Thackley 2 Ossett United 1 - Match Report.

Thackley entertained higher ranking opposition on Tuesday night in the Quarter Final of the WRCC. Although Ossett United have only been in existence for just over a year, they were an amalgamation of two clubs playing in the Northern Premier League and current holders of the County Cup. Thackley had won through to this round by beating Knaresborough Town and Campion and were hoping to win through to the semi final of the competition for the first time since 2011, the year they went all the way to the final. Thackley fielded the same eleven that had played so well on Saturday at Staveley and were unlucky not to have returned from Inkersall Road with all three points.

Jack Stockhill got a shot off early on that whistled past the post but it was Thackley that started the better. It was a continuation of the play evident at the weekend, working hard to keep possession, closing down quickly and effectively when the ball was lost and nullifying the away side when they tried to go forward. Ossett were reduced to a couple of long range efforts, whilst Thackley created a number of good half chances. Brett Souter was at full stretch to push away Simon Poole’s twenty five yards shot and the Ossett keeper kept out Albert Ibrahimi at the near post following a short corner. It was somewhat against the run of play and whilst Thackley were down to ten men ( Poole having a head injury bandaged) that the away side took the lead just before the half hour. Luke Porritt picked up a cross field pass wide on the right; his cross was converted with a certain amount of athleticism via the head of Brodie Litchfield. Ryan Basi did clear off the line a couple of minutes later but it was Thackley that were dominating possession. Dan Broadbent fired over and Ibrahimi, perhaps, should have done better just before the break, his shot clearing the bar after fending off a couple of defenders. Ossett took their rather fortunate one goal advantage in at half time.

Half time: Thackley 0 Ossett United 1.

Ossett came out from the break and started to dominate affairs, Tom Greaves saw his shot pushed onto the bar by Luke Wilson and a James Knowles effort went over. Just before the hour, Wilson kept the difference to one goal with a point blank save following a corner, this had been Ossett’s best spell of the game. Thackley made a double substitution, Ben Grech-Brooksbank and Jack Normanton coming on for Ray Sibanda and Braodbent. The home side levelled the score on the hour, Ibrahimi sneaking in at the far post to head Asa Mitchell’s cross past Souter, perhaps, at the time, somewhat against the run of play. The goal rejuvenated Thackley and they regained their first half impetus. Seb Scaroni’s goal bound effort was deflected wide and Greaves put his shot the wrong side of the post before Poole gave way to Owen Murphy. Souter came out to thwart Mitchell and Normanton cut in and hit the side netting, as the home side pushed forward. If there was going to be a winner in the ninety minutes it was going to be Thackley and so it turned out. A ball worked down the left finished at the feet of Grech-Brooksbank, his cross in front of goal was turned past his own keeper by substitute Tyler Walker. Normanton nearly put the icing on the cake in time added on but Souter saved and Thackley deservedly progress to the semi final and a home tie against Farsley Celtic.

Full time: Thackley 2 Ossett United 1.

It was another superb all round performance by Thackley against a team from the level higher than them. They were unlucky to go in at half time a goal down, Ossett had a fifteen minutes spell at the start of the second half but once weathered, Thackley got the two goals their play deserved. The most difficult decision of the night was who to award the man of the match to, everyone deserved the accolade.

Back to league action on Saturday when Hemsworth Miners Welfare are the visitors to Dennyfield.

Thackley team: Wilson; Hargreaves; Rothel; Whiteley ©; Basi; Scaroni; Mitchell; Broadbent (Normanton 58 mins); Poole (Murphy 75 mins); Ibrahimi; Sibanda (Grech-Brooksbank 58 mins). Subs not used: Faulding; Muller.

Ossett United team: Souter; Egan; Hardaker; Stockdill (Walker); Knowles © (Croft); McManus; Litchfield; Harrison; Greaves; Guest (Clarkson); Porritt. Sub not used: Topa.

Thackley scorers: Albert Ibramini 60 mins; Tyler Walker (og) 89 mins.

Ossett United scorer: Brodie Litchfield 28 mins.

Attendance: 139.

Referee: Lewis Dawson.

Photo: Seb Scaroni receiving The Terrace (Saltaire) MOM from Manager Pat McGuire.