The two of the three local representatives in the Baris Northern Counties East League Premier Division to get their games played this weekend will be wishing they hadn’t after both suffered home defeats.

Thackley were hosting Staveley MW, managed by their former boss Billy Fox, and it was the visitors who won the battle of the promotion hopefuls 2-1.

Kyle Fores-Chambers, one of four players in the Staveley line-up who played for Thackley under Fox, opened the scoring.

The Dennyboys had suffered a blow when skipper Rob Morgan was carried off after sustaining a bad injury in the third minute.

The robust centre back went in for a challenge and came off worst. He was sent to hospital for a scan on suspected ruptured knee ligaments.

Fores-Chambers broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when his lofted cross flew over Dennyboys goalkeeper Matt Convey.

Despite some chances for the home side, mainly for Mark Bett, Staveley doubled their lead in the 35th minute when Jordan Eagers beat Convey in a race to a through ball.

There were nine added minutes at the end of the first half following treatment to Morgan and in that time the skipper’s brother Matt and Bett were both foiled by Staveley keeper Ian Deakin.

Bett finally pulled one back in the 68th minute but Thackley could not find an equaliser.

Dennyboys spokesman Mick Lodge said: “Rob’s injury was a total accident because both players just went for a 50-50 ball. But it looks like a nasty one that could keep him out for a long while. The game was played in very good spirits and that was nice to see.

“Obviously Billy Fox is well known to us and there are still players in his squad that played for us. But there was no animosity, which is a good thing because we play them again next week in the reverse fixture.”

LIVERSEDGE also suffered a home loss as their ten men went down 4-0 to Retford United, who moved top as a result.

Ricky Chambers gave Retford the perfect start when he netted in the third minute.

That was the only goal of the first half but Warren Hadfield struck ten minutes after the break to double the advantage.

The game was more or less done and dusted when Sedge player Chris Hannay was sent off in the 66th minute.

Hadfield added his second from the penalty spot four minutes from time and Chris Hall netted even later to compound Sedge’s misery.