Thackley lose West Yorkshire derby late on as Route One draw

Over 200 fans descended upon Dennyfield to watch this West Yorkshire derby in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, and they were served up a cracking contest.

Thackley were on the back foot early on, relying on keeper Luke Wilson to bail them out on a couple of occasions.

And they went behind after nine minutes, as Golcar profited from a lucky bounce to set up Malakai Phillip for a tap in.

But the Dennyboys seemed stung by that concession and roared back, Finn Donovan and Jos Bradshaw both forcing fine saves out of visiting keeper Harry Stead.

Wilson made a brilliant double save soon after, denying George Doyle from a free kick before keeping out the rebound attempt from Phillip.

Donovan in particular looked a real threat leading up to the break, but Thackley still went into half-time at 1-0 down.

As the rain began falling at the start of the second half, Bradshaw zipped an effort wide, then earned his side a penalty when he was brought down by Stead as he went round the goalkeeper.

Ben Grech-Brooksbank drilled the ball home from the spot to bring the Dennyboys level, before Stead kept out both him and Donovan.

Bradshaw tried to lob the ball over Stead with 15 minutes to go, but he cleared the crossbar too, then Nathan Hunt fired an effort wide for the hosts.

Golcar almost scored with 10 minutes to go, as Keegan Hartley beat Wilson to a through ball, but prodded it past the post.

A Thackley corner bounced off a few bodies and was cleared off the line late on, before Golcar pinched all three points at the last.

A deep free kick by the visitors was inadvertently flicked on by a Thackley head, and the ball was knocked back in from the wing to allow Doyle to slide in and score from close range.

There was no time for the Dennyboys to fight back, with the defeat dropping them to 11th in the table.

Silsden also fell a few places last night, only able to draw 1-1 at home with bottom side Beverley Town.

The Cobbydalers went behind early on, but equalised just after the half hour mark through former Bradford (Park Avenue) striker Tom Greaves.

Tom Greaves (red) has still got it, with the veteran securing a point for Silsden last night. (Image: Gary Lohan.)

Their neighbours Steeton were in action on Bank Holiday Monday, earning a backs-to-the wall 1-0 win at Thornton Cleveleys in the North West Counties Football League First Division North.

Owen Williamson had come on after Ollie Kirkpatrick had suffered a nasty injury early on and he scored the only goal of the game, converting the rebound after Jacob Smith had seen his penalty tipped on to the post.

The Chevrons’ divisional rivals Route One Rovers were in league action on Bank Holiday Monday too, drawing 1-1 at home to Maine Road.

The Bradford side went in front early on through Anees Younis but were pegged back 10 minutes into the second half and had to settle for a point.

In the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Guiseley came from 2-0 down at Bamber Bridge on Bank Holiday Monday to win 3-2, Will Longbottom scoring a dramatic free-kick winner at the death.

Farsley Celtic also left it late on Monday, earning a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Warrington Town in National League North after Ben Atkinson scored two minutes into second-half stoppage-time.