Thackley AFC travelled to the Horsfall Community Stadium on Friday night for a match under the lights against fellow play off chasing Albion Sports. Goals from Nathan Cartman for the Lions and an equaliser from Tawheed Ahmed ensured that the points were shared and that the fight for the play offs would continue to go to the wire.

There was positive news for the Dennyboys as Harry Parsons had recovered from injury and replaced Alfie Gibbon in the starting lineup. A further change saw Tawheed Ahmed come in for Adam Terrelonge-Jones, whilst Antony Brown who has missed the last couple with a niggle was unavailable. It is hoped that Brown may be fit for the final two games of the regulation season. Joe Mitchell continues to recover from a knock against Winterton Rangers and was fit for the bench.

The game started at a frantic pace befitting an important derby, and it was Thackley who almost opened the scoring in the first 5 minutes. Ben Grech-Brooksbank rolled his man from a throw in and played the ball down the right for Finn Donovan. He played a cut back and Will Morrisey arriving late from midfield crashed a shot off the cross bar from just near the penalty spot.

Both teams continued to attack, but it was Thackley at this point shading the chances. Grech-Brooksbank went down on the left side of the box saying his shirt was pulled but the referee waved away appeals, before Albion countered and Parsons did well to marshal Cassius-Gill out of play. Grech-Brooksbank and Ahmed both had shots from range but were comfortably held by Porter in the home goal. On 25 minutes, good play down the right from Albion Sports saw a fantastic ball across the box from Wade, but all the defenders and attackers left it and the ball bounced out for a goal kick.

The end of the half saw both teams trading balls into the box, Albion Sports with two free kicks from each side, the latter of which saw Cartman get a flicked header at the front post which was held by Wilson. At the other end, Sugden had a succession of three corners which ultimately the Albion back line defended well. Barnes picked up a yellow card just before half time for a foul on the half way line when Albion were breaking from a corner, and with that the goalless first half came to an end.

HALF-TIME: Albion Sports 0-0 Thackley AFC

The second half got underway and the 220 supporters did not need to wait long for goals. It was Albion Sports who hit first, as good play down the right saw Ellis Wade get away. Nathan Cartman was arriving in the box and with some clever movement he opened the space from the Thackley back line and was able to finish the Wade cut back well past Luke Wilson in the Thackley goal to give Albion Sports the lead.

Aran Basi and Ellis Wade would then pick up yellow cards, Basi for a foul on Donovan and Wade for delaying the restart of play. It was important that Thackley hit back quick and they did so with a fantastic goal. Grech-Brooksbank picked up the ball in the middle of the park and played a great ball behind Fishley at right back for the Lions. Ahmed cut inside, and with some clever footwork opened up the space and curled an effort from the left hand side of the box into the far right corner of the goal to leave Porter no chance.

On 62 minutes, Luke Wilson made one of the saves of the season to keep the game level. An Albion Sports free kick on the left saw Thackley slightly unprepared as Marcus Harper ghosted up from left back. He received a short free kick and drove into the left side of the box and crossed, where Cassius-Gill was arriving and looked to have a certain headed goal. Wilson, coming back across goal made a diving save with his right arm as the ball was headed back across goal and flicked the effort over the cross bar for a corner. All 220 in attendance rightfully giving Wilson a round of applause.

There was still an under current to the derby match and the players came together on 66 minutes which saw Morrisey and Faulding being spoken to by the referee. On 67 minutes, it was Albion's turn to crash an effort off the cross bar. A long ball forward was headed clear by the Thackley back line, but Fernando Moke picked up the pieces and hit a half volley which hit the face of the cross bar and bounced out to safety. On 70mins, Tektas replaced the goal scorer Ahmed and on 74 minutes, Wilson got down low again to tip away a long range effort from the Albion Sports midfielder.

Both teams were pushing for the winner in the last 10 minutes, but despite not really being a bad tackle in the game the referee was showing cards to both teams and the game was being broken up. Hudson and Dempsey both received yellow cards for tackles for Thackley and Suddards for Albion Sports also saw his name in the book as he pulled down Barnes when Thackley looked to break from a corner.

The last real action of the match came on 90 minutes as Thackley beat the offside trap and Finn Donovan was sent through. He was slightly to the left of the goal entering into the box and former Thackley player Kieran Suddards was keeping pace with him. Suddards slid in for the tackle, Donovan went down. The Thackley players appealed for a penalty, the Albion players said Suddards got the ball. The person who mattered most, the referee, waved play on, and after a Thackley corner in stoppage time the game came to an end.

FULL-TIME: Albion Sports 1-1 ThackleyAFC

A typical derby match, with both teams fighting for the points, some moments of real quality from both sides and periods where both teams were trying to win the physical battle in the second half with chances at a premium.

The result means that the play off spaces will go to the wire. Thackley have two games left to play, a home fixture on Saturday 29 March 2025 (3pm) against Goole AFC following by the final game of the season on Saturday 5 April 2025 (3pm) against Barton Town.

Albion Sports team: Porter; Fishley; Harper; Sharry; Basi; Faulding; Cassius-Gill; Cox; Cartman; Moke; Wade.
Subs: Suddards; Khan; Qasim; Afonso Ferreira; Hill.

Thackley AFC team: Wilson; Parsons; Rhodes; Sugden; Dempsey; Hudson; Donovan; Morrisey; Ahmed (Tektas 70mins); Grech-Brooksbank©; Barnes.
Unused Subs: Hamdosh; Mitchell; Gibbon; Forrest.

Albion Sports scorers: Cartman (50mins)

Thackley AFC scorers: Ahmed (57mins)

Attendance: 220

Photo credit: Martin Taylor at Shot by Bamboo