Rossington Main 0 V 1 Thackley AFC: Match Report

Macron Northern Counties East League Premier Division- Tuesday 5th August- Kick-Off: 7:45 PM

Match Report by Cayden Sands

Nathan Hunt’s first half stoppage time volley helped secure Thackley’s first away victory of the season against Rossington Main on Tuesday night.

Both sides began the game in a lively fashion, with the first of the game’s chances coming in the 15th minute in favour of the Dennyboys after a flick on from Paul Walker inside the box fell to the feet of Luke Brooks, who had a powerful effort at goal that was ultimately deflected and eventually cleared away from the area.

The Dennyboys would continue to be on top after this, creating a number of half chances and keeping the entire Rossington backline on its toes, with the team also doing well to consistently keep possession throughout what was proving to be a very exciting first half.

The hosts would have a big opportunity of their own after 35 minutes when the ball came into the box and got involved with a number of Rossington bodies, but Thackley’s defence stood strong to prevent a big challenge to Liam Wilson’s goal and clear the ball away.

The Dennyboys continued to show promise going forward and looked the more likely of the two teams to score as the game approached half time.

This confidence would be rewarded right before the whistle when a ball into the box was flicked on and into the path of Hunt, who unleashed a well taken first time volley that had the beating of Jordan Greaves and sailed into the bottom right hand corner to give Thackley a deserved lead.

The end of the half would come soon after this, with Jamie Price’s team firmly in the ascendency and looking eager to extend their advantage.

HALF-TIME: Rossington Main 0-1 Thackley AFC

The second half began in a similarly frantic manner to the first, though the Dennyboys were forced into an early substitution after Tom Parkinson was taken off injured, with Alfie Gibbon replacing him.

Following this substitution, the ball would be floated into the box by Rossington, with this leading to a scramble on the goal line in which the hosts seemed certain to score, but some incredible defending and a real showing of determination from Thackley meant their lead stayed intact, with the ball being cleared away.

The Dennyboys would then counter from this, earning a throw in that was sent into the box by Keenan Mannings before Brooks gained a hold of it, with his effort going over the bar.

Another opportunity would come in the 65th minute when Walker did very well to outmuscle his marker on the wing before playing the ball to Hass Gorji, whose shot from a wide angle was saved and sent out for a corner.

The biggest moment of the second half for Thackley would come in the 76th minute when after receiving the ball, Alex Washington had a shot at goal from well outside the area that dipped up and over the Rossington defence before beating the keeper and ricocheting off the crossbar and seemingly into the net, but much to the surprise of everyone in the ground, the goal wasn’t given, adding another element of pressure to the game’s remaining minutes.

This wouldn’t stop the Dennyboys however, with the likes of Gorji and Mannings both having chances not long after this that tested Greaves, before Brooks had an opportunity in the 89th minute after an assist from Gorji, but he was unable to convert it.

A long stoppage time period would then begin as Thackley soaked up an abundance of pressure from the hosts, with their resilience taking them to the end of the game and securing an excellent result on the road, much to the joy of the travelling supporters.

FULL-TIME: Rossington Main 0-1 Thackley AFC

The team will now have time to rest and regroup before their next game, in which they host newly promoted side Horbury Town at the Meridian Stadium at Dennyfield on Saturday.

Rossington Main team: Greaves; Murillo; Sutton; Langton; Hough; Sherburn; Prior; Suleiman; Mantle; King; Bowes.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson; Hindle; McClarin; Washington (Parker 90’); Morgan; Brooks (Owen 90’) ; Parkinson (Gibbon 51’) ; Mannings; Gorji; Hunt (Basi 90+4’); Walker.

Thackley AFC scorer: Hunt (45+ 1 Mins’)