After four consecutive postponements, Thackley were back in competitive league action on Saturday facing Bottesford Town, who came into the game 9 points behind Thackley in the league table. It was an opportunity for Thackley to put further daylight between themselves and the relegation places, and was the first competitive game under the new Joint Management Team of Tom Greaves and Danny Forrest. There was four changes to the starting lineup from the game against Goole. Wilson replaced Bradbury in goal after injury, Attakorah replaced Greaves which meant Grech-Brooksbank starting again as the number 9, Captain Steve Crawford returned and Simon Poole dropped to the bench and finally there was a debut for Sam Nicholson (signed from Guiseley in the week on a dual registration basis) in central defence, replacing the suspended Lewis Morgan. Mark Everingham and Harry Parsons also signed since the last game took their places on the bench.

The Thackley team were led out by the Thackley Juniors mascots on the day, and it was Crawford who had the first real effort on 7 mins as he hit a shot from the edge of the area which Quibell in the visiting goal saved on 7 mins. Shortly after Hargreaves put in a deep cross which was headed behind for a Thackley corner. Chippendale took the corner which hit the front near post and bounced out. On 10 mins, Wilson made his first save as Joe Simpson hit a volley from the edge of the area but Wilson watched it all the way. On 13 mins, a quick free kick almost caught Thackley out when a deep cross almost found the full back Neary at the back post, but Attakorah had tracked his run and did just enough to put him off and Neary headed over. On 18 mins, there were chances for both sides as both Sinfield and then Chippendale had shots blocked as the yellow shirts put bodies on the line. Moments later, Bacon was played through one on one with Wilson but the Thackley keeper came out and saved well.

On 20 mins Chippendale did well to win the ball back on the right wing as he took the ball off of Bryant. He cut inside and hit a shot which was heading for the bottom corner but Quibell again got across to save. On 27 mins Chippendale would have another effort, this time from a free kick on the edge of the area won for handball. He went for the near post top corner but his effort was saved. It had been an even start to the game in the first 30 mins, but Thackley would start to get on top and take the game away from the Poachers.

On 41 mins, Sinfield picked up the ball on the left wing and he went around the full back. As he drove into the box he hit an effort across goal which seemed to take a deflection and ended up in the back of the net to give Thackley they lead. (1-0 (41mins)). Thackley would double that lead on the stroke of half time as Chippendale took a corner which evaded everyone and found the far back corner of the net. (2-0 (45mins)).

Half time: Thackley AFC 2 v 0 Bottesford Town

Thackley started the second half and immediately were on the attack again. Grech-Brooksbank had already had one effort close straight after the restart, but he did get his goal a few moments later. Mitchell had the ball in the middle of the pitch and he played the ball out wide to Parker who had overlapped on the right wing. He put a low ball in which Grech-Brooksbank flicked goalwards. Quibell appeared to save, but it came back to Grech-Brooksbank who finished from close range. (3-0 (47mins)). Thackley would make it a dream start to the second half as Sinfield got his second of the game. A loose back pass from the Bottesford Town defender saw Sinfield beat the keeper to the ball who he went around, and walked the ball into an empty net. (4-0 (50mins)). On 57 mins, Chippendale picked up the ball centrally after good work by Grech-Brooksbank and fired a shot wide.

On 61 mins, Bottesford Town looked to try regain a foothold in the game as they pulled a goal back, Simpson heading in at the back post from a deep cross to give the Poachers some hope. (4-1 (61mins)). That hope was again extinguished a few minutes later as Chippendale got his second of the game. A ball made its way to him at the back post, and he showed good composure to dink the ball over the defender and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. (5-1 (65mins)). That meant a double substitution as Greaves and Parsons, the latter making his debut, replaced Grech-Brooksbank and Attakorah.

On 69 mins, Chippendale completed his hat trick. A long ball over the top saw Greaves in a foot race to the ball with the keeper Quibell. Quibell got to the ball first and headed away to Chippendale in the middle of the pitch. He steadied himself and floated the ball over the defenders who had got back into the empty net, evading the punch of the diving defender who picked up a yellow card for trying to keep the ball out of the net. (6-1 (69mins)). That goal prompted another double change as McCready and Everingham replaced Parked and Hargreaves with changes at both full back areas, with further debuts being made. On 74 mins, the final Thackley change came as Poole replaced Mitchell in central midfield.

On 81 mins, Sinfield would also complete his hat trick. He had done well in the box before being taken down. He took the ball himself and finished into the bottom left corner. (7-1 (81mins)). On 87 mins, the Poachers would get another goal back as Simpson was played in down the right hand channel, and he hit an effort across Wilson which went in off the far left post. On 88 mins, Thackley would almost (and probably should have) scored an 8th, as Crawford hit a shot from the edge of the area from a corner which was going in, just for a defender to somehow keep it out. A goal mouth scramble followed with the ball spilling wide of the post.

The referee blew for full time after 2 minutes of stoppage time to give Thackley the three points on the day.

Full time: Thackley AFC 7 v 2 Bottesford Town

Thackley running out comfortable winners in the end despite the first goal not coming until the 41st minute. Thackley showed two sides to the game, digging in for the first third when Bottesford Town were having their own spells of pressure, and showing the quality once being able to take the lead. Two players with hat tricks, seven goals and three points is a dream start for the new Joint Management Team. Thackley stay in 15th position, but have closed the gap on those in the table directly above and have put further daylight between those at the bottom of the table.

Thackley are back at Dennyfield Tuesday night as we play Penistone Church in another league match (7.45pm KO), being the game re-arranged from 10 January 2023.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson; Parker (Everingham 70mins); Hargreaves (McCready 70mins); Mitchell (Poole 74mins); Haigh; Nicholson; Attakorah (Parsons (66mins); Crawford©; Grech-Brooksbank (Greaves 66 mins); Sinfield; Chippendale. Unused subs: None.

Bottesford Town team: Quibell; Neary; Bryant; Webster; Johnstone; King; Southern; Gashi; Bacon; Simpson; Thompson. Subs: Ayris; Thomas; McKinley.

Thackley AFC Scorers: Sinfield (41mins; 50mins; 81mins), Chippendale (45mins; 65mins; 69mins), Grech-Brooksbank (47mins)
Bottesford Town Scorers: Simpson (61mins; 87 mins).

Attendance: 158

Man of the Match: Frankie Sinfield

Photo Credit: Martin Taylor