Thackley travelled to the Myrings Stadium on Saturday to face Knaresborough Town, with the need of a positive performance and result after the heavy defeat last time out against Frickley Athletic.

Manager Jamie Price made a number of changes to that side, with experienced centre back James Knowles making his debut alongside Harvey Coates, and Mason Wilson and Harry Green coming into the starting XI in place of Alfie Gibbon, Luke Brooks and Hass Gorji who all started on the bench.

The Dennyboys were quickly into their stride following kick-off and almost made the perfect start inside two minutes. Toby Marriott was played into the box and appeared to be brought down with a double arm rugby tackle, but despite strong appeals for a penalty the referee waved play on.

The early tempo settled as both sides looked to establish control in midfield. On 15 minutes, Harry Green was shown a yellow card for a late challenge, and moments later Thackley faced another setback when Green was himself caught by a high tackle from the home side by Beaston, forcing a lengthy stoppage for treatment and a yellow card for the Knaresborough Town midfielder.

With Green walking an early disciplinary tightrope and having been on the end of a heavy challenge himself, manager Jamie Price made an early tactical change on 31 minutes, replacing him with Alfie Gibbon.

As the game became a challenging match between the two sides the home side hit the back of the net first on 36 minutes through Jack Dyche. Thackley had an attacking free kick which was sent into the box and headed back into a dangerous area. The home side cleared though and Dyche was played through with a clever through ball, racing through on goal and finishing a quick counter-attack past Liam Wilson.

Thackley responded positively and were rewarded just before the interval with the equalising goal. On 42 minutes, Harvey Coates delivered a superb ball forward to Alex Washington down the line, who held off his marker and drove into the area where he unselfishly squared for Marriott to tap home, ensuring the sides went into the break level.

HALF TIME: Knaresborough Town 1-1 Thackley AFC

Thackley emerged strongly after the restart and were again left frustrated by officiating decisions when a second penalty appeal on Marriott was waved away early in the half. Marriott had been played through in the box and it looked like he was going to have his second of the afternoon, before a sliding tackle appeared to take him out from behind. The referee again waved away the strong appeals for a penalty.

Lewis Sugden picked up a booking on 51 minutes for a challenge in the left back area stopping a Knaresborough attack , and moments later Liam Wilson produced a huge save at close range to keep the scoreline level.

The Dennyboys began to assert themselves from this point, breaking quickly on 54 minutes with Tom Parkinson seeing his effort blocked following a sharp counter-attack. Marriott continued to trouble the Knaresborough defence, winning a corner on 59 minutes. From a corner a few minutes later, debutant James Knowles was arriving at the back post and looked certain to score. The Knaresborough defender did just enough to knock him off his stride, with Knowles seeing his header go wide of the post, but on the descent and when off balance he had a nasty clash of heads with Dyche of the home side. Both players laid prone for some time, with the physios on doing their work.

After a lengthy stoppage, and with both players thankfully back on their feet but with cut heads and feeling groggy, the decision was made that both players would be substituted.

That saw Thackley freshen things up with Luke Brooks and Thomas Whelan introduced in place of the injured Knowles and Parkinson.

The Dennyboys eventually took a deserved lead on 73 minutes. A ball from the left from Paul Walker found Alex Washington, who in turn fed Luke Brooks. Brooks did well to hold off the defender, and managed to thread the ball to Washington. He did a great piece of skill on the edge of the box and unleashed a left footed strike into the top left corner of the net to give Thackley the advantage.

Thackley nearly extended their lead three minutes later when Washington showed superb skill to flick the ball over a defender and release Marriott into the left side of the box, only for a last-ditch tackle to deny a certain goal.

Thackley all but sealed the points on 83 minutes adding a further goal. Brooks was released over half way and he did well to find Paul Walker on the right side of the box. Walker floated a cross to the back post, where Marriott’s powerful header hit the foot of the post, and Brooks reacted quickest to slide in and turn the rebound into the net.

In the closing stages, Paul Walker showcased his pace down the flank and almost added a fourth, before substitutions saw Hass Gorji and Josh Owen introduced late on to see out the game, with both winning vital duels in the final third to see the game out including 10 minutes of stoppage time given the period of the game where Knowles and Dyche were receiving treatment.

FULL TIME: Knaresborough Town 1-3 Thackley AFC

A fantastic response from Thackley after falling behind, with goals from Marriott, Washington and Brooks securing a well-deserved away victory. A strong team performance was backed by outstanding support from the travelling faithful, who once again made themselves heard throughout the afternoon.

We thank all the supporters for turning up in numbers and hope the players , staff and some of the supporters enjoyed the annual Christmas jumper night out and celebrations around Knaresborough Pubs and beyond. 

Knaresborough Town team: Hall, Barker, Powis, Beaston, Cook, Thirkell, Dyche, Leverett, Gelder, Barker, Barnes.
Subs: Barnard, Knight, Meaking, Zachariou, Parkes.

Thackley AFC team: L.Wilson, M.Wilson, Parkinson (Brooks 68'), Sugden, Knowles (Whelan 67'), Coates, Green (Gibbon 31’), Mannings, Marriott, Washington (Owen 90+3), Walker (Gorji 90+1).
Unused subs: None

Knaresborough Town scorer:: Dyche (36')

Thackley AFC scorers: Marriott (43'); Washington (73'); Brooks (85').

Photo Credit: @Craig_Dinsdale on X/Twitter