THACKLEY skipper Pat McGuire delivered on his promise to provide his convalescing manager a three-point haul from last weekend’s away game.

The 4-0 win at Barton Town Old Boys kept the Dennyboys at the summit of the Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division until Tuesday night when rivals Cleethorpes Town edged ahead on goal difference.

After his team's success, McGuire paid tribute to boss Chris Reape for the work he has done since taking over the reins at Dennyfield.

He said: "Chris has done a really good job at this club, sometimes in very difficult circumstances, and everyone respects him for it.

“He’s been able to bring some new players in to strengthen the squad and boost and they have all been very good signings. Chris worked with Kris Hargreaves at Silsden and he has come back here now after being here as a young player.

“Chris also worked with Chris Wademan at Silsden and he’s brought him here now and he’ll be a great acquisition. He’s lively with good pace and he’s a threat . He’s just what we needed."

McGuire added: “The boss got some good young players from Harrogate Railway in the summer and they’ve done really well.”

Thackley have had good teams over the past four years despite operating on a shoestring budget.

McGuire feels that those days are behind the Dennyboys and now they will prosper. He said: “It has been difficult over the past few seasons but we’ve got a strong squad now. I think a lot of that’s down to Chris Reape for identifying good players and persuading them to join a progressive club.

“Recently we had Dan Broadbent and Luke O’Brien on the bench. When you’ve got players that good who are not in the starting line up it shows how strong we are.

“Joe Brown and Dan Clayton weren’t even available that day so it’s a headache for the manager and that’s the best kind of problem to have. It’s definitely a case of if you get your chance and get a shirt then you cling onto it.

“At the moment the lads fear picking up an injury or getting a suspension and that’s keeping us all sharp.”