Match preview by Joshua Birkin

Thackley AFC return to Dennyfield on Tuesday night for their second home league game of the season, when they welcome local rivals Eccleshill United for a midweek derby game.

Thackley come into this game following a disappointing Friday night defeat on the road at Silsden AFC, in what was their first Bradford derby of the season. The Dennyboys found themselves goalless at the break under the lights. However, they conceded three quick fire goals early in the second half. Ellis Hudson got the scoring started for the home side, volleying past Wilson on 56 minutes before they doubled their lead eight minutes later through Price. Brooksbank sealed the victory by turning home a rebound from a well saved Greaves effort. That 3-0 defeat was Thackley’s first of the season, following a win and a draw from their first two games, which put the Dennyboys in 10th place in the table on four points.

One of the sides above Thackley are Tuesday’s visitors Eccleshill United, who also find themselves on four points, having played just twice, they are without loss so far this season, giving them with a superior goal difference. That victory came in a home game over the weekend, a comfortable 4-1 win against Tadcaster Albion. They had started the season very strongly and held top spot until that loss. The Eagles started the second half quickly in that one and, despite the game being goalless at the break, the Bradford side were 3-0 by the hour mark. Ndlovu added a fourth and his second on 72 minutes. Tadcaster did pull one back in injury time but it was too little, too late, as the Eagles flew up the table. Before that game, Tuesday’s visitors faced a trip to Manchester to face Vauxhall Motors FC in the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, the Eagles eventually progressed at the second time of asking via a replay.

That brace from Ndlovu against Tadcaster Albion was enough to make him Eccleshill United’s joint top goal scorer at this early stage of the season. The captain will be one for Danny Forrest to look out for in this one. However, Josh McKiernon, Harvey Booth and Mattias Britton also find themselves on two goals, our local rivals have shown themselves to be a threat on multiple fronts at this early stage of the season. Thackley have no new injury news to report, and Parsons returned to the Thackley bench last time out which gave the Dennyboys a boost. Hoping for a return soon are Bodle and Green to further boost the Thackley squad.

As always, your support would be much appreciated under the lights at Dennyfield as the nights get darker. Entry will be £6 for adults; £4 for concessions and free for any under 16’s accompanied by a full paying adult.