NEW Thackley assistant manager Andy Patterson warned the club would be missing several players at the start of the campaign and he believes that had a huge effect on their FA Cup exit.

The Dennyboys have a handful of schoolteachers in their squad, with Patterson and manager Chris Reape knowing that would cause problems at the end of their pre-season and when the real action got underway.

Like many of the clubs on step five of the football pyramid, Thackley's season began with an FA Cup extra preliminary-round tie.

They lost a keenly-fought contest 4-3 at home to Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division rivals Harrogate Railway Athletic.

Patterson said: "It was very disappointing to go out of the cup in the first game of the season, especially with it being so close.

"We were 2-0 up and looking comfortable. We were in control of the tie. Then there were a couple of defensive lapses and its all square and then they go in front. We got level again but they scored late on and it was a real kick in the teeth."

The Dennyboys did not have long to wait to exact their revenge on Railway. The first home league game at Dennyfield was against their neighbours just a week later.

On that occasion it was Harrogate who scored three times but the Dennyboys took all three points as they banged in five goals, with a brace apiece for Joe Hughes and Kesi Omolokun helping the hosts to their nap hand.

Patterson said: "It was written in the stars that whoever won the first would get beaten in the next match.

"We'd been beaten in our first league game, away at Handsworth, but we'd got a couple of bodies back which helped. That was a good win for us and we've done well since, going unbeaten.

"In fact, we've done well since half-time at Handsworth. We were 3-1 down and we had a word in the dressing room and things turned around.

"We were always going to be light going into the first couple of games because of school holidays but the lads are coming back now and things are taking shape.

"Pretty much all of the players are back now but Joe Brown is injured and Dan Broadbent should be playing again soon.

"Dan has been training with us throughout but he's not been involved at the weekends because of his cricket commitments."