Thackley 1, Woodley Sports 2 - Thackley will be kicking themselves that it took them until they were a goal and a man down before they started to do themselves justice against a neat but workmanlike Woodley Sports.

It could have been Thackley rather than the Cheshire club who were included in today's FA Carlsberg Vase second round draw had they played from the first whistle as they did when the referee signalled the re-start after skipper Craig Sugden had trudged off.

Sent off for a second bookable offence, the captain had no basis to compile a case for his defence as both bookings were avoidable.

"He should not have put himself in that position," said assistant manager Warren Fletcher. "The first booking was particularly needless and from then on he has to walk a fine line because he knows there is no room for error."

Sugden's first offence was foolishly to attempt a 'hand of God' style goal at a 28th minute corner. The home skipper was almost on the visitors goal-line and, as he just failed to reach it with his head, he instinctively threw up his right hand and deflected the ball into the goal.

"Why?" quizzed Fletcher. "He could have been taking the chance of a certain goal away from a team-mate who was next in line for the ball. I don't think he was as it happened, but his actions cost us in the end.

"But we played better once we were down to ten men and I thought we deserved something out of the game. The ten did well, caused them more problems than before, but if it had gone to extra time we would have tired quicker because we were a man down.

"It is so disappointing though, you look to have a good run in the Vase. It is 'The' FA competition that our clubs can go all the way in. Staying in it keeps the club alive and buzzing so it is a huge wrench to be knocked out, especially by a side who to my mind were nothing special."

Thackley had to go into the game with enforced changes to the side that beat Borrowash Victoria 4-0 last Saturday in the Northern Counties East Premier Division with goalkeeper Richard Cornwall injured and new striker Pav Singh cup-tied.

Their replacements were two of the best players in the game, Arron Bryan and Stuart Taylor, so fingers cannot be pointed in their direction. Taylor worked hard all afternoon for little reward while Bryan had nothing to do for long spells but produced two excellent saves in the first half and was blameless for the goals.

Woodley scored against the run of play in the 55th minute, Thackley had dominated the second half until the breakaway that led to the goal. Jason Kneen took a headed pass in his stride and sprinted more than 40 yards before beating Bryan from an eight yard angle.

After Sugden's dismissal, Patterson brought the home side level with a similar piece of individual brilliance after he had blocked a clearance. Thackley had chances to win the match as the visitors frequently lost possession in the final third of the pitch.

But there was nothing other than heartache for the home side as Woodley created a winner less than three minutes from time, Mark Phillips heading into the net from ten yards with his second bite at a late corner.