Liam Tuck haunts former team Glasshoughton with thunderbolt strike to earn Knaresborough historic FA Cup victory

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Words and photos by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
Liam Tuck came back to haunt his old club Glasshoughton Welfare by scoring a late thunderbolt to earn Knaresborough Town a 2-1 win in their historic first ever FA Cup appearance.
Midfielder Tuck, who was Glasshoughton’s vice-captain last season, completed Knaresborough’s late comeback in the tasty Extra Preliminary Round encounter which manager Brian Davey said his side deserved to win.
Glasshoughton were leading until the 70th minute through an Adam Walsh strike, but, Welfare dropped deeper and deeper as the second half progressed at Leeds Road.
Knaresborough’s dominance eventually told as two quick-fire strikes from Nick Radcliffe and Tuck booked a tie with either West Allottment Celtic or Hebburn Town in the Preliminary Rond.
Glasshoughton’s day was made even worser by the sending-off of Simon Leach late-on.
Knaresborough manager Davey, who also thanked the club’s large travelling support, said: “We won the game and won it comfortably, despite how close the score was.
“We missed a penalty and had two or three more chances, whereas they didn’t have any in the second half.
“We knew it would be difficult in the first half with the wind and the slope and them having a strong and big side.
“We felt if we could weather the first half, our better players would come through and the goals would come and they did.
“It was tight, but we felt we played some good stuff and were the better side.
“With 20 minutes to go, we had a couple of ways to change it. Colin (Heath) struggled with a knock so we were looking to bring on Joel (Freestone) and warming Baz (Byron Littlefair) up.
“We had two or three different options and then the goal came. Colin said he felt fine so we gave him five more minutes.
“Seb (Carole) started to cut them apart and Graham (Whitehead) was taking them on.
“We knew the goals would come, it was just a case of getting that first one.”

The game was billed as one of the ties of the round because of the added spice due to all the connections between the two clubs.
Knaresborough’s head coach Rob Hunter was Glasshoughton’s manager last season and five players have left Leeds Road to follow him to the Toolstation NCEL Division One side.
Four of them appeared in the game which began with a flurry of yellow cards.
Referee Dean Bradshaw, whose performance was criticised by Glasshoughton manager Jon Miles, failed to use man-management skills in the opening 15 minutes.
He warned Knaresborough’s Liam Gray, but then proceeded to caution Welfare’s Tom Carr and Leach for similar challenges all in a short space of time.
Players were reluctant to make tackles so the first half was a poor affair.
But, Glasshoughton had one spark from which they scored from.
Veteran Matt Cressey’s excellent run down the left-wing saw him hit the post and Walsh couldn’t miss with the rebound attempt from two-yards out.
The second half was all Knaresborough, who just kept probing and probing.
Whilst home goalkeeper Josh Archer was never forced into a making real save, it was one-way traffic from Knaresborough’s direction.
A goal was coming and it was only a matter of time. As the half progressed, Carole began attacking down the middle of the pitch instead of the wing and this was effective.
Glasshoughton were tiring and the pressure eventually told. Carr’s miscued header presented Knaresborough with a corner and that was their moment to pounce.
From the corner, Will Lenehan rose above Carr to head the ball down and Radcliffe, who only scored his first ever Knaresborough goal on Tuesday night, put his foot through it to equalise.
After 75 appearances without a goal, the left-back has struck twice within five days.
Welfare were now on the ropes as Knaresborough were straight back at them searching for the winner which soon arrived.
And it was a goal that was worthy of winning any match. Midfielder Tuck literally ran onto the loose 25 yards-out and hit the ball first time and it flew into the top corner.
His celebrations told its own story of how much it meant to him.

Even with a game to chase, Glasshoughton remained under the cosh. A penalty conceded presented Heath with the chance to seal the win, but, he wasted the opportunity by blazing the ball out of the ground and onto the main road.
Frustration crept into Glasshoughton’s game as Leach was dismissed for a second bookable offence and Blaine Kellett was also cautioned for a poor challenge.
Glasshoughton failed to have a shot at former Paul Hagreen in the second half so Knaresborough comfortably saw out the final minutes.
The game finished with a mass brawl which both managers and even the referee described as “hand-bags”, but that didn’t take the shine off a historic victory for Knaresborough.
Manager Davey also saved the last word for his heroic midfielder Tuck.
“Their fans and supporters were having a bit of a go at him throughout the game – all good banter of course,” he added.
“The best way you can answer that is by getting the winning goal and that’s what he did.
“It was 20-30 yards out and it was a cracking strike so he enjoyed it.”
Glasshoughton Welfare: Archer, Barraclough, Cressey (Leung 83), Walsh, Williams (captain), Kellett, Barrett, Chappell (Dyson 80), Carr, Prudhoe (Morley 91).
Knaresborough Town: Hagreen, Donnelly, N Radcliffe, Duerden (captain), Lenehan, Bradley, Carole (Littlefair 95), Tuck, Heath (Freestone 83), Gray, Whitehead (C Radcliffe 83). Subs unused: Eustance, Cook.
Referee: Dean Bradshaw (South Yorkshire)
Ref Rating: 5/10
Attendance: TBC
Man of the match: Seb Carole (Knaresborough Town)