Eccleshill United 3, Thackley 3; Ian Whiting reports.

Thackley had two players making their debuts in this keenly-fought Northern Counties East Premier Division derby, but it was a day for old boys at Plumpton Park.

Seven of the players starting the match had seen service with both clubs, and three of them were on the scoresheet, one in dramatic fashion.

Mid-table United, in a good run of form, were 3-2 down against relegation-threatened visitors Thackley when former Dennyfield favourite Paul Newsome produced a last- minute equaliser.

United's first team coach John Price said: "We nicked a point really with a late rally. The scoreline suggests it was a thriller, but it was a poor game overall.

"They were bound to be up for it, and with so many players knowing all about the other team it was never going to be a classic.

"Some of our players could have had their minds elsewhere - we have a big semi-final against Harrogate Town tomorrow."

Thackley manager Trevor Best was philosophical, saying: "When you are winning 2-0 and 3-1 to finish with a draw is two points lost really.

"But I think credit should go to both sides for an entertaining game. The pitch isn't the best, but they had played on it in midweek and must have done an awful lot of work to get it playable.

"It was a game played by two sides of contrasting styles. Even though we held a two-goal lead twice, Eccleshill didn't give up.

"It's disappointing for us that their equaliser came right at the end because over the 90 minutes we shaded it."

It was one of Thackley's ex-United men who gave the visitors the lead in only the 11th minute.

Mark Sugden picked up the ball from a throw-in and his shot from outside the area just squeezed between the outstretched hands of Craig Bates and his post.

The action was end to end, but the score did not increase until the last minute of the first half.

Thackley doubled their ad-vantage when a Craig Sugden through ball split the home defence and Chris Arum sped through to net.

Ten minutes into the second half Thackley keeper Carl Wood - a last-minute stand-in after Mark Tasker's withdrawal - mis-kicked a clearance and United substitute Mark Burn-ham halved the deficit.

Thackley's next also came from a substitute. Matty Flynn beat the offside trap to score in the 72nd minute.

Two minutes later a combination of ex-Thackley players brought United back in the game with a penalty. Stuart Taylor was brought down and Andy Sutcliffe blasted in the spot kick. Newsome then completed the old boys' day.

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