STEVE PALEY describes a disappointing performance from a very much depleted Thackley side.

Their opponents were local rivals Albion Sports, the Dennyboys had beaten them just a couple of weeks ago in a league match. Albion were likely to be gunning for revenge. Thackley had eight players unavailable due to injury or illness for the match, which meant debuts for both Charlie Busby and Joe Keen. The team had a somewhat unusual look about it. I suspect that Albion were suffering a similar crisis, they only named one substitute and that was goalkeeper Aaron Brian who was returning from injury after breaking his fingers some weeks ago.

The hosts were the first to register a shot at goal on seven minutes, Jamie Scott firing over from inside the box after Callum White had headed the ball back to him. Thackley keeper, Ivan Willis saw action for the first time on twelve minutes, neatly plucking Alex Cusack's cross out of the air in front of Delroy Facey. The Dennyboys were looking pretty solid at the back and Luke Hudson thwarted Facey with a timely tackle as he tried to break clear, a couple of minutes later the Albion front man rifled a long range effort goal ward, but Willis saved comfortably. Albion took the lead with a rather soft penalty on twenty one minutes. In trying to head clear, Damian Hopkins misjudged the ball and it struck his arm, Albion skipper, Asif Hussain, stepped up to take the kick and coolly planted it in the bottom corner. Thackley were knocking the ball about well in mid field but were finding it hard to break through the away side's defence. They did manage to get the ball into the box quite a few times but anything knocked in the air was easily cleared by the tall defenders. The away side increased their lead just after the half hour, the Thackley defence failed to deal with a free kick into the area, it was only partially cleared and fell to Facey, he thumped it into the net from the edge of the box. Mike Garrod powered in a cross but no one got to it and Tate Williams blasted over after a good run down the right as the game swung from end to end. Andy Tasker had a shot which cleared the bar just minutes before the referee blew for the break. It had been a disappointing half from Thackley’s point of view, they had more than matched their opponents for possession but Albion had made the most of a couple of defensive slip ups.

HALF-TIME: THACKLEY 0 – 2 ALBION SPORTS

With the second half just a couple of minutes old, Matt Morgan, who was feeling the effects of a bad bout of ‘flu, had to be replaced with Matt Mathers. Williams was the first to threaten, a good run ending with him firing into the side netting. Levi Maturine should have done better following his run down the right but his shot across goal was well wide. The same player then picked up the first yellow card of the game, from the free kick Thackley were unlucky not to score. Hudson's kick into the danger area was knocked back out to White, his shot took a deflection before being cleared off the line. Albion looked dangerous when they did get forward and Facey should have scored but put the ball over from close range following a Williams cross. Thackley were having their best spell of the game and Mathers was making his presence felt up front. They should have halved the deficit on the hour. Hudson hit a high long ball over the defence which bounced just outside the area, Albion keeper, Ashley Onitiri came out, the ball went over his head and was heading for goal but Mathers, who had chased through, caught the stopper and a free kick was given even though the ball was entering the net. Thackley continued to have the majority of the possession but with twenty minutes to go they fell further behind. The speedy Maturine broke away and stroked the ball past the advancing Willis. Thackley made a double substitution, Garrod and Mbire were replaced by Joe Keen and Nathan Woodhead. Maturine scored his second with fifteen minutes remaining, side footing the ball past Willis after Cusack had laid it back to him. Elliott Holmes picked up a yellow for an unfair tackle before Charlie Busby fired over from six yards out following a Hopkins cross. Maturine got his hat trick and Albion's fifth on eighty six minutes, to make it woeful night for the Dennyboys.

I cannot criticise the effort that was put in by any of the Thackley players in this match, they were beaten by a much more experienced and physically stronger team on the night. Five goals somewhat flattered them but there is no doubt they deserved to progress to the next round to face Barnoldswick Town.
Back to league action on Saturday and the relatively short trip to Glasshoughton Welfare. Thackley need some of the absentees from this match to be fit for Saturday, they need a victory to keep them up among the league leaders.

Thackley team: Willis; Tasker; M Morgan (C) (Mathers); Scott; Hudson; Hopkins; White; Whiteley; Garrod (Keen); Busby; Mbire (Woodhead).
Albion Sports team: Onitiri; Holmes; Hussain(C); Williams; Stansfield; Brown; Maturine; Ettienne; Facey; Farquharson; Cusackk. Sub not used : Brian.
Albion Sports scorers: Asif Hussain 21 mins (pen); Delroy Facey 33 mins; Levi Maturine 68, 75 and 86 mins.

Attendance: 74
Referee: Mick Denton