In a stunning display of attacking football, Thorn 2011 overwhelmed olm with a resounding 12-0 victory in their cup match held at home on 15 May 2025, kicking off at 7:30pm. The match showcased Thorn's offensive prowess and tactical superiority, leaving their opponents reeling from the outset.
Thorn 2011 lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, designed to maximise their attacking potential while maintaining a solid defensive structure. Liam Curivan took his position as the goalkeeper, shielded by a back four consisting of Elliot Marner on the right, James Welsh and Lewis Meikle in central defence, and Dylan Crombie on the left. The midfield trio featured Joe Caldwell on the right, Gus Piper centrally, and Aidan O'Malley on the left, providing both creativity and support to the forward line. Up front, Ryan Haigh and Markus McAuslan operated as right and left forwards respectively, with Shaun McCabe leading the line as the central striker. The substitutes for the match included Riley Boyd, Jack Ross, and Leon Bradley.
The match began with Thorn immediately asserting their dominance, as Aidan O'Malley made an early attempt on goal in the third minute, though his effort went wide. However, it was not long before Thorn found the net, with Markus McAuslan scoring the opener in the 21st minute, sending a clear message to their opponents. Just a minute later, Ryan Haigh doubled the lead, showcasing Thorn's relentless attacking style.
The pressure continued to mount on olm, and in the 25th minute, Shaun McCabe added a third goal, further demoralising the visitors. Joe Caldwell then got in on the act, scoring the fourth goal in the 27th minute, before McCabe struck again in the 31st minute, bringing the score to 5-0 before half-time. The referee signalled the end of the first half after 35 minutes, with Thorn firmly in control.
As the second half commenced, Thorn made a couple of tactical substitutions, bringing on Jack Ross and Riley Boyd for Gus Piper and Ryan Haigh respectively. The changes proved effective as McCabe scored his third goal just a minute after the restart, extending the lead to 6-0. In the 52nd minute, McCabe continued his scoring spree, netting his fourth goal of the match.
Further substitutions followed in the 57th minute, with Joe Caldwell returning to the pitch in place of Markus McAuslan, while Elliot Marner replaced Ryan Haigh and Gus Piper came on for Shaun McCabe. The fresh legs injected more energy into Thorn's attack, and in the 64th minute, Gus Piper scored his first goal of the match, followed closely by Caldwell, who also found the net just moments later, making it 9-0.
Shaun McCabe, having been substituted earlier, had already made a significant impact, but it was Piper who struck again in the 68th minute, bringing his tally to two goals. The scoring frenzy concluded with Aidan O'Malley netting the final goal in the 71st minute, sealing a remarkable 12-0 victory for Thorn 2011.
The match was a testament to Thorn's attacking capabilities and tactical execution, leaving olm with little to show for their efforts. The home side's performance will surely be remembered as one of their most dominant displays in recent history.
