Macron NCEL Premier Division- Tuesday 8th September 2026- Kick Off: 7.45pm

Match Report by Cayden Sands

A second half goal from Adam Baskerville confirmed a narrow defeat for Thackley at Dearne & District in the NCEL Premier Division.

The hosts started well, enjoying the game’s early momentum and having some decent chances, but they were unable to capitalise on their opportunities.

Thackley almost took advantage of this after eight minutes when a good ball from Paul Walker found George Birley in the penalty area and set up the young forward for a sliding effort, but this would be claimed by Ellis Pickard.

The tenth minute saw Justin Circuit gain Dearne’s next big opportunity as he used his speed to charge down the wing and into the box before attempting an effort that produced a good save out of Liam Wilson.

Thackley would continue to defend well against an often relentless Dearne forward line and seemed to have an answer for just about everything thrown at them, a point proven after 24 minutes when a long throw in found Jamie Austin in the box, setting him up for what looked like an easy enough goal, but another good stop from Wilson would prevent this.

It would be Dearne that continued to enjoy the majority of the game’s chances, but the Dennyboys weren’t without some glimmers of their own, something proven in the 32nd minute when after another big chance for Circuit was cleared off the line by Dan McDaid, the Thackley counter saw Joe Kell go at it alone with a brilliant solo run, beating his markers and managing to find the space to have a go at goal, though this would be saved by Pickard.

The rest of the half passed by without major chances, but both sides would manage to win plenty of set pieces, proving their importance during the game so far.

The referee would bring the half to a close with the two sides well balanced, but knowing that one good moment could tip the game in either’s favour.

HALF TIME: Dearne & District 0-0 Thackley AFC

The second half would start well for both sides, though it would be the Dennyboys who had the first big chance on the 49 minute mark when a cross from Kell forced Pickard into action as it turned into an effort on goal, with the keeper making a save as a result.

Jordan Kershaw would have Dearne’s first big opportunity soon after with a curling effort that had the better of Wilson, but could only go narrowly wide of the goal, giving Thackley a real let off.

Shortly following this, McDaid would have an attempt at recreating his superb goal against Handsworth with another free kick from a promising position, but this time it would simply be too powerful and go over the bar and out of play.

Dearne grew into the half from here, continuing to push as Thackley had very little of the ball, with this almost paying off after 68 minutes when another throw in found its way into the box before finding a man in a crowded penalty area, with the resulting header hitting the crossbar before being cleared away.

The 71st minute would see Dearne finally get the game’s first goal courtesy of their 66th minute substitution Baskerville, who latched onto a cross and flicked the ball over Wilson with a header, leaving the keeper with little chance of a save as it looped over him and into the net, giving the Dennyboys a big mountain to climb for the rest of the game.

The lead was almost extended five minutes later after the ball found a Dearne man open in the penalty area and with the entire goal in front of him, but he would somehow miss the resulting opportunity, giving Thackley some hope for the remainder of the game.

In the last 15 minutes, Jamie Price’s side would enjoy perhaps their best period of the entire game, particularly when stoppage time arrived.

In this period, the team would win several set pieces and even had a promising effort by Kell deflected away, confirming that the Dearne backline couldn’t quite be broken down.

This allowed the hosts to hold on, with the referee bringing the game to an end with Thackley narrowly defeated after another positive showing.

FULL TIME: Dearne & District 1-0 Thackley AFC

Thackley return to action after a weekend off this Wednesday when they face Parkgate FC at the Meridian Stadium at Dennyfield.

Dearne & District team: Pickard, Durose, Sykes, Skelton, Yates, Kershaw (Baskerville 66’), Guest, Austin, Wilkinson, Circuit.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson, Walters, McDaid, Figurny, Basi, Whelan, Bartkiw (McClare 75’), Brooks, Birley (Owen 75’), Kell, Walker.

Dearne & District scorer: Baskerville (71’)