STEVE PALEY saw the game for us.

Darlington play their football in the Second Division of the Ebac Northern League, in seventh place in the table, they have won five of the nine league games played to date. Thackley had lost their first league game of the season the previous Tuesday night against Tadcaster, this match gave them the opportunity to return to winning ways. Matts' Mathers and Morgan were available for the match, which also saw the return of Callum White from holiday. Liam Hudson was selected to play alongside James Firth in the centre of the defence.

The game took a little time to get going, neither side creating much in the opening ten minutes or so. Aaron Ramsbottom had managed to get a shot off from outside the box but this cleared the bar. Lewis Morgan won Thackley a corner with a good run before Darlington took the lead on fourteen minutes. Thackley keeper, Ivan Willis, spilled a ball knocked high into the box, in trying to retrieve it, he bundled over Freddie Huscroft and the referee awarded a penalty. This was duly dispatched by Darlington skipper, James Muir. Again Thackley had fallen behind in a match and handed the initiative to their opponents. Darlington were buoyed by the goal, Thackley were finding it difficult to get hold of the ball. Ramsbottom again fired over before Damien Hopkins was ideally positioned to clear an Anthony Abel shot off the line following a corner on twenty minutes. The Dennyboys were letting the home side dictate play and Huscroft was just wide with a shot from outside the box. Luke Richardson had an effort which cleared the bar before the Dennyboys got back into the game with a goal somewhat against the run of play. Hopkins played a long ball over the top, Richardson helped it on to Matt Mathers who calmly volleyed past Mattie Calvert in the home goal. It had taken thirty five minutes for Thackley to get going. Seven minutes later, they took the lead, Mike Garrod running into the box and pulling the ball back for Luke Richardson to side foot home from close range. Things got better just before the break, Mathers picked up the ball from a blocked Garrod shot, as he made for goal, he was pulled to the ground by defender Louis Whensley. The referee awarded a penalty and Matt Morgan made no mistake from the spot. It had taken Thackley thirty five minutes before they started to play, with a three goal salvo in the ten minutes before the break, they had turned the game around.

Thackley started the better in the SECOND HALF, Darlington still reeling from the final minutes of the first. Callum White played a one two with Hopkins, White's shot was blocked before both sides made substitutions. Lewis Morgan limped off with a groin strain to be replaced by Andy Tasker, whilst Sam England came on for Richard Walker for the home side. The Dennyboys were now having the majority of the possession and went close on the hour, James Firth's header from a corner just missing the post. Tasker fired over from outside the box and Richardson picked up a yellow card for an unfair challenge before Thackley stretch their lead to three midway through the half. The ball was knocked over the defence, MIKE GARROD outpaced his pursuers, taking the ball to the edge of the box before slotting it past Calvert. With the game safe, Thackley made their final changes, Jamie Scott and Josh Eastwood replacing Paul Whiteley and Luke Richardson. Fifteen minutes from the end, the Dennyboys got their fifth goal. Matt Morgan produced the perfect ball into the box for MATHERS to rise above the defence and glance into the top corner. Garrod had the chance to make it six soon afterwards, but fired wide with just the keeper to beat. Calvert then did well to push a well struck Scott shot, which was heading under the bar, for a corner. In the dying minutes the home keeper then denied Mathers his hat trick, coming out to block after the Thackley striker had got clear. It was not to be and Thackley had to settle for the four goal margin.

It had not been a classic, but after a shaky start Thackley had taken the game by the scruff of the neck and in the end had won the game in a canter. The victory means that they progress to the First Round of the Vase, they will know their next opponents when the draw is made on Monday.

Back to League action on Tuesday night with a home game against Basford United. Both Retford and Tadcaster have gone above the Dennyboys after they drew with each other this weekend, a good result from a Thackley point of view, they now have the same number of points but a better goal difference than the Dennyboys but Thackley have two matches in hand. They need to win on Tuesday and regain top spot.

Darlington Railway Athletic team: Calvert; Andy Ramsbottom; Muir (C); New (Hanratty); Harrison; Whensley; Aaron Ramsbottom; Butterworth; Huscroft (Grocott); Abel; Walker (England). Sub not used : Grainger.

Thackley team: Willis; Hopkins; M Morgan (C); Whiteley (Scott); Firth; Hudson; White; L Morgan (Tasker); Garrod; Mathers; Richardson (Eastwood).

Darlington Railway Athletic scorer: James Muir 14 mins (pen).
Thackley scorers: Matt Mathers 35 and 76 mins; Luke Richardson 42 mins; Matt Morgan 45 mins (pen); Mike Garrod 67 mins.

Attendance: 42

Referee: Adam Linley