Following two blank weekends, their last game was on the 4th February, last Saturday Thackley entertained Liversedge looking to complete a double over their local rivals. The Dennyboys had come out on top in the reverse fixture in November but this was a local ‘derby’ and Thackley were lacking game time, a tough encounter was envisaged. It was a strong starting eleven, with just Joe Brown and Mike Garrod missing. On the bench were three recent signings, Sam Robinson, Matthew Broadley and Adam Jones, they would be looking to make their first appearance for the club. The referee had inspected the pitch on Saturday morning and past it fit for play but it was very heavy after the mid week rain.

It was obvious from the start that the conditions would limit the playing of any intricate football, for the surface started cutting up in the opening minutes. However, both teams were trying to play as much football as possible. Dan Broadbent was first to get a shot off but it was straight at Sam Andrews in the away goal. Both sides were struggling to get into the danger area and shots were limited to long range efforts that failed to trouble either keeper. The game took a dramatic turn on eighteen minutes, when with their first shot on target, Liversedge went in front. It came out of the blue, winger, Peteu Crouz cutting in from the left, let fly and the ball flew into the top corner. Thackley should have equalised a couple of minutes later, Paul Whiteley provided the perfect cross but Broadbent put his header just over from six yards out. He made amends with a fine goal on the half hour, picking up Josh Snowden’s through ball before turning and hammering it past the stranded Andrews. Play was bogged down in mid field for long periods but the away side went close five minutes before the break. It came from a disputed corner, a Liversedge forward got their head to the ball but Luke O’Brien held his position at the near post and cleared off of the line. It was the last action of note in a competitive first forty five minutes.

Half time: Thackley 1. Liversedge 1.

The first twenty minutes or so of the second period was much the same as the first, both sides finding it difficult to play any sort of football. It was the home side that managed to carve out an opening on sixty four minutes. Pat McGuire providing George Eustance with the ball, his low drive across goal finished just inside the far post. Sam Robinson, Matt Broadley and Adam Jones were brought on to provided fresh legs for the Dennyboys in the heavy conditions; they replaced Craig Bentham, Eustance and Broadbent. In the final minutes, Ryan Farrell should have done better when Jones put him clear, at the other end; Luke Wilson did well to push the ball from a long range effort over the bar. O’Brien’s free kick went narrowly wide, and Kris Hargreaves started and finished a run, the ball also finishing wide of the upright. In the end it was the home side that took the spoils and lifted their points total for the season to over sixty.

Full time: Thackley 2 Liversedge 1.

The pitch was just about playable but no way could any sort of good football be played on it. In the conditions, both teams did well to provide the entertainment that they did. It was a competitive match, it was always going to be, Thackley shaded it with a good team performance.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare on Tuesday night, Thackley owe the Wells having lost to them just before Christmas. It is likely to be another competitive game.

Thackley team: Wilson; Hargreaves; O’Brien; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell; Whiteley; Broadbent (Jones 78 mins); Bentham (Robinson 65 mins); Eustance (Broadley 73 mins). Subs not used: Janneh; Gumboh.

Liversedge: Andrews; Wilkinson; Brook; Cromack; Riodan; Jackson; Raw; McCarthy; Wood; Everingham (Kane); Crouz. Subs not used: Pashley; Walton; Lumb; Waggett.

Thackley scorers: Dan Broadbent 29 mins; George Eustance 64 mins.

Liversedge scorer: Petue Crouz 18 mins.

Attendance: 140.

Referee: Joe Starkie.

Photo: The Terrace MOM Dan Broadbent being presented with his meal voucher by June Willingham.