With defeat in the League Cup at the hands of Thackley fresh in the minds, the early signs were for another tough encounter as one of Brighouse’s fellow title aspirants started strongly.
By means of a warning a free kick whizzed across the penalty area – just shepherded wide by Paul Hagreen in the Town goal, before an ominous early lead was taken by the home side.
A cross from the right was miskicked by Thackley’s front man taking Town full back Joe Swallow by surprise. The ball struck his legs and deflected into the back of the Brighouse net.
Luke Rhodes also saw a good effort saved as Thackley dominated early doors, but found Hagreen in typically good shot stopping form before Town’s response gathered pace.
Josimar Bradshaw was handed a starting berth up front – and proved a real handful from the off. His strength and trickery down the left saw him burst into the box, but the Thackley defence cleared well. James Coates saw a powerful effort deflected wide as the balance of power started to swing in Brighouse’s favour – and sure enough the equaliser came on the half hour mark.
Ashton Richardson, a late call up to the starting eleven after Courtney Smith was forced to pull out ill, was heavily involved. He found midfield man Matthew Scholefield following a corner and he thumped the ball home from within a crowded box.
Omar Habeeb on the right was also a growing influence on the match, as he came to the fore leading up the interval. He broke into the area and saw a well struck effort held above Thackley keeper Sam Hesketh’s head, before Lewis Hepworth on the opposite flank delivered one of his trademark top drawer crosses culminating in Habeeb firing narrowly wide.
Into an increasingly windswept second half, it was testament to both sides that the quality of football was good in difficult conditions.
Coates’ last action before the fresh legs of Luke Hammond were introduced was another rasping effort from distance, whilst wide men Habeeb and Hepworth once more combined well – the latter just losing the ball under his feet when well placed in the area.
Whilst the attacking players were plying away at one end, the Town defence were on top form at the other denying a good Thackley front line on numerous occasions.
Josh McLean was denied by Hagreen from close range, one of the few occasions Messrs Coop, Richardson, Maguire and substitute right back Killian Cropper were breached.
It was in fact left back Carl Maguire who capped off a strong performance with the assist for what turned out to be the winner. He cracked a telling ball over the top of the Thackley defence – and still with plenty to do Bradshaw held off challenges to squeeze an accurate shot just inside Hesketh’s post.
Town had further chances before the final whistle to extend their lead, tireless front man Marshall Riley rounded the keeper but the angle proved too acute to find the net, before replacement Antony Brown’s fired cross just evaded the onrushing Hepworth.
At the other end the Town defence continued to put in one of their best performances of the season, captain Sam Coop epitomising the commitment with a number of huge tackles. Kamran Khan shot wide when well-placed as Thackley pushed – and with one last huge chance to restore parity Hagreen made a fantastic last minute save to ensure a vital three points and excellent victory on the road against strong opposition.

Thackley: Sam Hesketh, Danny Smith, Ben Johnson, Andy Tasker, Joe Shaw, Kristian Hargreaves, Oliver Binns-Hall, Luke Rhodes, Danny Lyness, Josh McClean, Matty Cardus. Subs: Ryan Ives, Jordan Horsfall, Nathan Priestley, Adam Simpson, Kamran Khan.

Brighouse: Paul Hagreen, Carl Maguire, James Coates, Joe Swallow, Sam Coop, Omar Habeeb, Matthew Scholefield, Lewis Hepworth, Ashton Richardson, Josimar Bradshaw, Marshall Riley. Subs: Killian Cropper, Luke Hammond, Antony Brown