Yorkshire Amateur 3 Thackley 1 - Match Report.

Thackley travelled the short distance to Leeds to take on league leaders Yorkshire Amateur on Wednesday night, they would be hoping to pick up their first away points of the season. The Ammers had dropped just two points from their opening six games, it was going to be a tough ask. Thackley were forced into making a couple of changes, there was no James Rothel (suspended) or Adam Muller, Kris Hargreaves and Simon Poole their replacements. Dan Broadbent started for the first time this season, Chris Lever was on the bench along with Lewis Waddington and Will Alderton.

The game started at a fast pace, both teams happy to go forward. Thackley were looking for the ball through the defence, whilst the Ammers liked to get the ball wide and get crosses in to the box. Luke Wilson saved from Casey Stewart early on, his pace on the ball was evident from the start. It was a pretty even end to end game, and Thackley might have gone in front but Kieran Haigh’s header at the far post lacked any real power. The home side had the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out for offside before Thackley took the lead. The ball was worked down the left, Kris Hargreaves got to the byline and crossed for Ben Grech-Brooksbank to knock in at the far post. A couple of minutes later the home side hit the woodwork and Wilson made a good save. The Thackley defence was coming under some pressure. However, Thackley should have increased their lead when Dan Broadbent got his head on Mark Trueman’s free kick but the ball went just wide. The home side equalised with a well taken goal from Smith just after the half hour, skipping past two or three defenders, he slotted the ball past Wilson. They increased their lead a few minutes later, Roy Fogarty converting a cross from the left. Thackley’s lead had been lost in less than five minutes. The home side took their one goal advantage into the break, it had been an entertaining first half.

Half time: Yorkshire Amateur 2 Thackley 1.

Thackley made a change at the break, Will Alderton coming on for Adam Jones. Again, the game swung from end to end, both teams creating a number of half chances. Broadbent and Fernando Moke had shots which cleared the bar. Thackley made another couple of substitutions, Lewis Waddington coming on for Simon Poole and Chris Lever replacing Broadbent. It was a pretty even contest, the next goal would be telling. Matt Broadley went down with a worrying injury after Thackley had used all their substitutes which slowed him down somewhat. Both teams were pushing forward and on a couple of occasions the home side squandered good ones. They increased their lead late on with a fortuitous goal, the referee wrongly awarding them a corner when it was an obvious dead ball kick. The ball was knocked across goal but only partially cleared before Ross Killock headed in from close range. Thackley were not done and Broadley brought a good save out of Kyle Trenerry, the keeper acrobatically pushing his lofted shot over the bar.

Full time: Yorkshire Amateur 3 Thackley 1.

Thackley again played some good stuff against a team that are likely to be one of the promotion contenders. A bad refereeing decision was responsible for the home side’s third goal.

Another tough game awaits Thackley on Saturday when they again travel to the Leeds area to play Garforth.

Yorkshire Amateur team: Trenerry; Smith (Beaston); Henry; Sharry; Dempsey ©; Killock; Naidole (Priestley); Moke; Fogarty; Crawford (Dean); Stewart. Unused subs: Dixon; Serrant.

Thackley team: Wilson; Whiteley ©; Hargreaves; Jones (Alderton 45 mins); Haigh; Scaroni; Poole (Waddington 58 mins); Broadbent (Lever 65 mins); Grech- Brooksbank; Trueman; Broadley.

Yorkshire Amateur scorers: Casey Stewart 34 mins; Roy Fogarty 38 mins; Ross Killock 86 mins.

Thackley scorer: Ben Grech-Brooksbank 16 mins.

Attendance: 94.