Thackley returned to league action on Tuesday night when they entertained Golcar United at Dennyfield. The two had met eleven days before in the FA Cup, Thackley progressing from that game in a fiercely contested cup tie. Golcar had won their opening three league games, Thackley had won both their home league games, one or both would lose their one hundred percent record by the end of the game. Thackley made a couple of changes to Saturday’s starting eleven, Joe Mitchell returned from suspension in mid field to replace Will Morrissey. Lewis Gardner had picked up an injury at the weekend, so Harry Parsons dropped back into a reorganised defence and Josi Bradshaw came in to lead the line.

Thackley suffered a ‘Golcarism’ again. The Huddersfield based side always seem to start well against Thackley, they usually score, and they did in this game. Thackley finding it difficult to get out of their own half in the opening minutes. It was no surprise when the away side took the lead on nine minutes, although the goal had a certain amount of fortune about it. The ball falling kindly for Malakai Phillip to prod home from close range. The goal seemed to awaken the home side and they began to control the game with some good play. Finn Donovan was involved in most of the Thackley pressure, providing half chances for both Josi Bradshaw and Ben Gretch-Brooksbank. On twenty minutes, Donovan got through on goal but the angle was tight and Harry Stead saved with his feet. Five minutes later, it was Stead that made sure the scores stayed level, tipping Bradshaw’s powerful effort over after the Thackley striker had done well to get his shot away. Most of the play was in the Golcar half, the away side seldom creating anything in the danger area. Although, they did go close on the half hour. It stemmed from a free kick, something the referee seemed to award to the away side every time one of their players went to ground. This one was on the edge of the box, George Doyle’s shot passed through the wall but Luke Wilson got down well to push the ball away. Thackley continued to dominate but could not find that final pass and the away side took their one goal lead into the break.

Half time: Thackley 0 Golcar United 1.

The start to the second half was a little more even than the first had finished. A fierce shot from Bradshaw, five minutes in, going over, the only attempt by either side. Thackley levelled the scores on the hour. Bradshaw chased a ball knocked over the defence, he beat Stead to it as he raced into the box, the Golcar keeper unceremoniously dragged him to the floor as the ball ran free. The referee awarded the spot kick and Stead, who had made no attempt to play the ball, got away with a yellow card. Gretch-Brooksbank’s penalty kick gave the lucky keeper no chance. Thackley were getting back on top and Stead did well to save from Donovan before Lewis Sugden was booked. Thackley made their first and only change of the night, Nathan Hunt coming on for Tawheed Ahmed. Thackley continued to create chances, twice Gretch-Brooksbank had shots saved and both Bradshaw and Hunt had efforts that went wide. Golcar had a rare opportunity to go ahead with ten minutes remaining. Substitute, Keegan Hartley got to a through ball before Wilson but put the ball wide, it was a bit of a let off and should have been a warning. At the other end, Kiero Lawrence cleared the ball off of the line following a corner. Thackley succumbed to a sucker punch as the game was going into time added on. It came from another soft free kick, the ball finishing out on the right, from the cross, Doyle tapped in from close range. Late on, Harry Parsons was handed a yellow card when another away player hit the ground. Thackley were left to rue their missed chances, it was Golcar that had kept their one hundred percent record intact.

Full time: Thackley 1 Golcar United 2.

A frustrating night for Thackley, a slow start, this seems to be a trend against Golcar, and a rather fortunate goal against, meant the home side had to react. This they did, playing some good football and creating quite a few chances. They fully deserved their second half equaliser and it was they that looked the most likely to score again. It was not to be and the away side stole the points.

On Saturday, Thackley return to cup action when they travel to Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands.

Thackley team: Wilson; Rhodes; Everingham; Sugden; Hudson; Parsons; Donovan; Mitchell; Bradshaw; Grech-Brooksbank ©; Ahmed (Hunt 70 mins). Unused subs: Bako; Holcombe; Morrissey; McNally.

Golcar United team: Stead; Field ©; Clee: Calvert; Lawrence; Killock; Barnes; Petch; Doyle; Hall; Phillip. Subs: Blenkinsop; North: Farrington; Hartley.

Thackley scorer: Ben Gretch-Brooksbank 61 mins (pen)

Golcar United scorers: Malakai Phillip 9 mins: George Doyle 89 mins

Attendance: 203

Referee: Louie Parker

Thackley’s MOM: Mark Everingham. (Photo: Mark collecting his award from Treasurer David Stott)