26 JULY 2011 - THACKLEY AFC 5 OTLEY TOWN 1

STEVE PALEY saw a comfortable performance from the Dennyboys continuing the promising start and promising well for the imminent new season

Otley Town were Tuesday night's opponents for the Dennyboys in their third friendly match of the current season. After defeat against Eccleshill and a victory at Silsden on Saturday, Thackley were looking to build on that performance against the side from the West Yorkshire League. Nicky Matthews, returning from holiday, and Saturday's goal scorer, Liam Robinson, started up front.

The home side started the better, after five minutes a Nicky Matthews' header was deflected for a corner. Gary Birchall headed wide after Liam Robinson and Matthews had done well down the right, before Robinson, himself, put the ball wide after Craig Harding had put the front man through. The game was fifteen minutes old before Otley threatened, the ball being headed over following a free kick just inside the home half. Robinson again went close, after Matthews had provided the chance, before Thackley took a deserved lead on twenty five minutes, Robinson's low drive, from just inside the box, beating the away keeper. With just over half an hour gone they increased their lead, Tom Higman's long cross field ball found Chris Davey on the left, the Thackley wide man advanced to the edge of the box before firing across goal into the net. White did well setting up Matthews but the away keeper made a good save before Matthews hit the post with the keeper beaten. Thackley went in at the break with a deserved two goal lead.

Thackley made three early substitutions in the SECOND HALF Andy Phelps replacing Robinson, Shaquile for Davey and Fez taking over from Birchall. Phelps went close, before Fez shot wide of the post, White putting him in the clear. Matthews and Firth were replaced by Anthony Williamson and Shane Harding before Thackley increased their lead as the game entered the final quarter. The ball was worked down the right and Phelps netted from close range. James Rothel fired over from outside the box before Otley pulled a goal back. This followed some sloppy defending and Scott Cater was able to beat Edd Hall in the home goal. A minute later and the home side regained their three goal advantage, Phelps blasting the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. A further minute and Phelps had completed his hat trick, Williamson providing the cross. Phelps could have had another minutes later but his low drive just shaved the post. There were no further goals and Thackley had completed a rather comprehensive victory.

It was another improved performance from a team that appears to be starting to gel. In the three friendlies to date quite a number of players and combinations have been tried, I am sure that on Saturday this trend will continue, so the new management team can assess the strength of the squad.

Thackley team : Edd Hall; Tom Higman; James Rothel; Craig Harding; Rob Morgan; James Firth (Shane Harding); Callum White; Gary Birchall (Fez); Liam Robinson (Andy Phelps); Nicky Matthews (Anthony Williamson); Chris Davey (Shaquile).

Thackley scorers : Liam Robinson 25 mins; Chris Davey 32 mins; Andy Phelps 73, 79 and 80 mins.

Otley Town scorer : Scott Cater 78 mins.