A LATE Marc Cooper strike ended Thackley's resistance and they ended with ten men as they slipped to a 1-0 Toolstation Northern Counties East League defeat at home to Cleethorpes Town.

The Dennyboys dropped to 17th in the Premier Division table following the home reverse, in which they had captain Pat McGuire sent off.

Nevertheless, it was a much-improved performance after the previous weekend's derby defeat at Albion Sports but Cleethorpes just had too much for them.

It had been a close game with few chances but some good football played by both sides.

The hosts were the first to muster an attempt on target but Thomas Dugdale's 15th-minute shot was pushed around the post by keeper Brad Beattie.

Midway through the first half, an excellent move by the Dennyboys – begun by Kris Hargreaves and involving Mark Trueman and Dugdale – was ruined by an offside flag as Mike Garrod received Hargreaves' return pass.

It was that kind of game for Thackley, with periods of promise and frustration in equal measure.

The visitors had a good spell from the half-hour mark and Brody Robinson had the ball in the net but he was also offside.

Nine minutes into the second half, McGuire talked himself into the referee's notebook after being penalised for a routine foul on halfway.

There were half-chances at both ends but a combination of alert goalkeepers and strong defences maintained the status quo.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 71st minute when Cooper arrived at the far post to sweep home Robertson's low centre.

The following minute, McGuire picked up his second yellow card for another regulation foul deep in the Cleethorpes half and any hopes of a Dennyboys comeback went with him.

LIVERSEDGE leapfrogged their Bradford rivals with a good 2-1 win at Handsworth Parramore.

Anthony Hilton gave Sedge a first-half lead with a 26th-minute strike.

Danny Critchlow levelled seven minutes into the second half but Mitchell Pearson won it for the visitors eight minutes from time, with the three points lifting Sedge to 14th place.

ALBION SPORTS slipped to ninth after a 2-0 home defeat to Barton Town Old Boys ended their three-match winning run.

Barton took the lead through Bradley Ricketts minutes before the break and, after Matt Mathers and Danny Facey had missed second-half chances, Ricketts added his second.

ECCLESHILL UNITED returned to winning ways in Division One as they hauled themselves back into the top four with a 4-3 victory at Grimsby Borough.

Vicktor Balis was on target twice, Matt Burrus netted a penalty and Adam McCabe wrapped up the scoring.