THACKLEY laid down the gauntlet in the title race on Tuesday night, as they claimed a superb 3-2 home win over leaders Penistone Church in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. On a windy night at Dennyfield, the visitors took the lead on the stroke of half-time, as former Campion man Leon Hurles-Brook scored directly from a corner that swirled into the top corner. That was a little harsh on Thackley, who edged proceedings in the first half, and they dominated immediately after the break.
But Luke Wilson stopped them from falling further behind with a brilliant save just before the hour mark. And that proved crucial, as the Dennyboys went on to score three times in 11 minutes. New signing Antony Brown set up Ben Grech-Brooksbank to slot the ball into the bottom corner on the hour mark for the equaliser.
Then Brown struck two quickfire goals to leave Penistone shellshocked, striking his first across the keeper from the right into the bottom corner, then tapping home from Tawheed Ahmed’s excellent cross. To the away side’s credit, they hit back, and Hurles-Brook scored from a free-kick that deflected in off Matty Dempsey. But they could not fashion an equaliser, and now only lead the table by three points from Albion Sports and Thackley.
Albion moved into second spot on Tuesday night, ahead of the Dennyboys on goal difference, with a 3-1 win at Parkgate. Dom Staunton, Eisa Faulding and Nathan Cartman all found the net for the Bradford side, who survived a sin-.