INTRODUCTION

Thackley AFC welcomed Guiseley AFC to Dennyfield for the penultimate game of pre-season as the team stepped up final preparations before the start of the 2023-24 NCEL season.

Last week, the two teams had met in a behind closed door friendly which had resulted in a 1-1 draw between the two sides. This time around the Northern Premier League, Premier Division opposition came out on top in a 6-1 victory, with the Lions showing that extra sharpness which a side from 2 divisions above have. It was another good test though against once again higher league opposition, with Thackley AFC playing some good stuff in spells, as the first game of the season on 29 July is fast approaching.

TEAM NEWS:

As always with pre-season there were more changes for Thackley AFC from the Ilkley Town AFC victory on Saturday that also brought along a slight change of shape from the co-management team. Mark Everingham came in for Connor Bell at right-back; Matty Dempsey came back into the starting line-up replacing Corey Billy; Harry Parsons was replaced by Dec Parker and Aidan Chippendale replaced Trialist B who started on the left-hand side allowing Asa Mitchell to start further inside, featuring almost as a second-striker.

This left the starting line-up for Thackley AFC as:

1 Luke Wilson (GK); 2 Mark Everingham; 3 Ben McCready; 4 Dec Parker; 5 Liam Hudson; 6 Matty Dempsey; 7 Ben Ellison-Tope; 8 Joe Mitchell; 10 Asa Mitchell; 11 Aidan Chippendale; 17 Trialist A (who once again featured as a striker).

Guiseley AFC XI:

1 Danny Taberner (GK); 2 Aiden Walker; 3 Reece Kendall; 4 Prince Ekpollo; 5 Jameel Ible; 6 Courtney Meppern-Walters; 7 Tom Pratt; 8 Bailey Conway; 9 Tom Denton; 10 Liam Tongue; 11 Callum Chippendale.

KICK OFF

Thackley AFC found themselves applying early pressure to the Guiseley AFC backline as Asa Mitchell used his positional freedom well to flick the ball past Reece Kendall down the right before being fouled winning a free-kick wide on the right 35 yards from goal. Chippendale stepped up to take the set piece as his cross was cleared up in the air by the Guiseley AFC defenders before landing with Matty Dempsey just inside the penalty area on the left but his volley went wide of the far post. It had been a strong start for Thackley AFC.

Guiseley AFC were quick to respond by going up the other end with a chance of their own as Meppern-Walters played a piercing ball through the Thackley defence and midfield from in his own half. McCready slid in from the edge of the area in an attempt to intercept the pass, however he couldn’t quite reach the ball before Tom Platt chased the ball to the byline. Platt latched onto the pass and lifted it over Wilson high to the back post where 6 feet 5 inches Tom Denton unsurprisingly towered over Matty Dempsey and Mark Everingham to nod home and give the visitors the lead.

GOAL - Guiseley AFC - Tom Denton (5’) Thackley AFC 0-1 Guiseley AFC

Guiseley AFC doubled their lead just a few moments later as Platt chased down a bouncing ball 20 yards from the Thackley AFC goal following a flick on from first goal scorer Tom Denton, a tactic that was used frequently throughout the game for Guiseley AFC. Wilson came out to close the angle down as Platt beat the Thackley AFC defenders to the loose ball and Platt calmly lifted the ball over the head of the goal keeper and it nestled into the far-right corner.

GOAL - Guiseley AFC - Tom Platt (9’) Thackley AFC 0-2 Guiseley AFC

15 minutes into the game Guiseley AFC were forced into a substitution as the injured Meppern-Walters was replaced by Trialist A. The Lions quickly followed with a third goal of the game as the ball found its way Conway on the right-hand side and he whipped it from just outside the of the corner of the penalty area and Tom Denton arrived at the back post to finish back across the goal beyond the dive of Wilson.

GOAL - Guiseley AFC - Tom Denton (15’) Thackley AFC 0-3 Guiseley AFC

Thackley AFC then settled into the game and created themselves a flurry of half chances but were unable to capitalise as Ellison-Tope worked his way into the penalty area and picked up the ball but Taberner rushed out of the Guiseley AFC goal quickly to pounce on a heavy touch. Into the 20th minute Matty Dempsey turned brilliantly under pressure but couldn’t quite find the run of Asa Mitchell in behind as the pass ran through to Taberner. The best passage of play for Thackley AFC came 5 minutes later as Chippendale and Everingham combined well after Chippendale switched to the right wing and Everingham drove beyond the Guiseley back line and managed to win a throw-in by the corner flag.

Guiseley AFC then showed the higher league class they hold again and responded by adding a fourth to their first half total when another long ball went up towards to Denton who nodded the ball down into the path of C. Chippendale who broke through the Thackley AFC back line. Wilson came out well to close the angle and looked to have made the save but the effort nestled into the far corner.

GOAL - Guiseley AFC - C. Chippendale (30’) Thackley AFC 0-4 Guiseley AFC

Towards the end of the half Thackley AFC started to properly impose themselves when Chippendale skipped past his marker well and drove into space down the right before being clipped from behind 30 yards from goal but his free-kick struck the wall in the 32nd minute.
The pressure continued as Ellison-Tope tracked back well to steal the ball away from the Guiseley AFC right-back turned quickly and cut inside towards the left of the penalty area but his shot drifted wide of the far post. The final chance of the half came from Thackley AFC building from defence and passing through Dempsey, Parker and J. Mitchell before Chippendale cut inside on his left foot but his shot from 20 yards was blocked.

HALF TIME - Thackley AFC 0-4 Guiseley AFC

A half in which Thackley AFC struggled to get a hold of the game against the higher-level opposition but also one in which Guiseley were clinical and finished most of the chances that came their way.

SECOND HALF
There were no changes for either side at the break as the teams came out for the second half.

Guiseley AFC got the half going early when Trialist A received the ball high on the left and his deflected cross bounced around the penalty area before Guiseley AFC captain Liam Tongue finished low through a sea of bodies from the penalty spot.

GOAL - Guiseley AFC - Tongue (49’) Thackley AFC 0-5 Guiseley AFC

Guiseley AFC then rung the changes as Ekpolo, Denton, C.Chippendale, Platt, Walker, Tongue, and Ible were replaced periodically between 50-60 minutes by Dyche, Sorhaindo as well as trialists B,C,D,E and F.

Guiseley AFC then added their 6th and final goal of the match in the 65th minute. Thackley AFC tried to build from the back but a loose ball was picked up by Jack Dyche who managed to evade the last-ditch tackle of Connor Bell, who had replaced Mark Everingham, and broke through on goal to slot past Luke Wilson’s replacement Trialist goalkeeper.

GOAL - Guiseley AFC - Jack Dyche (65’) Thackley AFC 0-6 Guiseley AFC

The final goal of the game came from Thackley AFC’s Kieran Haigh who worked tirelessly down the right in his 30-minute spell and capitalised at the back post with a header. Ellison-Tope did fantastic down the left wing to beat two men and put a dangerous cross into the box, which Haigh finished well with a strong header past the Guiseley AFC keeper.

GOAL - Thackley AFC - Kieran Haigh (67’) Thackley AFC 1-6 Guiseley AFC

The game then petered out in an uneventful 25 minutes as both teams contended with the high number of substitutes made and the heavier than normal summer pitch given the rain most of the day and evening. Thackley AFC continued to try push forward but were being restricted by the Lions to efforts from range.

FULL TIME: Thackley AFC 1-6 Guiseley AFC

Everyone at Thackley AFC thanks Guiseley AFC for their participation in this friendly match in front of a bumper crowd of over 200 on a cold and wet Tuesday night, and wishes the local side good look going into the season ahead. Thank you to everyone who came to support.

In terms of Thackley AFC, it was another good test against higher league opposition, with some players now starting to complete 90 minutes as fitness is being finalized for that all important date of 29 July 2023. There are a number of players that the Dennyboys are still waiting to return to full fitness and there is one more opportunity for players to impress with the final pre-season friendly on Saturday 22 July 2023 (3pm KO) against Northwich Victoria.