fine attacking football to turn the match around and it started in the 56th minute when a ball from John Shales over the top of the Thurnby defence saw Gibson in the clear and with the keeper rushing out he tried a long range effort which went narrowly wide but then a minute later the scores were level when a cross into the area beat everyone before finding Jack Willars at the back post and he took a touch before sending the ball into the back of the net.

Ashby were now on top and they went close to taking the lead just after the hour mark when Willars was again involved and his curling effort from the edge of the area was destined for the net before the keeper stretched to tip the ball over and keep it at 1-1.

In the 67th minute Ashby got their reward for their hard work throughout the second half when they took a 2-1 lead. It started when Elliot Bott turned inside before advancing towards the Thurnby goal and from just outside the area he passed the ball to Gibson on the right of the area and after a defender slipped as he went to make a tackle he took his time before shooting past the onrushing keeper for 2-1.

Thurnby needed a second goal to try and force extra time but the Ashby defence remained strong and everything that was thrown at them was cleared down field and in the 81st minute Ashby extended their lead when Gibson advanced towards goal down the left side and after entering the 18 yard box he went pass a defender before laying the ball off for Luke Thorogood to rifle home a low shot beyond the keeper’s dive and into the bottom corner and after closing out the remaining minutes fairly comfortably Ashby were in their second Senior Cup semi final in three seasons.