Brighouse took to the Broad Oak pitch after a 9 week layoff to face the Thornton team they beat convincingly 6-1 in the cup.
Expecting some tired legs, the home side started with a full compliment of 4 substitutes, both Joes, Segwick and Codling were missing but the team was bolstered by the inclusion of George Gray, making his debut.
The debutant made an instant impact, scoring the opener inside 2 minutes after Jordan Hoyle played him in on the left, a fantastic start.
Danny Rose extended the lead on 8 minutes, a pass from Louis Barker saw him beat the full-back and cut inside and beat the Thornton keeper in a one-on-one.
Thornton weren't taking it lying down and looked a far better team than in the cup game , getting a goal back 2 minutes later.
The goal gave them the momentum and they levelled the score on 15 minutes from a free kick that caught the home defence sleeping, their striker running in behind and beating Asher Petch with a fine finish.
It was an evenly contested first half, but Thornton were already tiring as the whistle blew for the break.
The second half saw the Brighouse team stamp some dominance on the game, Jordan Hoyle got his reward for his industry as he put the home side back in front 9 minutes into the half.
It was mostly one way traffic from that point in the game, Danny Rose had a great effort disallowed after his shot hit the underside of the bar and appeared to cross the line, only for the referee to wave it away.
On fifteen minutes Brighouse won a corner, a great delivery by Jacob Pullan found George Gray unmarked at the back post who gratefully nodded it into the net.
Just 3 minutes later, another corner from Jacob, curling towards the back post saw the Thornton keeper unable to deal with it and he bundled it into his own goal.
On 23 minutes, Jacob once again hit a perfect delivery to the back post and in an almost caron copy of the 4th goal, George Gray got up and headed it home for Brighouse's 6th and his hat-trick.
Brighouse eased off with a 4 goal cushion and Thornton capitalised, on 26 minutes a rare break upfield caught the defence dozing and the visitors scored their third.
With 10 minutes to play George Gray wasn't done yet, he found himself in space on the corner of the area, hit a fine shot which the Thornton defender unluckily turned into his own goal, one for the dubious goals panel that. Whether it was 3 or 4 goals George earned himself the man of the match with an untiring effort throughout.
Thornton deserved some credit for the way they went about the game in the first half, much improved from the last meeting. Brighouse proved their fitness in the second half and had too much for the visitors, a strong midfield won this game, George, Jacob, Louis and Danny put in a fine effort, Jordan ran tirelessley, Gibby tied the centre halfs up all game which gave plenty opportunities for the midfield to shine, which they did.
A solid team performance today lads, next week will be tough game, but with improving fitness and belief, it could be a decent cup run!
