LEE Elam’s Eccleshill United hold the bragging rights after completing a triple against neighbours Thackley, leapfrogging their local rivals in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division after a 2-0 win at Dennyfield.

A late goal in each half eased the Eagles over the line in a close contest as hosts Thackley never really reached the heights.

The home side forced visiting keeper Jordan Moorhouse into just two real saves - the other goal attempts were either meat and drink for the Eagles’ stopper or were off target.

It means Eccleshill have won both league clashes between the sides and also triumphed in the derby League Cup tie.

Elam was delighted with the three points and the display from his players. The Eccleshill manager said: “It was a good win for us and I thought we kept Thackley quiet by dominating possession, especially in the first half.

“They had a bit more of the ball later in the second half when they were chasing the game but we defended very well. That’s three wins on the trot and we’re unbeaten this year so we’re on a little bit of a roll now and that’s down to us finally having a settled side.”

There was a lively start to the game as both teams looked for an early breakthrough but when it didn’t come the game drifted. The first half looked likely to end goalless but the visitors snatched the lead from a counter-attack in stoppage time.

A 25-yard free-kick from Dan Broadbent was well watched by Moorhouse and, after gathering the ball, he launched it forward. A pass into the area was controlled by Nicky Boshell and turned back to Jonny Irving who created the space for the shot and then dispatched it into the bottom corner.

Despite the endeavours of both sets of players there were few clear-cut chances and the game wasn’t won until seven minutes from time. The Dennyboys were throwing everything forward but a stray pass was intercepted and a long through ball found Tabish Hussain.

The on-loan Guiseley forward took the ball on and home keeper Luke Wilson came out to meet him. Hussain got his shot away and despite Wilson getting something on it, the ball still found the back of the net.

Thackley manager Pat McGuire was introspective after the game. He said: “That is the third time we’ve been beaten by them this season and it’s not good enough.”

The Eagles knocked the Dennyboys out of the League Cup with a 3-1 home win before the first league clash of the season which they won 2-1.

McGuire added: “It was a local derby, I had a full squad available and there was a big crowd here so all the incentives were there but we didn’t show up. I thought it was a game that lacked quality throughout really but our players failed to make an impact.

“I’ve got to look at myself, maybe it was my choices. I decided to go for experience and it didn’t work. I said to the players in the dressing room after that game that I’d picked the wrong team.

“There were a lot of players left out, not only the ones on the bench, and they will be looking at that and thinking that they could have done better.

"They will be pushing to get a shirt for the next game and they’ll certainly have a chance.

“I’m going to have to sleep on it and just take the frustration from today out of my decision before picking the team for the next game.”