Non-League Soccer: Thackley 2, Eccleshill United 1.

As a passionate derby the match lived up to its billing, but it cried out for quality players who could dictate the pace of play and create chances from nothing with a defence splitting pass or a pinpoint cross.

There was little to choose between the sides and although the odd late challenge flew in there was nothing malicious and all the players involved gave a good honest performance.

The only sparring came in the post match analysis with both managers claiming their side had done enough to win.

It was apparent they had taken positives from their own good spells, but the record will show that Thackley did enough to win because they scored twice to United's solitary reply.

Home manager Trevor Best said: "I thought over the 90 minutes we deserved the three points. We are very pleased with the result, it is the first time in a long while that we have done the double over them."

The visitors' spokesman, first team coach John Price whose last post was assistant to Best at Ossett Town, countered: "We are disappointed with the result, but pleased with the effort the players gave. If we had taken our chances we would have been three or four up by half-time."

Thackley keeper Garry Cox made one reaction save when he thrust out a leg to block a Kevin Megson effort and then did well to punch two more dangerous crosses out in the first half hour.

Just after that United striker Karl Cochrane got in behind the home defence and though his low shot beat Cox it rebounded off the foot of the post.

Thackley's 41st minute opener came when Stuart Burgess made the most of a fortunate ricochet and raced on to cross for Stuart Taylor to head home from the edge of the six yard box.

A golden chance to double the lead on the stroke of half-time went begging but an early second half mistake gifted Matt Brown an opening and he drilled in a shot across the face of United's goal.

A little over four minutes into stoppage time what seemed like a ball to hand incident in Thackley's area was deemed a punishable offence and United's skipper Andy Wilkinson netted the resulting penalty.

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