Albion Sports crash on superb day for Thackley and Silsden

They were taking on Golcar United at Horsfall in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, and things were looking good when skipper Aran Basi put them in front just after the half-hour mark.

It was a deserved lead for the Bradford side, who had already had a goal ruled out for offside, before being denied by a superb stop from Golcar keeper Sam Kelly.

But Buddy Cox had already served notice of his threat in the opening moments after combining nicely with Slater Barnes, and it was the former who equalised for his side on 39 minutes.

Kiero Lawrance inadvertently turned the ball on to his own crossbar, as he nearly gifted Avenue the lead straight back, but Golcar held on to stay level at the break.

Aran Basi's goal was the icing on the cake of a decent first half for Albion, but it all went wrong for them after the break. (Image: Alex Daniel.)

Alfie Wilkinson missed a brilliant double chance at the start of the second half for the visitors, before former Silsden striker Jos Bradshaw glanced a header narrowly wide with just under 20 minutes to go.

But he made up for that moments later, nodding home to give Golcar the lead.

Ollie Russon made the game safe for the jubilant visitors in the dying moments, as he netted a third to help his side move up to 12th in the table.

Albion slipped to fifth after that home defeat, and were overtaken by rivals Thackley, who leapt up to third with a battling 2-1 win at lowly Pickering Town.

George Green gave the Dennyboys the lead after only two minutes, but he was sent off for a second bookable offence just before half-time.

Pickering equalised almost immediately, but it was 10-man Thackley who won the game, captain Matty Dempsey blasting a free-kick into the net just before the hour mark.

There is a hefty 10-point gap between third-placed Thackley and second-placed Emley though.

The latter thumped Eccleshill United 4-1 on Saturday, Brice Ghussein’s scrambled second-half effort a mere consolation for the struggling Eagles.

That victory puts Emley four points behind leaders Campion, but with four games in hand on the Bradford side.

The Red and Blacks maintained that gap at the summit with their own 4-1 win at Tadcaster Albion, Paddy Sykes, Nicky Boshell, Dan Illingworth and Mark Ferguson all finding the net for the visitors.

Silsden were in FA Vase third action, their tie with Newcastle University switched to West Yorkshire after the designated hosts had had to call the game off twice due to bad weather damaging their pitch.

The Cobbydalers made the most of their unexpected home advantage, Jake Cassidy, Ellis Hudson, Kayle Price and Isaac Baldwin scoring in a 4-2 win.

That victory puts Silsden into the fourth round of the competition for the first time in their history, where they will visit NCEL rivals Hallam on Saturday, January 13.

Their neighbours Steeton were in action over in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, and raced into an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Foley Nkem and Josh McKiernon.

But some woeful defending allowed their visitors Runcorn Town back into the game, and they turned things around to secure a 3-2 away win, despite a late Steeton onslaught almost earning the mid-table hosts an equaliser.

Route One Rovers were not in league action, but instead were knocked out of the Macron Cup, losing 4-0 in the third round at Barnoldswick Town.

Joe Walton scored twice for mid-table Liversedge in the first half of their Friday night clash at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels in the Northern Premier League East Division.

Joe Walton (right) made Stocksbridge suffer in the first half on Friday night, but the visitors hit back to claim a draw. (Image: Brogan Atack.)

But his side blew their two-goal lead, as former Bradford (Park Avenue) striker Luke Rawson netted a brace of his own for the visitors, including a last-minute equaliser to ensure a 2-2 draw.

Brighouse Town are now just three points above the drop zone after losing 2-0 at North Ferriby.

Reece Kendall and Prince Ekpolo ensured Guiseley twice came back from a goal down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Hyde United, the result leaving the Lions a point off the play-off places.

They could easily have won the game had Gabriel Johnson's first-half penalty not been saved.

Finally, Farsley Celtic are seven points clear of the National League North drop zone after a 1-1 draw at Banbury United.

Young Bantams loanee Noah Wadsworth put the Celts in front just after the hour mark, only for Banbury to grab a late equaliser.