THACKLEY'S player-manager Pat McGuire is still smarting after his side's cup defeat to Eccleshill last month - and is determined to get revenge over the Eagles when the Bradford rivals face off again in the league tonight.

The Dennyboys have been the better side so far in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division, with 16 points to Eccleshill's 10, but that counted for little in their NCEL League Cup Second Round clash which United won 3-1.

McGuire was brutally honest in his assessment of that contest, saying that his side "got what they deserved". He is demanding an improvement in tonight's away game at the Mitton Group Stadium.

He fumed: “We’d been in good form, winning four in a row before losing in the 98th minute to Hemsworth Miners Welfare (after going down late on to Thornaby in the FA Vase the week before).

“We were down to 10 men (at Hemsworth) for over an hour, but we gave it everything.

“I don’t mind losing like that but our attitude was wrong at Eccleshill. We were flat and got what we deserved, nothing.

“I want a massive reaction for this game, as it doesn’t get much bigger for us than playing Eccleshill.”

One former Eagles player now in the Thackley ranks is Ben Grech-Brooksbank. The forward has already scored six goals for the club since crossing the divide this summer.

McGuire said: "I tried to get Ben in before as I'd played alongside him at Ossett Albion, but he'd already committed to Eccleshill.

"But he got a season-ending injury there, so ended up surplus to requirements this summer.

"We got him down here and he's not at full fitness yet but he's still scored six goals. He's a big player for us and his fitness will get better.

"He's the kind of player we missed last year, someone that can unlock defences."

In the same division, Albion Sports host Maltby Main looking to bounce back from a 5-3 defeat to neighbours Liversedge last weekend.