THACKLEY remain 13th in the Northern Counties East League premier division - but are now 15 points clear of the drop zone after a hard-earned 4-2 win over basement boys Goole AFC.

There was a Dennyboys debut for Bradford City Academy player Jorge Sikora, who has signed a one-month loan deal. The 16-year-old Polish defender started alongside Jerry White in the centre of the home side’s defence and it was an interesting introduction.

The Bantams’ starlet almost marked his debut with a goal as he was in the Goole area when a 23rd-minute corner was whipped in by man-of-the-match Alex Marsh. The ball was headed down and Sikora stabbed it just over the bar.

Two minutes later, the young defender was in his own area, in close attendance with keeper Luke Wilson as Goole striker Carl Stewart tried to work space for a shot. The Vikings’ forward went to ground and, after giving himself time to think, the referee pointed to the spot. Stewart got to his feet before finding the bottom corner from the resulting penalty to give his side the lead.

Thackley trailed for just two minutes before a great 22-yard Kieran Thompson strike left the Vikings’ keeper James Hitchcock rooted to the spot as the ball zipped into the far side of his net.

Hitchcock was caught out again as Dan Broadbent put the Dennyboys in front and the Goole stopper could only look in wonderment as Luke Robinson added a third. The Thackley forward took a through ball in his stride and netted a superb dipping shot from a tight angle.

The home side enjoyed the greater possession in the second half but the visitors, despite their bleak league placing, created chances and were tough to beat. The Dennyboys had to wait until the 78th minute to add a fourth and it was Robinson who claimed a brace when he walked the ball in after his initial shot had been blocked by Hitchcock but the loose ball ran kindly for the Thackley forward.

It was a league double for Bradford clubs against the teams in the relegation places as Liversedge won 1-0 at second-bottom Harrogate Railway Athletic thanks to a 37th-minute goal from Joe Walton.

Jonathan Rimmington’s side are also 15 points clear of the drop zone, on the same points total as Thackley, but they have a game in hand on their local rivals and host the Dennyboys next weekend.

Albion Sports came close to picking up a valuable maximum from the visit of third-placed Bridlington Town but the east coast side snatched a last gasp-equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Throstle Nest.

The Albion Lions opened up a two-goal first-half lead thanks as Alhassane Keita and Lamin Janneh netted but Brid got a goal back just three minutes after the break through Jake Day, who went on to net the last-minute leveller.

It went all wrong for Eccleshill United as they were heavily beaten at Wayne Benn’s Hemsworth MW.

The Eagles crashed to a 5-1 defeat against the fourth-placed side as the Wells, managed by former Bradford (Park Avenue) legend Benn, dominated the game.

Sean Regan’s men were briefly on level terms when Adam Shaw cancelled out Seon Ripley’s 16th-minute opener, but the Wells led 3-1 at the break after Richard Collier had restored their lead and Sam Jones had netted a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Second-half goals from Nash Connolly and Sid Santos underlined the home side’s superiority.

Campion closed the gap on leaders Grimsby Borough in division one with a 4-0 win at struggling Rossington Main.

Leon Hurles-Brook gave the Red and Blacks a good start when he broke the deadlock in only the seventh minute and an own goal from Josh Gibbons doubled their advantage before the interval.

Marcus Day and Jason Carney were both on target in the second half as Campion pulled to within three points of Grimsby who had no fixture. James Bicknell’s side also have two games in hand.