Thackley entertained Bottesford Town on Saturday, it was the ‘Poachers’ first ever visit to Dennyfield. Thackley had beaten Bottesford at Birch Park early in the season and would be looking to complete their sixth double of the current campaign. Paul Whiteley was unavailable and Mike Garrod had picked up an injury after making his first start of the season last week. Lamin Janneh was making his first start for the club and the Storey brothers, Joe and Tom, made the bench for the first time.

It was the worst possible start for the Dennyboys, falling behind after just five minutes. Elliot Broughton getting to a cross from the right to volley home from close range. Thackley had a penalty appealed turned down a few minutes later, Oliver Donald bundling over Lamin Janneh in the box. It was the away side that were showing up the best on a very sticky pitch. Thackley’s first shot at goal came on twenty minutes, Ryan Farrell firing over. Danny Boulton picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Luke Wilson before the Thackley keeper was called on to save a long range Danny Gibbons’ effort. Away keeper, Jack Beedle was seeing little of the ball, as Thackley struggled to adjust to the heavy conditions. A Paul Grimes free kick whizzed across the face of goal and Tom Johnson headed over following a corner. Kris Hargreaves caught Broughton as he entered the box but the referee waved away appeals for a spot kick before Boulton headed over from a corner. Thackley’s only chance of the half came in the final minute; Farrell getting to a Luke O’Brien cross, his shot was partially blocked before being kicked off of the line. The Dennyboys had not been at their best during the first forty five minutes.

Half time: Thackley 0 Bottesford Town 1.

Thackley came out for the second half in determined mood; Craig Bentham, then Janneh testing Beedle early on with a couple of deflected shots. The away keeper did well to push a Dan Broadbent shot over a few minutes later, this was much better from Thackley. They were rewarded with the equaliser six minutes into the half; Jennah got the final touch, Jerry White setting him up after the ball had been knocked back into the area following a partially cleared corner. Wilson made sure the scores stayed level soon afterwards, coming out to save from Boulton who had been put in the clear. It was the centre forward’s penultimate action in the game, his final one was to clatter O’Brien, he got his second yellow, and Bottesford were reduced to ten men. White picked up a yellow card for a clumsy rather than dangerous challenge before Janneh got clear, his flick past the advancing Beedle was wide. George Eustance replaced Dan Clayton as Thackley went looking for their second goal. However, it was Bottesford that got their second, Grimes followed a hopeful ball knocked forward, Wilson hesitated on the edge of the box and the Bottesford forward got a foot in, the ball ran free and he slotted it into the empty net. Thackley tried to apply some pressure, Joe Brown and Ryan Motley-Henry were introduced but Beedle was not really being tested. Their best chance came with five minutes remaining, Brown getting his head to Farrell’s cross but the ball just cleared the bar. There were another couple of half chances which came to nothing; Bottesford had ‘poached’ all three points.

Full time: Thackley 1 Bottesford Town 2.

Bottesford fully justified their half time lead, Thackley struggling to come to terms with the difficult conditions. Second half, the Dennyboys were a little better and got back into the game but let it slip with a soft goal. Against ten men they would have hoped to have done better, it was not to be. A game, as they say, that should put behind them.

Next Saturday Thackley make the short trip to Farsley to play local rivals (and good friends) Albion Sports.

Thackley team:Wilson; Hargreaves; O’Brien; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell; Bentham; Janneh (Motley-Henry 83mins); Broadbent (Brown 80mins); Clayton (Eustance 72mins). Subs not used: Joe Storey; Tom Storey.

Bottesford Town team: Beedle; Fisher; Thompson; Donald; Johnson; Barwick; Gibbons (Robinson-Jones); Nochol; Boulton; Grimes; Broughton (Graves). Sub not used: Robinson.

Thackley scorer: Lamin Janneh 51 mins.

Bottesford Town scorers: Elliot Broughton 5 mins; Paul Grimes 74 mins.

Attendance: 103.

Referee: Ed Stapleton.

Photo: Manager Chris Reape presenting The Terrace (Saltaire) Man of the Match award to Craig Bentham.