Tom reaches 100 goals for Town

Tom Matthews scored twice - including his 100th goal for the club - as Town worked hard to overcome their fourth-placed opponents from Bradford on a heavy pitch.

Thackley set the early pace but Ernest Boafo tested visiting ‘keeper Ben Higginson before Ryan Hall fired the hosts in front on six minutes after good work from Matthews and Danny Naidole.

Nicky Matthews fired wide for Thackley before Tom Matthews made it 2-0 on 12 minutes, slotting the ball under the advancing Higginson.

Sam Hewitt’s header grazed the Town bar but at the other end Joe Jagger’s header tested Higginson to the full and shortly after Jagger shot just wide.

Thackley got more into the game and four minutes before half time James Firth got them into the contest with a headed goal.

A Matthews goal three minutes after the break, when the referee played advantage following a push on Hall, restored Town’s two-goal lead and it was game over when Sam Hewitt’s downward header made it 4-1 on 51 minutes.

Town keeper Jacob Giles makes a fine save from Matt Morgan free-kick just past the hour mark but there was no stopping Morgan’s effort on 72 minutes to make it 4-2.

Play was open in the closing stages but there was no addition to the scoreline and Town will go into Tuesday’s home game with Armthorpe in good heart.