Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Penistone Church 3-2 Thackley
Nathan Keightley scored Penistone’s equaliser in their 3-2 win over Thackley.
FA Cup heroes Penistone Church finally won in the league for the first time since the opening day after coming from behind to beat Thackley.
The magical run in the world’s oldest cup competition had hidden the fact that Church were on a run of six league games without a win.
The omens weren’t good enough at the start either as shortly after losing the twinkle-toed magician Jordan Coduri to injury, Thackley went ahead through Jerry White’s header.
Penistone would eventually turn the game on its’ head as half-time approached. Thackley only had themselves to blame for the equaliser as they made a complete mess of trying to play out from the back. The ball was lost and young starlet Nathan Keightley breezed in and emphatically fired home from the edge of the penalty area, past Thackley’s goalkeeper Luke Wilson.
Church mounted more pressure and Scott Whittington forced an excellent save from Wilson before the corner that the home side grabbed their second goal from. James Young’s in-swinging corner flew past everyone, except people’s favourite Brett Lovell who gleefully accepted the invitation to score.
Even as the half closed, there was time for another chance as Keightley ratted the post with an audacious long range effort.
The second half was not as quite end-to-end as the first. The key moment was after the hour when Lovell’s header came back off the bar and Kieran Ryan tapped home the rebound to give Church a solid two-goal cushion.
That gave Church much-needed breathing space.
Penistone goalkeeper Adam Rhodes earned his corn in the last 20 minutes as he denied former Farsley Celtic striker Kevin Sanasy on three different occasions.
He would be eventually beaten by a fine strike from Nicky Matthews deep into injury time. For Thackley it was just too late to claim a dramatic point.
The Teams
Penistone Church: Rhodes, R Johnson, Young, Ellis (Barnett HT), Brennan, Lovell (captain), Richards, Coduri (Whittington 8), Keightley, Ryan, Beaumont (L Johnson 38). Subs unused: Ambler, Ring.
Thackley: Wilson, Garrod, White, McGuire (captain), Bentham, Omolokun, Cable (Harper 68), Whiteley, Broadbent (Hughes 68), Matthews, Sanasy. Subs unused: Higginson, Barylski.
Who Was In Charge
Aaron Bannister (8/10)
A very strong display from young Mr Bannister whose man management was superb.
How Many Were There
123