Thackley 2-2 Garforth Town

Thackley faced Garforth Town on Tuesday evening at Dennyfield in a re-arranged match. At 7pm, the pitch was in fantastic condition. By 7.30pm, a snow blizzard had arrived which put the match in jeopardy. Volunteers went out to sweep the lines at the referee’s request who indicated he would start the match with supporters already in the ground. Thankfully, the snow downpour stopped shortly after kick off but the playing surface was not ideal.

Morgan returned from suspension for Thackley, who also had Mitchell, Parsons and Greaves back available. Sinfield was still able to play on a dual-reg basis. However, there was unavailable Nicholson, Everingham, Green, Donovan, Bell and Basi and therefore still a slight selection issue for the Joint Management team to deal with.

Thackley made another fast start to the game with Grech-Brooksbank having an opportunity in the first minute. However, Thackley would take the lead just a minute later. Sinfield did well down the left wing and he managed to cut the ball back. A deflected effort fell to Grech-Brooksbank at the left hand post and he smashed in from close range to give Thackley the lead. (1-0 – 2mins)

On 7 mins, Garforth Town had an opportunity as Da Silva did well down the right wing, but his dangerous cross was not met by anyone and McCready was able to clear down the line. On 9mins, Morgan made an important sliding tackle as a through ball tried to play Burgess through on goal. There was a slight pause in play on 13mins for a few minutes as the referee returned to the changing room to change his boots. On 17mins, Chippendale would fire just onto the roof of the net with an effort looking like it was going to nestle in the top far corner after more good work by Sinfield down the left wing. Thackley were showing good attacking intent and after Grech-Brooksbank had done well centrally to feed the ball to Chippendale on the right wing, a dangerous cross into the box just missed Poole who was arriving in the box and Wells gathered. On 32 mins, Parsons did well to get a block in on a Da Silva shot as he got space on the right side of the box, Wilson claiming the subsequent corner.

On 36 mins, Chippendale had a free kick on the edge of the area after Sinfield had been taken down but Wells saved. This quickly followed with another Thackley attack and only a last ditch tackle stopped Parsons from a free run on goal, and then Sinfield worked space in the box three times but delayed his shot just slightly too long when it looked like he would score. On 38 mins, Brown took down Grech-Brooksbank on the edge of the box. Chippendale put a good cross in and Hargreaves met it with a fantastic header which nestled in the far corner of the net, but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside and the goal was ruled out. Straight from this Garforth Town countered and it was a foot race with the Garforth Town attacker and Wilson, who hesitated slightly, and the attacking player tried to chip the ball into the goal. The ball thankfully bounced wide of the empty net.

On 42 mins Thackley put a dangerous corner in when the ball was returned on the right wing to Chippendale. He beat his man and put a great low cross in but there was no red shirt there to smash into the net from 10 yards out. On 45mins, Chippendale took a through pass in his stride with a fantastic touch which took the ball wide around Wells who had come to claim. He pulled the ball back to Grech-Brooksbank who hit a good strike from the left hand edge of the area but the shot went just over the far top corner.

That was Half Time – Thackley led at the break in an entertaining game, with Thackley having a few chances to extend the lead but Garforth Town having a few opportunities themselves as well.

Half time: Thackley AFC 1 v 0 Garforth Town

The Thackley volunteers had been back on the pitch at Half Time to clear the lines of snow. Straight from the kick off Sinfield got into the box and looked to be fouled, but the referee waved away the penalty appeals. On 47mins, Wilson made a good one on one stop as the Garforth Town midfielder had got clear. It was a great start to the second half as on 50mins Wells had to make a fingertip save from Sinfield, with Grech-Brooksbank getting to the ball and unfortunately his cross back across goal was cleared.

On 55mins, Thackley would extend their lead. Sinfield picked up the ball in the left back position and played a ball centrally. The ball eventually was played out to Poole who had ended up in the right wing position. He went around the full back and pulled the ball back across goal, with Sinfield arriving. He showed great composure to let the defender slide in and finished from close range into the near left hand post. (2-0 – 55mins)

On 59mins, Ejupi received a yellow card for a dive in the box trying to win a penalty for the visitors, and on 60mins Denton received a yellow card for a lunge on Sinfield which he managed to avoid. On 63mins, Garforth Town found a way back into the game. An attack down the right wing saw the ball pulled back across goal and Burgess had worked space in the box to finish from close range. 2-1 – 63mins)

This period of the game then opened up with the visitors applying some pressure and Thackley trying to counter attack when they could. On 68mins, Wilson produced a fantastic save as Coupland had been played in through the left channel, but Wilson spread himself big and saved. The Miners would equalise a few minutes later though, as Thompson advanced from midfield into the box on the right hand side. He finished low to the bottom left corner to level the game. (2-2 – 72mins)

Thackley would then start to regain control of the match. On 77 mins, Greaves replaced Sinfield, Greaves had been missing recently due to illness. On 78 mins Poole hit an effort over the bar after a Thackley corner was punched to him on around the penalty spot by Wells in the Garforth Town net. On 79mins, a good pass from Poole saw Grech-Brooksbank hit an acrobatic effort which also went over the bar. On 86mins, Greaves received the ball in the box and rolled Denton, hitting a strong strike towards the near post but Wells made another good save. On 90mins, a good ball from Chippendale fell to Mitchell who hit a looping effort, which hit the top of the crossbar. The assistant referee signalled a corner as Wells tried to top the effort over the bar, but the referee overruled him and awarded a corner.

Both teams tried to find a winner in the closing stages but the game finished even.

Full time: Thackley AFC 2 v 2 Garforth Town

It is always disappointing not to win a game having been 2-0 ahead. However, the positives are that Thackley have taken another point against a team in the top 5 of the league, and who historically results have not been kind against. This was done again with a number of players missing on a difficult night condition wise. There were also a number of impressive performances across the team, including Man of the Match Harry Parsons who was outstanding in the middle of the park and some crucial saves from Luke Wilson who made his 250th appearance for the Club.

Next up we travel to Barton Town in another league match on Saturday 18 March, 3pm KO. All travelling support as always appreciated. There is space on the supporters coach which will leave Dennyfield at 11.30am on Saturday with places at £10 per person – contact Eddie Williams to secure your place on 07961 555 044

Thackley AFC team: Wilson; McCready; Hargreaves; Poole; Morgan; Haigh; Parsons; Mitchell; Grech-Brooksbank©; Sinfield (Greaves 77mins); Chippendale. Unused subs: Ingham; Bradbury; Mitchell; Borja.

Garforth Town team: Wells; Leach; Ejupi; Thompson; Denton; Brown; Marshall; Coupland ©; Burgess; Barker; Da Silva. Subs: Gibbons; Antcliff; Witter; Coulibaly; Woods.

Thackley AFC Scorers: Grech-Brooksbank (2mins); Sinfield (55mins)
Garforth Town Scorers: Burgess (63mins); Thompson (72mins)

Attendance: 111
Man of the Match: Harry Parsons