Thackley strengthened their play-off position in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division yesterday, with a deserved 2-1 win at Goole keeping them third.

It also allowed the Dennyboys to move four points clear of their two nearest challengers, Garforth Town and Albion, neither of whom were in weekend action.

Thackley started brightly, but Goole had the best early chance, as a cross to the back post led to Reon an opposition player shooting just wide.

The Dennyboys quickly recovered from that scare, taking the lead on 18 minutes, when player/joint-manager Tom Greaves scored with a wind-assisted flicked header from a corner.

Matty Dempsey came agonisingly close to doubling Thackley’s lead just before half-time, but his free-kick struck the post.

Home stopper Luke Wilson made a good stop right at the start of the second half, tipping a fine Goole effort from outside the box over the crossbar.

Greaves wasted a good chance on the hour mark, but Thackley soon doubled their lead anyway, Kieran Suddards firing a low shot from inside the box into the net.

Goole fought their way back into the game, and a back post cross was turned home to halve the deficit with 15 minutes to go.

And the hosts should have equalised with two minutes to go, but a headed effort from six yards out flew over the crossbar, condemning them to defeat.

Silsden made a sensational start at home to play-off rivals Frickley Athletic, and that proved handy in their thrilling 4-2 victory.

The Cobbydalers went ahead inside the opening minute though Luke Brooksbank, before the same player doubled their advantage on the quarter-hour mark.

Kayle Price fired home a brilliant third goal for the Silsden midway through the first half, but Frickley pulled one back after half-an-hour.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Kayle Price looked to have wrapped the game up after only 23 minutes, but Frickley had other ideas, leading to a enthralling contest.Kayle Price looked to have wrapped the game up after only 23 minutes, but Frickley had other ideas, leading to a enthralling contest. (Image: Linda Gartland.)

Kyle Trenerry had made a couple of great saves either side of the break, but the Silsden stopper saw a handling error punished on the hour mark, as the visitors made the score 3-2.

 

But the Cobbydalers hit back, putting the Frickley goal under real pressure, and they added their all-important fourth goal with just under 10 minutes to go through Jake Cassidy.

Brighouse Town moved four points clear of the drop in the Northern Premier League East Division, but were left kicking themselves after blowing the lead three times in a 3-3 draw at home to Ashington.

Jack Normanton put them in front from the penalty spot on 27 minutes, only for the North-East side to level the scores just after the break.

Kieron Cessay put Brig back in front after 73 minutes, only for Ashington to equalise quickly.

Samuel Drake restored the home side’s advantage with just under 10 minutes to go, only for the visitors to secure a point with a last-gasp leveller.

Mid-table Liversedge would have been disappointed to only draw 0-0 at Cleethorpes Town, given the hosts played for just over an hour with 10 men, after having had a player sent off for two bookable offences.

Cleethorpes were reliant on an impressive defensive effort to claim a point, aided by their new goalkeeper, on-loan Bradford City youngster Heath Richardson.

Guiseley remain in the thick of the NPL Premier Division play-off race, edging to a 1-0 win at struggling Basford United thanks to Gabriel Johnson’s 64th-minute winner.

The Lions were also indebted to keeper Oliver Battersby, who saved a penalty while the scores were still level early in the second half.

After a slow start to the season, Farsley Celtic are now remarkably just two points off the National League North play-off places.

They won 1-0 at home to Gloucester City yesterday, thanks to a Michael Coulson screamer early in the second half.

Ryan Watson was given a straight red card on the hour mark, but the 10-man Celts held on to win.

There is a full programme of non-league football on Boxing Day, which goes as follows:

SCUNTHORPE UNITED V FARSLEY CELTIC

RADCLIFFE V BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

GUISELEY V MARSKE UNITED

LIVERSEDGE V OSSETT UNITED

WINTERTON RANGERS V BRIGHOUSE TOWN

CAMPION V SILSDEN

ECCLESHILL UNITED V ALBION SPORTS

THACKLEY V GOLCAR UNITED

ROUTE ONE ROVERS V STEETON (POSTPONED DUE TO GAS SUPPLY ISSUES AT MARLEY)