Thackley's FA Vase dream is over for another season after a narrow fourth-round defeat to Arnold Town in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Dennyfield.

There was not much to choose between the Northern Counties East Premier Divi-sion rivals as they slugged it out but the visitors were a strong, experienced side and they edged the contest.

Former Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town striker Phil Starbuck led his latest club to the triumph, marshalling his troops from the dugout until coming on as a substitute five minutes from time.

At that stage it was only 1-0 and Thackley were piling on the pressure. A cruel blow

followed as Arnold broke away and doubled their advantage two minutes into time added on.

Starbuck's opposite number John Boyle said: "We are all disappointed. We gave them the first goal but there was a ten-minute spell just after the double substitution when I thought we would get an equaliser.

"They have cleared the ball off their line twice so we did cause them problems but overall I would have to say they just about deserved to go through and good luck to them. We are strong at the back but they defended really well.

"What we said to the players before the game was 'just because we got this far doesn't mean we will do it every year', trying to bring home to them just how big a game this was and what a chance to progress we had.

"We have a very young team but even then it might not happen for these players again in their careers. It could be another ten years before the club gets this far again. I certainly hope not but that is a distinct possibility."

There were promising early signs for Thackley but centre back James Riley had to make a superbly-timed tackle to rob Dave Wilkins in the area.

The visitors howled for a penalty but the well-placed referee was not impressed.

A deep free-kick for Arnold was headed away by Riley as the visitors' forays forward became more regular and they took the lead from a 28th-minute corner.

Scott Huckerby, the brother of Norwich City's Darren, delivered the in-swinging flag-kick. The goal-line was packed and Thackley keeper Matthew Everard could only get height from his leap when he also needed to reach forward. The curling trajectory had taken the ball across the line before it hit left back Andy King in the midriff as he attempted to clear.

A later corner for the home side caused Arnold concern but Karl Rose headed the ball behind from the six-yard line and the second corner was well defended.

On the hour, Shiz Iqbal's determination won possession and he found Lee Reilly but a combination of keeper's hand and outside of the post blocked the striker's rising angled drive.

With 11 minutes to go, Boyle threw on two substitutes, the hard-working Mark Senior and Reilly making way for Nicky Matthews and Dave Woofenden. Thackley went close to levelling in the 89th minute during an almighty scramble in the visitors' area.

A Joel Ettienne shot from just inside the box was parried by the Arnold keeper and when King turned the rebound goalwards it was hacked off the line. Ettienne appeared to be impeded as the loose ball came at him but no foul was given and the break for treatment to him gave the visitors chance to draw breath.

Thackley pressed again but a long punt to relieve the pressure saw Wilkins beat home keeper Everard to the ball and he chipped into the unguarded net from 30 yards on the angle.