Thackley travelled to Grimsby to take on Cleethorpes Town in their first away league game of the season on Saturday. They were expecting a tough game, The Owls finished third in the league last season and make no secret that being champions is this season’s goal. The absence of the experienced Craig Bentham, Paul Whiteley and Ryan Farrell, gave an opportunity for youngsters, Jordan Rouse and Kyle Willis to make their Thackley debuts.

The opening fifteen minutes or so was an end to end affair, both sides carving out half chances. Callum Marshall headed over following an Aohden Brownlee cross for Thackley before Kris Hargreaves was on hand to stop Marc Cooper’s flick from going over the line at the other end. Brownlee fired over coming in from the left and Luke Mascall was wide with his long range effort. The game was pretty even at this stage but Thackley were starting to create a little more than the home side. Peter Winn just beat Marshall to Brownlee’s cross before Thackley took the lead on the half hour. Winn upended Ben Joyce wide on the right, Pat McGuire took the free kick, Jerry White’s header rebounded off the bar and Dan Broadbent fired home. It was a lead the Dennyboys just about deserved. Thackley were forced into making a change before the interval, Marshall having to leave the field with a leg injury, Kyle Willis his replacement. Other than a couple of long range efforts, Cooper and Mascall, which Thackley keeper Matt Convey dealt with, Thackley were not troubled in the remainder of the half and went into the break with their one goal advantage.

Half time: Cleethorpes Town 0 Thackley 1.

All Thackley’s first half good work was thrown away within two minutes of the second starting. The ball was given away in mid field, it ended up with Mascall on the edge of the box, his low drive beat Convey and the Owls were back level. However, Thackley were looking pretty solid at the back and their youthful midfield was not allowing the home side much room. The Dennyboys then had the chance to regain the lead when the referee awarded a penalty, Winn again upending Joyce as he cut inside him as he entered the box. McGuire took the kick but home keeper Liam Higson got down well to push the ball away. Thackley made a couple of changes, Dan Clayton replaced Joyce and Rob Foulds came on for McGuire. The game was littered with quite a number of petty free kicks given by a referee that thought any physical contact was worthy of one. As the game progressed the home side were seeing more of the ball but were not being allowed to create anything. However, with just a couple of minutes to go, they went in front for the first time. Twice Thackley had the chance to clear the ball but it was charged down for a corner, from the resultant kick Cooper headed in from close range. In time added on Broadbent went close with a shot from a Clayton lay back but the damage had been done, Thackley would be returning to Bradford without at least a point their efforts deserved.

Full time: Cleethorpes Town 2 Thackley 1.

Thackley were the architects of their own downfall, after working hard to gain a first half advantage, they gave away a goal very early in the second, missed a penalty, then failed to clear their lines in the dying minutes of the game. They deserved something from their afternoon’s endeavours; however, a positive is that the game blooded another couple of youngsters, which bodes well for the future.

No midweek game for the Dennyboys, which is rather surprising, they have to wait until next Saturday when Retford United are the visitors to Dennyfield.

Cleethorpes Town team: Higton; Kingston (Taylor); Winn; Dickins; Bloomer; Coleman; Winfarrah (McKay); Flett (C); Cooper: Mascall; Oglesby. Subs not used: Wressell; Moody.

Thackley team: Convey; Rouse; Hargreaves; McGuire (C) (Foulds 71 mins); White; Snowden; Joyce (Clayton 65 mins); Jones; Broadbent; Marshall (Willis 38 mins); Brownlee. Subs not used: Hudson; Wilson.

Cleethorpes Town scorers: Luke Mascall 47 mins; Marc Cooper 88 mins.

Thackley scorer: Dan Broadbent 30 mins.

Attendance: 122.

Referee: Kevin Saunby.