No matter what the result, Stockton Town could not lose yesterday.

It may have been Thatcham Town who were celebrating at full-time and walked away with the FA Vase trophy, yet Stockton were winners too.

This is a club that was did not have a men’s team ten years ago, that was in the Wearside League two years ago, that lost their first nine games of the season.

Nobody back in August was predicting they would follow Whitley Bay, Dunston UTS, Spennymoor Town, North Shields, Morpeth and South Shields in winning the big one come May.

The Northern League has dominated this competition over the past decade, yet Stockton were not one of the North-East sides fancied to reach Wembley, and they’re not one of the heavily-financed clubs of the region.

So contesting the Vase final is an achievement in itself, gracing the home of football with around 4,000 proud Teessiders travelling en-masse to see their team take on a Thatcham side that had won the Hellenic League by scoring 129 goals.

Only one was needed to separate the sides, Shane Cooper-Clark scoring a first-half penalty after Jordan Brown had been felled by James Ward, who is one of the many Stockton players who have played in the club’s youth section.

Around half of yesterday’s squad at one time played for one of the Anchors’ junior teams.

The club has a strong commitment to their youth set-up and plenty of youngsters decked out in yellow and blue were among the travelling contingent.

They were in good voice throughout, at kick-off proudly chanting “Stockton high street is wider than yours”.

They did not get a goal to cheer, however, their team only coming to life in the second half following a largely lacklustre first 45 minutes for Stockton.

Thatcham left-back Curtis Angell let Stockton’s young winger Kevin Hayes let him know he was going to have a tough game with a crunching challenge, and not long after Hayes switched wings.

The first shot saw Thatcham’s Ekow Elliott cutting inside from the left and shooting well wide during a largely scrappy beginning, the players perhaps showing signs of nerves.

Stockton looked less confident than the opposition, more nervous. After all, a pressure comes with being a Northern League team in the final of the Vase and a proud record to maintain.

On 21 minutes came Stockton’s first chance, striker Fred Woodhouse – another former club junior - lobbing Thatcham goalkeeper Chris Rackley who had advanced off his line, but a defender got back to clear the danger before Stockton’s Chris Stockton could convert.

Never has a player had a more appropriate name, and it was Stockton’s Stockton who scored a hat-trick in the 4-3 second qualifying round win over Consett back in September.

A seven-goal thriller never looked on the cards yesterday, it was too tense, there was more graft than quality on show, with the only goal coming midway through the first half.

Cooper-Clark rammed home from the spot his 62nd goal of the season, through goalkeeper Michael Arthur almost saved it but there was enough power on the kick to see it cross the line.

Frustratingly for Stockton, Brown had clearly been looking to win the penalty, leaping in front of Ward to draw the foul and referee John Brooks bought it.

Striker Jamie Owens, so often the team’s man for the big moment, was unable to make a big impression, left isolated for too long. He attempted to bulldoze his way into the Thatcham box, leaving Tom Moran trailing in his wake as he burst down the right and headed for goal, but Moran recovered and stuck in a leg as Owens was about to shoot.

There were no personnel changes at half-time, though with the sun unrelenting Stockton boss Micky Dunwell did shed his suit in favour of t-shirt and shorts.

And with the second period came more impetus from Stockton.

It was almost 1-1 on 47 minutes, Nathan Mulligan playing the ball across for Stockton who took a touch and beat the keeper, but Angell got back to clear.

Owens went close. A couple of step-overs on the edge of the area bamboozled Baboucarr Jarra, but the resulting shot rolled wide to the frustration of the travelling fans.

Thatcham always looked like they could fashion a goalscoring opportunity, however, and it should have been 2-0 on the hour. The dangerous Elliott dribbled down the touchline and played the ball to the near post where Gavin James’ touch was poor and the chance was gone.

With Elliott enjoying himself too much on the left, Dunwell sent on Matthew Garbutt for right-back Joe Carter, yet the substitute’s first involvement was to race down the right and cross for Owens, but he could not reach the delivery and the chance was wasted and more time ticked away.

Thatcham thought they had scored again on 66 minutes when James’ shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced on the line. While there was no VAR in action, replays cleared showed the ball had not crossed the line, much to Stockton’s relief.

“Tee, Tee, Teessiders,” chanted the Stockton fans, and with the clocking ticking it was soon time to throw the kitchen sink at Thatcham with centre-back Adam Nicholson thrown on up front and in the closing stages they gave it a real go.

There was agony for Stockton when Dale Mulligan, brother of former Darlington player Nathan, had a blast blocked on the line by Jarra.

Owens cut a frustrated figure when a ball from the right flashed between himself and the goal, too far away to get a touch on it.

Stockton got bodies forward, they worked up a head of steam, they won corners, their fans were getting behind them and it looked like they might grab a dramatic equaliser.

They should have done too. Dale Mulligan headed over in the 89th minute when unmarked. It was a free header, and one he will have run through his mind again and again on the way home from Wembley. 

It will not have been an enjoyable journey home, but the road to Wembley was nothing but a thrilling ride for Stockton who can be proud of their efforts as a team and club to have reached the FA Vase final.

Matchfacts

Goal: Cooper-Clark pen (23, 0-1)

Bookings: Woodhouse (47, dissent), Ward (51, persistent infringements)

Referee: John Brooks 8

Stockton Town: Arthur 7; Carter 6 (Garbutt 61, 7), D Mulligan 7, Coulthard 7, Risborough 7; Ward 7 (Nicholson 79), N Mulligan 7, Stockton 6 (Coleman 67, 6), Woodhouse 6, Hayes 6; Owens 6. Subs (not used): Cossavella, Dunwell

Thatcham Town: Rackley 6; Brownhill 6, Jarra 7, Moran 7, Angell 7; Brown 7 (Johnson 70), Bayley 6, Mellewdew 7 (James 83), Elliott 7; James 7, Cooper-Clark 7 (Cook 79). Subs (not used): Grant, Thomas

MAN OF THE MATCH

BABOUCARR JARRA – The giant defender was a rock for Thatcham