Match Preview

On Saturday Thackley return to Dennyfield after having no success on their travels in their last three games. Their last victory was three weeks ago when they defeated Grimsby Borough to lift them to the top of the league for a few days. Since then, defeat in the FA Vase at Thornaby was followed by last Friday evening’s hard to take loss at Hemsworth. On Wednesday they met Eccleshill United in the League Cup, a poor performance helped our near neighbours progress to the next round of the competition.

Staveley have had a pretty good start to their twelfth season in the Premier Division, they sit one point above Thackley, seventh in the table with eleven points from six games (Thackley ten from six). Their three wins have all come at Inkersall Road against Mansfield, Hemsworth and Athersley, their only defeat was at Grimsby Borough and their two draws were at Eccleshill, in the season’s opener, and again last Saturday against Penistone Church.

Last season the ‘Trojans’ took four of the six points on offer from the Dennyboys. A late Joe Pugh goal gave them a point at Thackley in a two all draw. Pugh got both the Staveley goals, Jordan Hines and Jordan Hendrie the players on target for Thackley. At Inkersall Road later in the season it was striker Joe Pugh who again proved to be Thackley’s nemesis scoring both goals in a two nil victory.

With two below par performances in their last three games, Thackley will be hoping to bounce back and produce one similar to their last home game against Grimsby. Staveley, are usually a young energic side that always play football. This is going to be a real test for the Dennyboys, they are in need of a victory to ensure they finish the day in the top half of the table.