Thackley travelled the relatively short distance to Station View on Saturday to take on Harrogate Railway in a match that both teams needed to win. Harrogate had won at Athersley last weekend whilst Thackley were without a win since mid November. The two teams had already met twice early in the season, in the FA Cup and the league, those two games had yielded fifteen goals, was this one going to follow a similar pattern. New signing James Kay was brought in at the back and both Luke Robinson and Dan Omosebi were again available.

The playing surface looked heavy from the start, it was not the sort of pitch on which attractive football was likely to be played. It took both teams some time to adapt but early indications were that the home side could break quickly. It was from a long ball that Harrogate got their first goal on seventeen minutes. Shane Hamilton getting clear, Jerry White’s last ditch tackle was not enough to stop the home centre forward prodding the ball home past the advancing Luke Wilson. Two minutes later the Dennyboys were back level, White reacted the quickest to slot the ball into the net following a Pat McGuire free kick. Six minutes later the home side once again got their noses in front; Jamie Bairstow’s strike from some thirty yards out gave Wilson no chance. Wilson got down well to turn Ashar Bhogal’s effort around the post before the Thackley keeper again kept Harrogate at bay with a good save from Hamilton. Luke Robinson had the ball in the net just after the half hour but referee Gareth Myers ruled it out for a foul on the keeper. Joe Hughes missed a good opportunity to level the scores, getting clear of the defence and with just Senior to beat lifting the ball over the advancing keeper and the bar. Harrogate went close just before the break but first White and then Mike Garrod got in telling tackles to deny the home side.

Half time: Harrogate Railway 2 Thackley 1.

After just five minutes, Thackley fell two goals behind when Bairstow got his second of the game direct from a corner. It was not the start to the half that Thackley wanted. Keiran Thompson came on for Dan Omosebi, Garrod was pushed up front. Senior saved from James Ngoe before Jordan Hines replaced Hughes. Thackley were having more of the possession now but Harrogate looked dangerous on the counter. Senior saved from Robinson before Hines and then Ngoe went close. With fifteen minutes remaining the home side were reduced to ten men, Max Thirwell pulling back Robinson has he entered the box, being the last man he had to go. Garrod’s free kick was deflected to safety by the wall. Adam Simpson came on for White before the final frantic five minutes. Mike Garrod headed home following a Simpson cross before, as the game went into time added on, Hines slotted the ball into the net in a goalmouth melee following a free kick. Thackley thought they had salvaged a point but it was not to be. Lincoln Adams converted a penalty for the home side after Wilson had brought down a Harrogate forward who had raced clear.

Full time: Harrogate Railway 4 Thackley 3.

This is the sort of game that Thackley need to be winning, they are now in the relegation battle, this was a six pointer and Harrogate have closed the gap to four points and a Barton victory has put them within a point of the Dennyboys.

Next Saturday Penistone Church make their first visit to Dennyfield, Thackley need points but the away side will come as favourites.

Harrogate Railway team: Senior; Steele; Thirwell; Wilson (C); Adams; Bhogal; Eustance (Carter); Bairstow; Hamilton; Thomas (Webster); Stewart. Subs not used: Lancaster; O’Donnell; Rodgers.

Thackley team: Wilson; Garrod; Kay; McGuire (C); White (Simpson 80 mins); Walshaw; Ngoe; Whiteley; Hughes (Hines 60 mins); Robinson; Omosebi (Thompson 53 mins). Subs not used: Rothel; Kindston.

Harrogate Railway scorers: Shane Hamilton 17 mins; Jamie Bairstow 25 and 50 mins;
Lincoln Adams 90+ mins (pen).

Thackley scorers: Jerry White 19 mins; Mike Garrod 85 mins; Jordan Hines 90 mins.

Attendance: 90.

Referee: Gareth Myers.

Photo: Jerry White scorer of Thackley's first goal.