Thackley travelled the 4.5 miles down the road to Farsley on Saturday to take on their near neighbours Albion Sports. The ‘Lions’ were seventh in the table but their form had dipped slightly in January, winning just once in the last five games. A poor result last Saturday for Thackley, losing to mid table Bottesford Town at Dennyfield, meant they needed to get back to winning ways this weekend. Thackley were without Joe Brown, Mike Garrod, Dan Clayton and George Eustance which called for some reorganisation to the normal line up. It also meant there was a place on the bench for Andy McHugh for the first time.

The game started with plenty of action, Thackley had what look like a legitimate penalty claim turned down in the second minute and Paul Whiteley fired wide shortly afterwards. Michael O’Brien was booked before the home side took the lead in the sixth minute. Somehow, Rhys Jenkinson found himself with acres of space on the left; he took the ball into the box before stroking it past Thackley keeper Luke Wilson. It took just five minutes for the Dennyboys to get back onto level terms; Lamin Janneh doing well to control the ball on the left, his cross in front of goal was met by Dan Broadbent who made no mistake from close range. Three minutes later the Dennyboys were in front, Janneh and Ryan Farrell working the ball forward; it was left to the later to fire home from a tight angle. There had certainly been plenty of action in the opening fifteen minutes. Thackley had the upper hand, Albion were playing the long ball looking for their two strikers, Danny Facey and Karl Hall. Other than a couple of long range efforts, one from Joe Barden for the Lions and one from Thackley’s Janneh, play was pretty much confined to mid field. That was until just before half time, when George Clark in the home goal kept Thackley’s lead to one, somehow getting a hand to Broadbent fierce drive to tip it over. As it was, the Dennyboys took their single goal advantage into the break.

Half time: Albion Sports 1 Thackley 2.

It was the home that started the second half the better and Jerry White did well to cut out a dangerous looking cross from the left. Albion were seeing more of the ball but the Thackley defence looked solid. A Craig Bentham back header caused some minor consternation before both Josh Snowden and Kris Hargreaves picked up bookings. A rasping shot from Pat McGuire was beaten away by Clarke before Thackley made their first change, Farrell making way for sixteen year old Joe Storey to make his first start. Thackley supporters were given a scare with twelve minutes remaining, Snowden hooking the ball off of the line. Bentham was replaced by debutant Andy McHugh, his first involvement was to chase a ball knocked over the defence, Clarke came out to smother his shot. In the dying minutes of the game, Albion levelled the scores, a couple of defensive errors culminating with the ball falling to Stephen Smith; he fired home from the edge of the box. A late booking for Broadbent and Asif Hussain following a ‘handbags’ incident brought the curtain down on the game.

Full time: Albion Sports 2 Thackley 2.

After conceding an early goal, Thackley hit back quickly to put them into the driving seat; they created a number of half chances in the first half but did not capitise on them. In the second half, more was seen of the home side but other than a couple of minor scares, they did not look likely to score. Thackley lost concentration in the final minutes which cost them two points.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare are the visitors to Dennyfield on Tuesday night, Thackley have a score to settle with them after losing at the MDC Stadium just before Christmas, a defeat which ended a ten match unbeaten run in the league.

Albion Sports team: Clark; Carlton; Kabah (Annor); Smith; Khan (Basi); Morgan; Barden; O’Brien (Hussain); Facey (C); Hall; Jenkinson.
Thackley team: Wilson; Bentham (McHugh 84 mins) ; Hargreaves; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell (Storey 77 mins); Whiteley; Janneh; Broadbent; O’Brien. Sub not used: Patel.

Albion Sports scorers: Rhys Jenkinson 6 mins; Stephen Smith 90 mins.

Thackley scorers: Dan Broadbent 11 mins; Ryan Farrell 14 mins.

Attendance: 105.

Referee: Luke Watson.

Photo: Dan Broadbent - scorer of Thackley's first goal.