It was not just a top of the table tussle but more importantly a Bradford ‘derby’ when Thackley travelled to the Clayborn Ground on Tuesday night. Local rivals Liversedge had topped the table in the opening months of the season but were going through a pretty lean spell at the moment, whilst still holding onto third place in the league. Thackley were in fine form, especially away from home, a win in this game could, depending on the Cleethorpes result, put them top of the table. The Dennyboys made three changes to the team that beat Barton on Saturday. Craig Bentham came in for the unavailable Joe Brown, Ryan Farrell and Jerry White for Ben Joyce and Luke O’Brien.

Thackley made their intentions clear from the start; they had come for all three points. In the first five minutes, a good run from George Eustance ended with a save from home keeper, Christian Thewliss, before Pat McGuire pulled the ball back for Chris Wademan, his shot cleared the bar.Thackley were playing some good stuff, their wide men seeing quite a lot of the ball. Liversedge were getting the ball forward and their forwards were taking every opportunity to shoot. It was the home side that made the breakthrough on twenty two minutes. The ball was knocked forward, Luke Wilson parried the shot but Joe Walton was on hand to slot home. Thackley were back on level terms almost immediately, Josh Snowden getting his head to McGuire’s free kick and glancing the ball into the net, it was a rare goal from the Thackley defender. It was an end to end tussle, both sides looking for that all important next goal. It was the Dennyboys that got it on the stroke of half time. Again it came from a dead ball situation, this time a corner, McGuire floated the ball into the area, it was knocked out to Farrell on the edge of the box, his ferocious shot was too hot for Thewliss, who could only parry the ball, Kris Hargreaves was first to react, thumping it into the net. It had been an entertaining first forty five minutes; Thackley just about deserved their interval lead.

Liversedge 1 Thackley 2.

The second half continued in much the same way as the first, Thackley playing the ball out wide, Sedge taking the more direct route. McGuire brought a good save from Thewliss ten minutes in, and Liversedge picked up a couple of bookings for overzealous tackles, as the game became a little fractious. The Thackley midfield pair of McGuire and Paul Whiteley were at the heart of everything for the Dennyboys, the home side were finding it difficult to create anything. Farrell whizzed the ball across the front of goal but no one was on hand to convert. At the other end, Wilson saved well from Vaughan Bedford, the next goal was the important one. It came with just under fifteen minutes remaining and it put the Dennyboys two in front. It was an excellently worked goal, Eustance, who had given full back Simon Wood the run around all night, skipped down the wing, his cross found the advancing Farrell as he entered the box, his shot flew past the helpless Thewliss. Thackley made a couple of changes as they played out the final ten minutes or so, Dan Broadbent replacing the hard working Wademan and Ben Joyce coming on for Craig Bentham. Eustance had a couple of shots saved by Thewliss and Jerry White picked up a yellow card for a trip as Thackley held onto their two goal lead to finish the game on top, not only in this game, but of the league as well.

Full time: Liversedge 1 Thackley 3.

It was an entertaining encounter; both teams were aware of what a win would mean, Thackley just edged the first half but took more control in the second and were good value for the three points. It was a team performance, everyone played their part in the victory, the players are playing with confidence at the moment and it shows, they went a goal down but hit back almost immediately.

It’s an away trip to last Saturday’s visitors to Dennyfield, Barton Town, next up for Thackley at the week end. In the end, their victory over the Swans was a comfortable one, but that counts for nothing when they start anew on Saturday. It should be another three points but football often comes back and hits you in the teeth.

Liversedge team: Thewliss; Wood; Lumb; Cromack; Riordan; Brook; Davies; Kane (C); Walton; Bedford; Porritt. Subs: Fish; Waller; Blakey; Bojang; Benjamin.

Thackley team: Wilson; Rouse; Hargreaves; McGuire (C);White; Snowden; Farrell; Whiteley; Wademan (Broadbent 77 mins); Bentham (Joyce 81 mins); Eustance. Subs not used: Scott; O’Brien; Howe.

Liversedge scorer: Joe Walton 22 mins.

Thackley scorers: Josh Snowden 23 mins; Kris Hargreaves 45 mins; Ryan Farrell 76 mins.

Attendance: 148,

Referee: Sam Barrott.

Photo: Josh Snowden - his first goal for Thackley?