The opening few minutes comprised cagey cat and mouse exchanges with each side trying to feel out the other. It was the visitors who first took the upper hand and for the first 20 minutes or so they were on top. They couldn’t however make this advantage count. Their best chance came on fifteen minutes when one of the forwards shook off his markers to make a space for himself near the penalty spot. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending upon the colour of your scarf) he failed to trouble Mark Bowers in the Thackley goal.

Gradually Thackley began to play football and dominated play from midway through the half. They had a number of chances the best of which fell to Nicky Matthews but his bullet header flashed narrowly wide. For all their dominance it seemed to be the same old story with Thackley unable to convert their chances. As the sides went scoreless into the break Thackley would have felt the more frustrated.

The pattern remained the same from the start of the SECOND HALF with Thackley having all the possession and territory. When Worksop did venture into the Dennyboys’ half any attack was soon snuffed out by the Thackley defence.

Just as the Thackley faithful were starting to think that it was going to be one of those nights, the Dennyboys’ pressure paid off. In the 53rd minute following a number of successive corners down the right left-hand side, JORDAN MISSIN rose to head home a pinpoint delivery from Chris Davey.

It was then almost all Thackley as they pressed forward to increase the margin. But the occasional break by Worksop showed that one goal might not be enough. On 69 minutes Dempsey Smith replaced Chris Davey

The balance of play began to turn as Worksop pressed hard for an equaliser although the Dennyboys were also seeking the goal which might make the lead safe. It was Thackley who struck on 80 minutes. NICKY MATTHEWS found himself in the clear, one on one with the ‘keeper. The goalkeeper got down well to parry the first shot but Matthews collected the rebound and fired home. It was his last touch of the match as he was then replaced by Mark Betts. Four minutes later Thackley made their final substitution as Liam Hudson replaced Matty Hall.

From this point onwards it was virtually all Worksop as they woke up to the possibility of losing to a team they already beaten convincingly in two league games earlier in the season. There was some good, sometimes desperate defending by Thackley with Jerome White and James Firth getting in some telling tackles.

As Worksop continued to apply pressure to the Thackley goal the referee indicated four minutes of added time. The Dennyboys, fighting a valiant rear-guard action managed to hold on to earn themselves a Bank Holiday trip to Staveley where they will take on Louth Town in next Monday’s final.

It had been a good performance by the Dennyboys who thoroughly deserved the victory. They dominated for most of the match and defended well (sometimes desperately) when needed. They seemed to have taken heart from two recent victories, and Worksop have not been in the best of form recently.

Before next Monday’s final Thackley entertain Bridlington on Saturday in their last league match of the season. That is a daunting task but if the Dennyboys play as they did in this semi-final, who knows … ?

Thackley Team: Bower, Tasker, White, Morgan Firth Whiteley, Daly, Hall (L Hudson, 84) Missin, Matthews (Bett, 80), Davey (Smith, 69)

Thackley Sub not used: Hargreaves

Attendance: 83

Referee: David Richardson