THACKLEY returned to winning ways on Tuesday evening as they defeated Eccleshill United 1-0 in a tense local derby.

A sumptuous second-half effort from new signing Tawheed Ahmed earned the hosts all three points.

Playing their first competitive evening fixture under the newly installed floodlights, Thackley started strongly, and they worked their first effort on goal in the 3rd minute of the contest.

 Finn Donovan skipped past his man on the left-wing, however, Eccleshill’s Edward Wilczynski was out of his goal sharply to thwart the Thackley man.

A huge chance arrived shortly after for the visitors, as the ball fell to an Eagles’ forward, but the opportunity was put narrowly wide from ten yards out.

Both sides put the ball in the opposition’s net prior to the break, but the referee deemed the respective attacks to be offside.

On the half-time whistle, Thackley’s goalkeeper Luke Wilson, who made his 300th appearance for the club in the previous match at Silsden, made a terrific save as he tipped a deflected shot around the post to keep the score level at the break.

However, it would be Thackley who stole a march on their Bradford rivals in the second half.

In the 68th minute Liam Hudson played a sublime right-footed pass over the Eccleshill backline, and Ahmed, who has started the season in fine form, raced clear before sending the ball looping over Wilczynski on the half volley to give his side a 1-0 lead.

The drama wasn’t over, though, because Joe Mitchell saw red after collecting two yellow cards in quick succession as the hosts ended the game with ten men.

There was another NCEL Premier Division Bradford derby on Tuesday evening with Silsden locking horns with Albion Sports at home.

The Cobbydalers, fresh from thrashing Thackley 3-0 last Friday, couldn’t build on their fine performance as they played out a 0-0 draw with their local rivals.

The game’s best chance arrived after just seven minutes with Harry Coates smashing a curling effort off Albion’s post.

There wasn’t too much to shout about after this incident, as both sides looked to gain a tactical advantage over one another.

Elsewhere in the NCEL Premier Division, Golcar United and Hallam remain unbeaten with the former edging Campion 2-1 away from home.

Llyod Smith gave the hosts the lead after just one minute, but the visitors bounced back through first half strikes from George Doyle and Alfie Wilkinson.

And Hallam defeated Parkgate 3-0 to remain top of the table on ten points.

In the NWCFL, Steeton claimed their first three points of the season on Monday evening.

They put on a huge display at Daisy Hill to seal a 3-2 victory, with goals coming from new signing Josh Debenham, Jacob Smith and Jack Lynn.

Barnoldswick Town also played out a 2-2 draw at home to Padiham on Tuesday evening in the NWCFL Premier Division.