THACKLEY have rocketed up to sixth place in the NCEL Premier Division, after youngster Will Jackson grabbed a late winner to help them beat AFC Mansfield 2-1 at Dennyfield in midweek.
The hosts had the best of the early stages, though visitors Mansfield did have a goal ruled out from a corner after the referee spotted a push.
Ben Grech-Brooksbank (pictured) nodded player/manager Pat McGuire’s free-kick home to put Thackley in front after 31 minutes, before Dennyboys goalkeeper Luke Wilson produced a good stop from a free-kick to keep the hosts ahead before the break.
But he could do nothing about Thomas Cropper’s headed equaliser on 62 minutes.
But with six minutes to go, Jackson was played in by Chris Lever, and he fired it past the keeper for the winner.
Mansfield lost their heads a little towards the end, seeing one man sin-binned for dissent and another sent off for a late tackle, allowing Thackley to see out victory easily enough.
Eccleshill United are having an even better season than Thackley, and they are up to second after a 4-1 win at Handsworth on Wednesday.
They were behind early on through a Mitchell Dunne goal, but they levelled before the break through Jonny Irving.
Defender Sam Bradley scored a rare goal to put the visitors in front just after the interval, before the prolific Talent Ndlovu made it three on 68 minutes.
It was not long before Alex Laird scored to make it 4-1, with the win putting Eccleshill above Garforth Town, and behind only Grimsby Borough in the table.
Albion Sports sit 14th after a 3-2 defeat at lowly Emley.
Max Tweddle netted twice in the first half hour for the hosts, with the goals sandwiching an effort from Albion’s Danny Facey.
A Matthew Sykes penalty made it three for Emley before the break, with Finn Donovan’s second half strike a mere consolation for the visitors.
In the NPL East Division, Brighouse Town are up to sixth, after Jack Boyle and Laurence Sorhaindo (penalty) scored to help them beat visiting Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-1.
The away side scored a late consolation courtesy of Nathaniel Crofts.
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