Thackley 3, Nostell Miners' Welfare 4

Defensive frailties cost Thackley the points as they ended up with nothing from a seven-goal thriller in their meeting with Nostell Miners' Welfare in the Northern Counties East Premier Division.

To score three goals and not finish with at least a point is careless - to score three goals at home and end up losing is almost a crime.

Thackley were guilty as charged on Saturday but, in mitigation, Nostell played well.

The Dennyfield outfit could easily have amassed a decent lead before they were even troubled by the visitors.

A Matt Mathers header from a seventh-minute corner was cleared off the line by Tom Thornton, a Danny Forrest header from a later set-piece was hacked off the line by Scott Hartley and minutes later Nicky Matthews headed against the bar from a Paul Helliwell cross.

Nostell weathered that bright opening by the home side and hit back by taking the lead midway through the first half. Olly Johnson seized possession in midfield, raced forward and crossed for Dave Nicholas to touch over the line.

Matthews levelled on the half-hour after good work from Forrest and Dean Mitchell but the visitors took the initiative back when Paul Bedford scrambled over in the 38th minute.

Two strikes just before the interval saw Thackley go in 3-2 up at the break. Matthews got his second, glancing in a cross from Helliwell, before Forrest netted from yet another Helliwell assist.

Just three minutes into the second half, Nostell levelled again through Johnson and they bagged the winner in the 68th minute.

The only consolation for the home supporters was that it was a wonder goal.

The ball was crossed in from the left flank by Nick Long and superbly volleyed past Thackley keeper Dan Trueman by Dave Watts.