For the third consecutive Saturday, and there are three more to go, Thackley had to travel to Humberside for the game against Hall Road Rangers. The home side, like Thackley, were in dire need of points, their last win coming way back in October and last weekend they suffered an eight goal defeat at Staveley. Thackley were forced into making a number of changes from the starting eleven that were unlucky not to come back from Bottesford with a point last weekend. Keeper Luke Wilson and Adam Muller were unavailable, new signing Alfie Stevens-Neale and Luke Robinson were included. Pat McGuire returned to midfield and Jerry White came in at the expense of Ryan Basi at the back. Another new face, signed late last week from Campion, was forward Jack Normanton who was on the bench.

Thackley started with a strongish wind in their favour which made conditions quite difficult for both sides. However, it was the home side that seemed to adapt the better early on and they took the lead on twelve minutes. A cross from the left appeared to take a couple of deflections, keeper Alfie Stevens-Neale went to ground but Reggi Ward managed to get a foot to the ball and poke it past him. Stevens-Neale did well to get to a Ben Vasquez long range effort as Thackley were taking some time to adjust. Their first real threat on goal came on twenty five minutes, Luke Robinson heading over from a corner. They continued to press and Robinson had a shot blocked, Charlie Dixon saved from Lawrance Hunter before Robinson saw his header go wide following a free kick. Just before the break Dan Broadbent fired over after Asa Mitchell laid the ball back to him. The Dennyboys levelled the scores in time added on, Jerry White netting at the far post following a corner. Thackley’s late first half dominance had been rewarded.

Half time: Hall Road Rangers 1 Thackley 1.

Thackley had equalised at the perfect time, they would be hoping to push on at the start of the second period. However, they found themselves two goals adrift seven minutes into the half. Danny Earl netting both for the home side, the first when he just beat Stevens-Neale to a long ball launched over the defence, for the second he cut back inside before releasing a shot that beat the Thackley keeper. It took Thackley just two minutes to reduce the deficit, Mitchell, perfectly placed on the edge of the box, fired home following a partially cleared corner. Twice in quick succession the home side cleared off of the line before Thackley introduced Jack Normanton for Robinson. Thackley’s new boy had an immediate impact, his shot, following his run down the left seemed to take a slight deflection and the ball ended up in the net. Thackley were back on level terms. The Dennyboys scored what turned out to be the winner with twenty minutes to go, Alex Marsh providing the perfect cross for Normanton to convert. Jordan Hines came on for Braodbent but was replaced by Ray Sibanda after limping off following a tackle. The home side pushed forward to try to get something from the game winning a number of corners, Thackley’s defence stood firm to give the Dennyboys their first points of 2019.

Full time: Hall Road Rangers 3 Thackley 4.

Thackley do like to make life difficult for themselves, giving away a soft early goal, they fought back to go into the break on level terms. Within minutes of the second half starting they were two goals adrift, they mounted a momentous fight back scoring three second half goals and fully deserved the win.

A rare midweek game for Thackley on Tuesday night when Worksop Town are the visitors to the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield.

Hall Road Rangers: Dixon; Bruce; Clark; Stock; Cracknell; R Vasquez (C); R Ward (J Ward); Earl; Birley (Walker); B Vasquez; Lorimer (Watts). Subs not used: Tyson; Hill.

Thackley: Stevens-Neale; Marsh; Hunter; Whiteley (C); Hargreaves; White; McGuire; Broadbent (Hines 76 mins) (Sibanda 84 mins); Robinson (Normanton 56 mins); Thompson; Mitchell. Sub not used: Basi.

Hall Road Rangers scorers: Reggi Ward 12 mins; Danny Earl 47 and 52 mins.

Thackley scorers: Jerry White 45 mins; Asa Mitchell 54 mins; Jack Normanton 57 and 69 mins.

Attendance: 55.

Referee: Jonathan Bickerdike.

Photo: Jerry White scorer of Thackley's first goal just before the break.