In a remarkable display of attacking football, Thorn 2011 triumphed over W Academy with a staggering scoreline of 9-1 in their cup home match held on 26 April 2025. The match, which kicked off at 1:30pm, showcased Thorn's dominance throughout the 70 minutes of play, leaving their opponents struggling to keep pace.
Thorn 2011 lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, designed to maximise their attacking potential while maintaining a solid defensive structure. Liam Curivan was stationed in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Elliot Marner on the right, James Welsh and Lewis Meikle as central defenders, and Dylan Crombie on the left. The midfield trio featured Joe Caldwell on the right, Aidan O'Malley in the centre, and Gus Piper on the left, providing both support in attack and stability in defence. Up front, Ryan Haigh and Shaun McCabe occupied the right and left forward positions respectively, with Markus McAuslan leading the line as the central striker. The substitutes for the match included Jack Ross, Dan Wilson, Riley Boyd, and Leon Bradley.
The scoring opened in the 18th minute when Markus McAuslan found the back of the net, setting the tone for what would become a one-sided affair. Thorn's relentless pressure paid off again in the 35th minute, as Shaun McCabe doubled the lead just before half-time, leaving W Academy reeling as the teams headed into the break.
Immediately after the interval, Thorn continued their assault. Just a minute into the second half, Joe Caldwell added a third goal, capitalising on the disarray in the W Academy defence. The 37th minute saw a flurry of activity, with Jack Ross and Dan Wilson introduced to the fray, replacing Aidan O'Malley and Markus McAuslan respectively. In quick succession, Shaun McCabe scored his second goal, followed closely by Ryan Haigh, who also found the net, and then McCabe completed his hat-trick, all within the same minute, bringing the score to an astonishing 6-0.
W Academy managed to pull one back in the 51st minute with a penalty, but Thorn's response was immediate and decisive. Dan Wilson restored the six-goal cushion just three minutes later, scoring in the 48th minute. Further substitutions saw Leon Bradley and Riley Boyd come on for Gus Piper and Joe Caldwell, respectively, as Thorn looked to maintain their momentum.
Shaun McCabe's impressive performance continued as he netted his fourth goal in the 56th minute, further extending Thorn's lead. Aidan O'Malley re-entered the match, replacing McCabe, while Markus McAuslan returned to the pitch in place of Ryan Haigh in the 56th minute, as Thorn continued to rotate their squad.
In the latter stages, Joe Caldwell capped off the scoring for Thorn with his second goal in the 69th minute, bringing the final score to 9-1. The match concluded with Thorn 2011 firmly in control, showcasing their attacking prowess and tactical superiority over W Academy, who struggled to contain the relentless onslaught. James Welsh's commanding presence in defence earned him the Player of the Match accolade, as he played a pivotal role in ensuring Thorn's victory was as emphatic as it was deserved.
