U18 Horsham Tavistock Thistles 1 AFC Southway 5 THISTLES recent improvement continued despite the scoreline. The home side competed all over the pitch and matched the team, that looks set to win the league, in effort and ability. Knowing the game was going to be hard and physical Thistles set out with a five man midfield to close down the space and to pressurise their opponents on the ball. These tactics were working well throughout the first half but Southway still managed to squeeze in two goals. The first of these was after about 15 minutes, which somehow found its way through a crowded area into the net; the second was conceded just before the break from a corner, which Thistles tried to clear but the man on the post smashed the ball onto the underside of the crossbar but bounced down and into the net. These goals gave a totally distorted scoreline at the break as Thistles had several good chances of their own and came extremely close with a free kick from Anthony Cole, who struck the corner of the post and cross bar with the scoreline at 1 - 0. In the second half Thistles continued to give as good as they got with man of the match Michael Brown battling for every ball in midfield, despite getting a battering from the opponents. Brown kept going back for more and after Southway had extended their lead to four he struck a sweet free kick into the bottom left hand corner of the net to give Thistles something for their efforts. However, as the home side pushed forward they were caught on the break and conceded the last goal. For Thistles Chris Giles and Adam Roberts in midfield both worked tirelessly; Adam Scanlon and Alan Kirby were outstanding in defence along with new boy Matthew Roberts at left back and Ryan Greep, who got a deserved start at right back. Thistles' next game is on January 7 away to fellow strugglers St Cleer, who Thistles will be hoping to beat and get a deserved and long over due victory.