Macron NCEL Premier Divison – Wednesday 26th August 2026 – Kick Off: 7:45pm 

Match Report by Leo Goy

Thackley suffered a narrow defeat, with the side losing 1-0 against Barton Town in the NCEL Premier Division.

For the home side, new signing Marcel Stepniewski featured in the starting XI. However, Kam Basi didn’t appear in the matchday squad. 

Both sides looked to create a goal-scoring opportunity early on, as in the third minute Barton found space out wide and played a low cross across the box, but a player couldn’t get a touch on it. 

Shortly after, Thackley earned a free kick outside the box, but the visitors managed to clear it away. 

Barton would take an early chance as Aydemir attempted a volley from a cross which landed in the top corner seven minutes into the game to put the visitors in front, giving Thackley a very early setback.

Following this, the Dennyboys made an early attempt to find the equaliser in the 12th minute, but Paul Walker’s shot from the edge of the box went wide of the mark. 

Thackley put pressure on the Barton defence and earned a corner shortly after, but Bobby Isbell played his shot from Walker’s short corner straight into the crowd of Barton players, and the visitors cleared it away. 

In the 19th minute, new signing Stepniewski was played through on goal and did well to chip the goalkeeper, only for it to be called offside by the linesman. 

Barton found Thomas Waudby on the edge of the box, but his attempt went wide of the mark. Following this, there was good play from Reuben Bartkiw for Thackley out wide, and he played a ball to the edge of the box, but it was cleared away. 

Luke Brooks would then win a free kick from just outside the area in the 23rd minute as his very promising attempt hit the crossbar, which nearly gained the equaliser for the home side. 

Thackley continued their search for the equaliser, as Alex Washington attempted an ambitious effort, but his shot went wide of the net before was Stepniewski yet again played through on goal, but the linesman pulled it back for offside. 

Barton earned themselves a corner, but the Dennyboys managed to clear, with them then having their own chance soon after as Bartkiw beat the defender and played a low cross into the box, but the goalkeeper claimed the ball. 

In the 38th minute, the Dennyboys earned a corner that was half cleared before it found Olaf Figurny, but his shot was blocked and cleared away by the visitors. 

A great run from Bartkiw won Thackley a corner in the 43rd minute, and they opted for a short one, but Walker’s shot was saved and cleared away for a further corner to the Dennyboys, but nothing came from it.  

The referee would then blow his whistle for half-time, with Barton leading through an Aydemir goal as the Dennyboys hoped for an improved second half.

HALF TIME: Thackley AFC 0 V 1 Barton Town

The second half started very evenly, with both sides not being able to create any goal-scoring opportunities. 

Isbell found space out wide, but his low cross was cleared by Barton. Thackley then continued to put on the pressure and earned a corner, but the visitors cleared away the set piece. 

Thackley yet again found Isbell out wide, but his cross was cleared. Good play from Walker soon followed in the 61st minute, and he managed to find Brooks, who squared it, but after multiple blocks from Barton, the ball was eventually cleared away. 

Soon after, a ball from out wide found Bartkiw in the box, but his shirt was pulled back, and the referee waved play on.  
Barton attempted an ambitious effort from outside of the box, but it went over the bar. After, the visitors won a free kick, but their effort went wide of the mark. 

Max Davies picked up a yellow card and the first of the game in the 74th minute for committing a late challenge in the centre circle, but Liam Wilson claimed the free kick that followed.

Following this, Isbell played a searching ball for Stepniewski, but the keeper beat him to the ball. 

Thackley had a further attempt to find the equaliser through an ambitious effort from Dan McDaid, but his shot from outside of the box went wide of the mark and behind for a goal kick to the visitors in what proved to be the game’s last big opportunity.

Some strong work at the back for the rest of the game would confirm the victory for the visitors, with the Dennyboys having little in terms of further opportunities.

Despite Thackley having a number of chances throughout the game, the match would finish 1-0 to Barton Town, with the Dennyboys’ frustration that has marred the campaign so far continuing as a result.

FULL TIME: Thackley AFC 0 V 1 Barton Town

Jamie Price’s side return to action on Saturday afternoon when they host Handsworth FC at the Meridian Stadium at Dennyfield, where they look to pick up their first win in the league this season.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson, Walters, McDaid, Washington, Davies, Figurny (Jones 86’), Bartkiw (Corion 72’), Isbell, Stepniewski, Brooks, Walker.

Barton Town team: Cracknell, Aydemir, W. Waudby, Haywood (Norfolk 54’), Papprill, Bulless, T. Waudby (Wood 65’), King, Stephens (Collier 70’), Shepard (Tait 65’), Earl (Stafford 81’). 

Barton Town scorer : Aydemir (8’)