THACKLEY pulled off a superb 1-0 win at Maltby Main in midweek to advance into the NCEL League Cup fourth round.

They had thumped Armthorpe Welfare 3-0 in November to get to this stage, but knew they would face a tougher test at Maltby, who are ninth in the NCEL Premier Division, with the Dennyboys down in 15th.

Both teams traded early chances on Tuesday night, with Thackley missing a good one-on-one chance, but Maltby firing a free-kick just over courtesy of Johnathan Williams.

Ben Algar’s volley was well gathered by Thackley stopper Ethan Krabbendan, before Lewis Waddington fired a volley of his own just wide for the visitors.

Thackley started to get on top towards the end of the first half, and took the lead on 43 minutes.

Ben Grech-Brooksbank drilled a ball into the six-yard box and the unlucky Joe Austin turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Waddington at the near post.

The Dennyboys were heroically denied at the start of the second half by Maltby stopper Jonathan Hill.

Moments later, home striker Jordan Turner dribbled brilliantly into the box before firing a good chance over.

Just after the hour mark, Thackley hit the bar from long-range, and from there Maltby struggled to create any decent chances to equalise, with Reggie Waud’s late sin-binning a sign of their frustration, as they slid to defeat.

With Silsden and Eccleshill United knocked out in the second round in November, Albion Sports were the only other Bradford team left in the NCEL League Cup.

But despite Kamron Basi’s early goal putting them in front on Wednesday night, they ended up losing 2-1 at home to Bottesford Town, courtesy of strikes from Luke Ayris and Louis Scott.

In the NWCFL First Division North on Tuesday night, Aidan Kirby's goal was not enough for Campion in their battling 2-1 defeat against leaders Bury AFC.

After National League North relegation rivals Bradford (Park Avenue) thumped York 3-0 on Tuesday night, the pressure was on Guiseley and Farsley Celtic to match them.

Guiseley did so, with new boy Dom Tear’s double and a late Lebrun Mbeka goal securing a thrilling 3-2 win over Alfreton Town.

But out-of-form Farsley, whose manager Neil Ross departed the club this afternoon, are just two points clear of the drop, after they were beaten 3-0 at Boston United.