Thackley were hoping to continue their four match unbeaten run when they entertained Harrogate Railway on Saturday. The Rail, relegated at the end of last season, are finding points difficult to pick up and are languishing near the foot of the table. The home side made a couple of changes from the team that beat Retford on Tuesday night. Elliott Scott and Ben Joyce started in place of the unavailable Kris Hargreaves and George Eustance. Tom Robinson, signed this week from Brighouse Town, was on the bench.

As in most games it took a little time for both teams to find their feet. A long range effort from Brandon Deane was wide and Dan Broadbent’s free kick suffered a similar fate before the first real chance of the game came on twelve minutes. Broadbent broke clear and with away keeper Adam Burkinshaw advancing, the Thackley striker lobbed the ball over his head and unfortunately over the bar. Harrogate’s first chance came five minutes later, Deane getting clear of the defence, with just Matt Convey to beat, he fired off his shot but the Thackley keeper somehow got a hand to the ball to push it away. A couple of minutes later the Dennyboys were in front. Pat McGuire fired a free kick into a crowded penalty area; Ben Joyce got his head to the ball and diverted it into the net. It was Joyce again that put Thackley two in front mid way through the half, cutting inside before firing off a shot, the ball took a slight deflection off a defender on its way into the net. Harrogate were looking to get back into the game and on a couple of occasions created chances for the lively Deane. The best of which was just before the break, after some good build up play the Harrogate striker blasted over from six yards out. Craig Bentham fired wide from Josh Snowden’s cross before the referee blew to end the first half.

Thackley 2 Harrogate Railway Athletic 0.

The away goal had a lucky escape at the beginning of the second period, McGuire’s free kick striking the upright with Burkinshaw helpless. Ten minutes in and Thackley had another chance to increase their lead, Jerry White’s head back from a free kick dropped to Bentham, Burkinshaw did well to thwart the Thackley player. Tom Robinson came on to make his debut soon afterwards, replacing Joyce. Convey saved well from a Dan Barrett header before Thackley’s second substitution, Paul Whiteley coming on for Broadbent. On seventy one minutes, Harrogate, who had had more of the possession in what was turning out to be a scrappy second half, reduced Thackley's lead. Greg Kidd seemed to be under no pressure getting his head to a Ryan Sharrock’s corner to put the ball past Convey. Neither side were creating much, both teams unable to hold onto the ball to fashion an opening. Harrogate produced a couple of half chances in the dying minutes as Thackley were fighting to hold onto their slender lead. The first, Jordan Rouse did well to rob Steve Bromley as he was about to shoot, the second, Kidd got off a shot that went narrowly wide. In the end Thackley maintained their composure and stretched their unbeaten run to five games.

Thackley 2 Harrogate Railway Athletic 1.

Another hard earned three points won, despite a poor second half showing, in the end they did hold on for the victory but Thackley will play better than this and lose.

On Tuesday Pickering Town are the visitors to Dennyfield, the Pikes look to be in fine form at the moment, unbeaten throughout September. They have conceded just three goals in the eight league matches they have played and scored twenty two. Thackley will really need to be at their best if they want to continue their unbeaten run.

Thackley team: Convey; Rouse; Scott; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell; Howe; Broadbent (Whiteley 67 mins); Bentham; Joyce (Robinson 56 mins). Sub not used: Foulds.

Harrogate Railway Athletic team: Burkinshaw; Hendrie (C); Riley (Baravelli); Kidd; Morris; Lees; R Sharrocks; Brown; Barrett ( B Sharrocks); Deane (Bromley); Ovington. Subs not used: Beesley; Chapman.

Thackley scorer: Ben Joyce 18 and 26 mins.

Harrogate Railway Athletic scorer: Gregg Kidd 71 mins.

Attendance: 121.

Referee: Ed Stapleton.

Photo: The Terrace (Saltaire) Man of the Match: Ben Joyce.