Thackley’s second game following the November lockdown was against local rivals Eccleshill United. The Eagles were just below mid table with thirteen points, this was their first competitive game since October, last weekend they drew with Ossett United in a friendly. Thackley had picked up a point at Maltby last Saturday, after leading 3-1 just after half time, they were disappointed that it was not all three. The three forwards that started that game were unavailable, Chris Lever came in to lead the line along with Adam Muller and Lewis Waddington. Thackley mid field player Mark Trueman was also unavailable, allegedly due to work commitments. The pitch had survived a morning inspection, it was likely to be heavy underfoot.

It was the home side that started the better, an early Ben Grech-Brooksbank shot going over, Alex Marsh saw his cross hit the woodwork and Lewis Waddington’s run ended with the ball in the side netting. Eccleshill skipper, Talent Ndlovu, was the first of the visitors to get off a shot which Luke Wilson dealt with comfortably. A rash Ryan Basi tackle on the half way line earned him the game’s first yellow card as Eccleshill started to see a little bit more of the ball. The game was being played out between the two penalty areas, both defences coping well with any threats. With five minutes of the half remaining, home keeper Hagie Kanteh kept the scores level with a great save. Loz Hunters’ low drive took a deflection and looked to be creeping just inside the post but Kanteh got down to turn the ball away. The save meant there was nothing to separate the teams at the half time break, overall, it had been a pretty even forty five minutes, with just a couple of half chances.

Half time: Thackley 0 Eccleshill United 0.

The first fifteen minutes or so of the second half continued much as the first had finished, most of the game played out in mid field with defences on top. Just before the hour Alex Barnes had a shot which went narrowly wide but it looked the sort of game that would be settled by a single goal. Adam Jones and Asa Mitchell came on for Grech-Brooksbank and Adam Muller before the deadlock was broken. The goal followed a corner on the left, Kanteh came to out to punch clear and the ball fell to Jones, his shot was blocked but Basi was there to slot home. Eccleshill’s reaction to going behind was to start to push forward with a little more endeavour. Thackley’s defence was coping well and the visitors were unable to make any sort of assault on goal. Thackley sent on Owen Murphy for Lewis Waddington as they ran the clock down. A long range effort from Allen Greenwood was all the away side could muster before well into time added on. A tackle, followed by a bit of a scuffle, on the edge of the box resulted in yellow cards for both Jones and Morgan McClusker-Butcher and a free kick in a dangerous position for the visitors. Wilson saved well to ensure Thackley secured the full three points.

Full time: Thackley 1 Eccleshill United 0.

Assistant Manager Joe Brown described the game as a ’scruffy win’, but it was an important one for Thackley and followed last weekend’s point at Maltby. The result will give the team confidence going into the new year and the game against Mansfield at the ‘Thank You Key Workers Stadium’ next Saturday.

Thackley team: Wilson; Marsh; Hunter; Whiteley ©; Basi; Hargreaves; Muller (Mitchell 69 mins); McCusker-Butcher; Lever; Grech-Brooksbank (Jones 67 mins); Waddington (Murphy 84 mins). Unused subs: Brown; Habeeb.

Eccleshill United team: Kanteh; Bleau; Greenwood; Barnes (Softley); Leach; Laird; Ndlovu ©; Bayou; Aldridge (Staunton); Awty; Cissa (Irving). Unused subs: Mohammed; Thornton.

Thackley scorer: Ryan Basi 70 mins.

Referee: Gordon Greaves.

Attendance: 150.

Photo: Thackley goal scorer - Ryan Basi