A Paul Walker opener and a brace from Marcel Stepniewski confirmed Thackley’s first win of the league season as the Dennyboys defeated Campion AFC 3-2.

The game’s opening minutes were quiet, with both keepers being left with little to do during a phase of play that saw both sides trying to gain a foothold on the game.

The tenth minute saw the first real opportunity in favour of the visitors when the ball found the feet of Ewan Gregson on the edge of the box and with enough space to test Liam Wilson, but the resulting effort was well collected by the Thackley keeper.

As the half progressed, Campion continued to enjoy the best of the game’s momentum and had the Dennyboys back line working, but they would hold firm as the 20th minute passed by.

Thackley’s strength at the back would be rewarded following the initial pressure as the Dennyboys began to play their best stuff of the game so far and managed to put some real pressure on Campion, but the one thing that this lacked was the opening goal as the game passed the half an hour mark.

The Dennyboys continued to play some good football and were showing some promise, a point proven after 35 minutes when some excellent solo work by Joe Kell saw him whip a promising cross into the box that was intended to find Stepniewski, but the forward couldn’t get to it and it the ball went out of play.

After a small spell of more pressure from the visitors, Thackley regained control and looked the more likely of the teams to score, a fact they took advantage of in the 42nd minute when after an initial Kell effort was saved by Luke Wilson, the ball found the feet of Walker, who scored a fantastic effort with his left foot to give the Dennyboys the advantage just before half time.

The Dennyboys would manage to see the half out from there in good fashion, with the referee bringing it to an end with them ahead thanks to a moment of magic.

HALF TIME: Thackley AFC 1-0 Campion AFC

The second half began with Campion having a quick opportunity with a Rhys Thomas volley that forced Wilson into an excellent save, though it was later pulled back for offside.

Thackley would recover from this and looked like getting themselves some more goals on the score sheet, which they managed in some fashion.

Stepniewski would win the ball from a couple of yards out after 54 minutes before beating Wilson with an effort at his near post.

Just as the supporters had recovered from the first goal, Stepniewski would score a second, this time another low one into the bottom left hand corner, giving the Dennyboys some breathing room in the process.

Campion recovered well after going down by three goals, getting one back on 63 minutes when a set piece would see the ball make its way around the box before finding Malakai Phillip and allowing him the space to get a goal back into an open net, making the game a bit more interesting.

After a slightly quieter spell, Thackley came very close to getting their fourth goal on 72 minutes when some more good footwork by Kell set up Bartkiw in the box, however this opportunity could only go over the bar when Bartkiw was unable to control the ball well enough to get a good connection with it.

The 80th minute would set up an exciting conclusion to the game when following an initial save from Wilson, Shay Muirhead tapped the ball past the keeper, bringing the gap down to one goal.

Shortly after, Muirhead would have another chance, this time being a chipped effort that had the better of Wilson, but it would go just wide and out in a moment of relief for the Dennyboys.

The remainder of the game would pass with some more pressure from the visitors and equally more excellent work at the back from Thackley, with the final whistle confirming their first victory of the league season and giving them some space on the teams at the bottom end of the table.

FULL TIME: Thackley AFC 3-2 Campion AFC

Jamie Price’s team return to the pitch on Tuesday night when they travel to Goldthorpe to face Dearne & District in another important NCEL Premier Division game.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson, Walters, McDaid, Figurny, Basi, Davies, Bartkiw (Whelan 89’), Brooks, Stepniewski, Kell, Walker.

Campion AFC team: Wilson, Pashley (Allsop 66’), Bodle, Nebard (Ferguson 61’), Dickinson, Mitchell, Gregson, Whittingham, Sykes, Thomas, Phillip (Muirhead 63’).

Thackley AFC scorers: Walker (42’), Stepniewski (54’, 56’).

Campion AFC scorers: Phillip (63’), Muirhead (80’).