Macron NCEL Premier Division- Saturday 1st August 2026- Kick Off: 3.00pm

Match Report by Cayden Sands

A second half equaliser from Luke Brooks was enough to secure a deserved 1-1 draw for Thackley against Tadcaster Albion.

The game couldn’t have started worse for the Dennyboys, with the hosts taking the lead after just two minutes courtesy of Oliver Green, who got to the ball in a very crowded penalty area before converting the opportunity that presented itself to him, leaving Thackley with it all to do early on.

The team recovered well from this initial setback and were able to create plenty of half chances, though Tadcaster did well to manage these periods of pressure and began to frustrate Thackley to an extent, leading to a first half booking for Kam Basi.

Following a largely quieter period of the game, Thackley had a good chance on 31 minutes after Joe Kell found the ball in space and went on a good solo run before unleashing a decent effort that was dealt with by Alfie Burnett between the sticks.

Chances continued to come for Thackley, with Kell involved again after 36 minutes, taking a Lewis Sugden free kick and playing it down to Hass Gorji, who saw a backheel go just wide.

This was then followed by a header from Mick Jones to the path of Basi, who had an error just miss the mark.

A promising end to the first half wouldn’t yield the goal that the Dennyboys required, meaning the referee’s whistle would bring the half to an end with the hosts ahead thanks to the early effort, and leaving Thackley with some work to do going into the second period.

HALF TIME: Tadcaster Albion 1-0 Thackley AFC

Thackley began the second half as the better side and enjoyed some early opportunities, the first of these being an effort from Gorji that was assisted by Jones, though this only just missed the mark.

Kell would once again make his presence known soon after, having another good chance that was saved and allowed for a Thackley corner.

Following these initial chances, Jamie Price would make the first changes of the game, with Josh Owen replacing Gorji after 58 minutes, before Brooks and Paul Walker would replace Hunt and Jones after 66 minutes.

After a free kick from Sugden was saved on the 67th minute, the substitution pairing of Brooks and Walker would provide an excellent link up for Thackley’s equaliser after 76 minutes.

The latter would receive the ball in a wide area before an excellent cross was headed home by the former, who dashed in order to make sure he got to it, earning a deserved leveller in the process.

Following the leveller, Thackley managed to impose consistent pressure on their opponents, with Basi having a good opportunity soon after the goal that was dealt with by Burnett.

Although the pressure was well sustained and it looked the like Dennyboys would be perhaps able to get the all important winner, this would fail to come to pass.

As added time ticked away, the referee brought the game to a conclusion, confirming a well earned point for Thackley against one of the division’s fancied teams.

FULL TIME: Tadcaster Albion 1-1 Thackley AFC

It’s time for the FA Cup on Saturday as Thackley welcome Albion Sports to the Meridian Stadium at Dennyfield in search of a positive run in the competition.

Tadcaster Albion team: Burnett, Pilkington, Clark, Shepherd, Harris, Gothard, Brown, Clarke-Thompson, Cassama, Owen, Green.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson, Walters, McDaid, Washington, Basi, Sugden (Figurny (78’), Bartkiw, Hunt (Brooks 66’), Jones (Walker 66’), Gorji (Owen 58’), Kell.

Tadcaster Albion scorer: Green (2’)

Thackley AFC scorer: Brooks (76’)