THIS was a strange game to say the least. The Rochdale team came into this National Conference Premier clash seeking points for a play-off position while the Trojans arrived desperate for a win to pull clear of relegation.
Add to the mix several cards while the game took a series of twists and turns before ending in stalemate.
In the first half Mayfield struggled to achieve cohesion and their cause was not helped early on as two players were sent to the sin-bin.
First to be yellow-carded was Komah Navmatua after five minutes. Thornhill made a good break, after Richard Pachniuk created an opening, before Liam Morley kicked forward and Johnny Campbell continued the move. As Campbell headed to the line the referee felt Navmatua was guilty of an off-the-ball challenge.
Three minutes later a flare-up near a touchline ended with Danny Chrimes sin-binned for alleged punching but despite the setbacks Mayfield took the lead when Grant Bithel kicked a penalty after a high tackle.
Thornhill failed to capitalised on the sin-binned players and rued missed attempts at goal, however, they stuck to the task and took advantage of some disjointed play.
Mayfield's tormentor was man-of-the-match Pachniuk, who produced a vintage display, gaining vital ground with a series of darting runs from acting half and also put on a display of precision passing. Thornhill's first try was created by Pachniuk as his deft pass sent winger Michael Stewart charging 20 yards for an unconverted try.
Another Pachnuik pass created Thornhill's second try. With play close to the line, Pachniuk picked up from acting half, ignored the obvious attacking line, and picked out the charging Anthony Harris, who went over between the posts. James Craven converted.
On the stroke of half-time Thornhill again pressed with substitute Danny Lee in the thick of things. Richard Bostock flipped the ball to winger Stewart for his second unconverted try.
Dyson added further points with a penalty and at half-time Thornhill were delighted with their efforts but fully aware that, with the slope in their favour, Mayfield would come out a different side.
Five minutes into the second half Mayfield took advantage of a missed tackle and slick passing to rip Thornhill apart before Bithel touched down between the posts and he then converted.
Thornhill's failure to clear a kick resulted in a back-to-one situation. Mayfield pressed and a fine pass to the corner found Carl Abraham who went over. Bithel converted.
A penalty from Bithel levelled the scores and Dyson then regained the lead with a drop-goal before a clearing kick on the last tackle saw Dyson late-tackled by Ryan Douglas and he was shown the red card.
Pachniuk exploited a hole in the defence and sent Campbell over for an unconverted try before Thornhill were reduced to 10 men inside six minutes. First James Folan was sin-binned for deliberate offside while Scott Green followed for a high tackle and four minutes from time Lee was shown a red card for an alleged high tackle.
Mayfield's extra men paid dividends as Chris Brett ploughed under a pile of defenders to score. Bithel converted to give Mayfield a one-point lead before one last throw of the dice saw Pachniuk slot over a drop-goal.