Thackley 3 Garforth 0

Miners come unstuck in Denyboys "tough mudder" challenge

Garforth suffered a third straight defeat as two second-half goals completed a comfortable win for Thackley.

In a scrappy game on a heavy pitch the first real chance of the afternoon arrived on 16 mins when Luke Kitson headed off the line a dangerous ball in by captain Paddy McGuire. It was Ryan Woodhead’s turn only a minute later; blocking on the line Ryan Farrell’s header. On 22 mins Paul Hagreen did well to tip over the bar an inswinging McGuire corner.

Down the other end there were appeals for a penalty when Mark Simpson was brought down in the area on 24 mins, but referee Lee Hible waved play-on. The home side continued the pressure down the other end, George Eustance came close with a good strike from 20 yards out which just cleared the crossbar. On 34 mins though the Dennyboys did put themselves ahead when Farrell’s cross from the left was bundled over the line by McGuire under challenge from Kitson.

Whilst it was a hard-working performance from the Miners they laboured up front, with attacks often breaking down from poor decision-making or simply being muscled out of things by an organised home defence. Simpson did force a save from Luke Wilson on 37 mins when set up by Mitch Hamilton’s back-heel, but overall it was a straightforward afternoon for the Thackley keeper. His opposite number kept the score to 1-0 moments before half time when he tipped over a Kris Hargreaves effort from out wide.

Rob Hunter’s side were first out after the break, but within a minute were two-down when Craig Bentham headed home Farrell’s cross after an initial shot was palmed wide by Hagreen. Joe Brown will have been disappointed not to have added a third a minute after that when smashing over the bar from a good position.

A great Garforth move down the left on 52 mins ended in Lee Turner forcing a save from Wilson at his near post. An already difficult task wasn’t helped by referee Hible, who proceeded to somehow book three Town players, in a game with few bad challenges.
Thackley sealed the points with a well-worked goal on 69 mins; substitute Chris Wademan laying the ball for McGuire to find the bottom corner of the net for his second of the game.

There was one more Garforth chance on 76 mins when Wilson saved Turner’s 25 yarder, but the game petered out and the home side went onto record their fourth consecutive victory over us.

A defeat which sees The Miners fall to 14th in the league table after victories for Clipstone and AFC Mansfield. Next up is a festive double with Parkgate, starting at the J.S. White & Co. Community Stadium on Boxing Day (kick-off 3pm).