Thackley out for the count

As Ricky Hatton brushed aside Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas, Nostell secured an emphatic points victory over Thackley in the NCEL Premier at the Dennyfield ground on Saturday.

However, the 2-1 scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story.

After a frantic start, Miners took control and were in the driving seat for much of the game.

There was the odd scare in front of goal, which in the main, Sam Dobbs dealt with admirably.

Whilst at the other end, Craig Stephens and Franny Johnson grabbed a goal apiece in either half to secure the points.

But for the most part, the game was won and lost in midfield.

And refreshingly for Nostell, the ball was played out of defence and along the turf to the feet of Paul Bedford and Man of the Match Tom Thornton.

This allowed the pair to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and distribute passes, rather than the ball being pumped up field from the edge of one penalty area to the other.

As the game progressed, Miners grew in confidence with the realisation that the more they maintained possession, the more they found themselves in acres of space.

Thackley were left chasing the game.

Granted, the home side pulled a goal back through Chris Coy on 75 minutes which led to some frantic clearing of lines by Nostell for 10 minutes or so.

But as the game drew to a close, they settled again, stroking the ball from one side to other, mindful of not wanting to get caught short and pick up injuries or bookings ahead of the Vase cup tie on December 6th.

Stephens made way for Dave Nicholas, his work complete early on when he hooked the ball home from an awkward angle inside the penalty area.

And he also combined well with Johnson to give manager Alan Colquhoun numerous pairing options in attack.

On 67 minutes, some superb back-tracking from Thornton, set Nostell going forward on the break.

Johnson then combined with Barry Rankin, who crossed for the speedy striker to let fly with the sweetest of volleys that bulged the back of the home side’s net.

And there could have been more.

But numerous other chances went begging despite Nostell’s superiority.

However, with one eye on the Vase and a prospective Wembley final just around the corner, the gloves will come off in two weeks time.

Before then and with their self-belief returning in spades, it is about making sure they stay safe and do not get caught by a sucker punch.