HONOURS were even as Eccleshill United welcomed Thackley in the big Bradford derby in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

The Eagles have been looking forward to taking on top-tier rivals Thackley, Albion Sports and Liversedge ever since gaining promotion via the play-offs last April.

They didn’t have long to wait for the Dennyboys’ visit as the fixture was scheduled on the opening day of the season, and the game lived up to its billing.

Eccleshill created several chances but Thackley broke the deadlock somewhat against the run of play.

Midway through the first half, following good play on the edge of the area, Jordan Hines was set up and he buried a shot into the far corner.

Jassim Alali replaced Khurram Shazad midway through the second half as the Eagles’ boss Sean Regan made changes, and the substitute netted the equaliser when the Dennyboys’ defence failed to clear a 70th-minute corner.

There were three huge chances for the Dennyboys to bag all three points, while the Eagles had just one in an enthralling game, so after dominating the first half Eccleshill were happy to settle for draw.

Liversedge were also winners as they went to Athersley Recreation and triumphed 3-1.

The fixture should have been a home game for Sedge but Clayborn was not ready to stage it following summer building work, so The Rec agreed to a switch of venue and it was played at Sheerian Park.

That didn’t prevent Sedge romping to victory, although it took them a while to break the deadlock.

Joe Walton headed in the first just five minutes before the break, but minutes later he set up Red Bates, who slotted in to gave Sedge a two-goal half-time lead.

The visitors finally added a third, four minutes from time, while the Rec got a consolation thanks to Lee Garside’s deflected free-kick deep into stoppage time.

Albion hosted last season’s Division One champions Knaresborough Town, but it was the new boys who took the points.

Sports led from the 11th minute, following Ombeni Ruhanduka’s opener, but the visitors’ Brad Walker bagged a second-half brace to see Town to a 2-1 win.

Campion were left behind by Knaresborough and Eccleshill last term but they opened this season by earning an away win.

The black and reds led at half-time through Ben Kendall’s 20th-minute strike and Lee Bradshaw made it 2-0 in the last minute against Dronfield Town.