Thackley AFC 0 V 0 Horbury Town - Match Report

Macron NCEL Premier Division- Wednesday 29th July 2026- Kick Off: 7.45pm

Match Report by Leo Goy

Thackley managed to hit the crossbar and had two disallowed goals, but they failed to take their chances and lacked a final touch, with the side drawing 0-0 with Horbury Town in their second game of the NCEL Premier Division season.

For the home side, Paul Walker and Dan McDaid managed to make the starting 11 for the first time this campaign, with Lewis Sugden and Nathan Hunt making the bench.

Thackley started the game well with Hass Gorji seeing a chance saved from about a yard out, with Alex Washington placing a shot over the bar over shortly after.

The Dennyboys continued to have a good start to the match, with Joe Kell sending a good cross into the path of Gorji , but the shot was saved by Leaping.

Thackley defended well alongside their positive start, with them being able to clear away three corners from Horbury in quick succession.

In what was almost a perfect reward for their good start to the match, Thackley took the lead through Gorji in the 22nd minute, only for it to be pulled back by the linesman for offside.

Thackley managed to sustain the pressure on Horbury, with the side managing to clear their lines.

In the 33rd minute, a strong free kick from
Bobby Isbell made its way across the penalty area, but it was too much for Mick Jones, whose sliding effort went amiss.

In the 39th minute, Isbell attempted a shot of his own making from outside of the box, but it went over the bar.

Horbury striker Joe Jagger then took on a shot from outside of the box, but it narrowly went wide.

In the 44th minute Gorji found himself through on goal, but his shot was saved by Leaping and nothing was able to come from the follow up.

Just before half-time, Kell played a ball over the top which found Hass Gorji , but he only managed to place his shot wide of the mark.

Following this, the referee would blow his whistle to bring the half to an end, with the Dennyboys arguably being the better side in the match so far.

HALF TIME: Thackley AFC 0 V 0 Horbury Town

The second half started very evenly with both sides having limited chances.

In the 56th minute, Horbury made a double change with Jak Mallinson being replaced by Samuel Awty and Keenan David-Mosley being replaced by Smith.

In the 61st minute, Isbell would manage a cracking shot from some distance that curled towards the top right corner, with his attempt hitting the crossbar.

Following this, Gorji picked up the game’s first yellow card for a late challenge on Leaping.
Jamie Price would then make his first change on the 65th minute with Luke Brooks replacing Walker.

Thackley would earn a corner soon after that they opted to make a short one, but it was closed down early by Horbury. The away side would then earn themselves a corner, but this was cleared by the Dennyboys.

In the 67th minute, Isbell played a dangerous ball into the box, but Horbury would do well and managed to put it out for a corner to the Dennyboys, though this was dealt with.

In the 71st minute, Jones would just miss a good chance from a cross out wide before a drive down the wing from Kell afterwards created problems for Horbury, but his cross couldn’t find anyone in the box.

Price then would make a further two changes on the 73rd minute to freshen up his side, with Sugden replacing Olaf Figurny and Reuben Bartkiw replacing Isbell.

The away side came close to taking the lead shortly after the changes with Jay Harris having his attempt headed off the line by the Dennyboys.

In the 81st minute, a cross from Sugden found Gorji, but he couldn’t get a clean attempt at goal, which saw the ball then cleared by Horbury.

Following this, in the 88th minute, Brooks sent the ball across goal to Gorji, who for the second time in the game thought he’d opened the scoring with a good effort, but it was again called offside.

In the 89th minute and shortly following Gorji’s effort, Bartkiw and Brooks would miss a pair of good chances in quick succession.
Horbury would then have a big chance to take the lead of their own, with Lucas Smith hitting the post from distance, before the rebound was dealt with by the Dennyboys.

The fourth official then signalled a minimum of three minutes of added time, giving both sides a chance to win the game.

In the 92nd minute, Brooks would cross the ball to Kell, but his effort would be blocked
Seemingly out of nowhere In the 95th minute, Liam Wilson would find himself facing a one on one with a chance for Horbury to win the game, but he was able to pull off a vital save to his right to keep the Dennyboys’ clean sheet intact.

Despite some late chances from both teams, the game would finish 0-0, with each side picking up a fair point in an exciting affair.

FULL TIME: Thackley AFC 0 V 0 Horbury Town

Price’s side return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to the Young Guns Arena to face Tadcaster Albion, where they will be hoping to pick up a first win of the season up against a tough opposition.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson, Walters, McDaid, Washington, Basi, Figurny (Sugden 73’), Kell, Isbell (Bartkiw 73’), Jones, Gorgi, Walker (Brooks 65’).

Horbury Town team: Leaping, Travis, Playford, Fell, Harris, Angell, Fiern, Davies-Mosley (Smith 56’), Jagger (Cusworth 65’), Lasalire, Mallinson (Awty 56’).