Kieran Wells scored Handsworth’s opener at Thackley
Handsworth Parramore recorded a fourth straight Toolstation NCEL Premier Division victory with the 6-0 demolition of Thackley at Dennyfield.
An unchanged Ambers line-up travelled to Bradford looking for a third successive victory on the road, and as at Rainworth in midweek, it wasn’t long before they were celebrating an early Kieran Wells goal. The striker followed up to score after a Sam Denton header crashed against the cross bar.
The Ambers were really on the front foot in an impressive opening when they threatened each time they crossed the halfway line against a Thackley side missing some of their regulars.
Only the far post saved Thackley as Wells broke free and got his shot away, and then a Danny Buttle cross was met at the far post by Colin Marrison whose header was stopped at point blank range by home keeper, Metcalfe. The move was repeated minutes later but this time, Marrison’s header found Jon Froggatt who neatly slotted home the second goal.
With the front two constantly getting in behind the home back four, it was only a matter of time before the third goal arrived, and when it came it was from an unlikely source. Wells pounced onto a flick on from Froggatt and squared the ball for Ben Starosta who fired home from the edge of the box.
With three goals in the bag it was exhibition stuff from Handsworth and the hosts had no answer as the visitors continued to swarm forward. Wells was absolutely unplayable and only good goalkeeping from Metcalfe kept the score down as he made terrific stops from Denton, Froggatt and Steve Warne in quick succession.
As the second half started, there was some early pressure from Thackley but The Ambers soon came back into the game with Wells shooting just wide before Metcalfe made a great double save from Froggatt. Buttle had not seen much of the ball in the second period but as soon as he did, he crossed for Marrison at the far post to nod in number four, and shortly afterwards, he did it again and set Froggatt up to make it five.
Luke Fletcher and Alex Rippon then came on and the first time Rippon got hold of the ball, he was chopped down by Thackley skipper Paddy McGuire who was shown his second yellow card leading to the inevitable red. After a Buttle strike was tipped over by Metcalfe, and Nathan Joynes was brought on, Wells made a great run down the right and teed up Rippon who finished well to make it six nil and complete the scoring.
Thackley: Metcalfe, Snowden (Hudson 37), Littlefair, McGuire (captain), Hopkins, Hargreaves (Cohen 75), Garrod, Whiteley (Beckles 45), Brown, Bentham, Dugdale.
Handsworth Parramore: Sneath, Starosta, Tootle, S Harrison (Fletcher), Denton, Griffiths, C Harrison (captain) (Rippon), Warne, Froggatt (Joynes), Wells, Buttle. Subs unused: Holden, Haggerty.
Referee: Colin Whittaker
Attendance: 103
Thanks to Ian Robinson for this report.