Although this was their first match in this season's competition, it was the Second Round. The Dennyboys had already met the 'Wellie' twice this year, in the league and the FA Vase, and on both occasions had come out on top. Armthorpe had suffered a mauling at the hands of Albion Sports at the weekend, they could be suffering the after effects of that match or maybe they were looking for the opportunity to bounce back. Again, Thackley had to make changes to the side that lost at Heanor on Saturday, Luke Richardson, Damian Hopkins and Lewis Morgan were back, Matt Mathers, Brendan Maltby and Andy Tasker were unavailable. Thackley had just two substitutes.

It was the Dennyboys, playing down the slope, that were first to threaten, Mike Garrod heading wide following a quickly taken short corner on three minutes. The away side continued to dominate in the early stages and won a number of corners. Their dominance was causing Armthorpe problems, and as early as the fifteenth minute, Jonathan Mirfin picked up a booking for a series of challenges that led to free kicks. For all their pressing, Thackley were finding it difficult to get a shot at goal, Armthorpe's defending was sometimes desperate, but they were limiting the Dennyboys to long range efforts. A couple of such shots from Chris Davey did not bother home keeper Will Biggs. John Tunney picked up Armthorpe's second yellow card for a blatant block on Paul Whiteley, as he was about to get clear of the defender. James Firth went close with a header, following a corner, half way through the first period, as Armthorpe struggled to get forward. The game was over half an hour old, before the first shot from either side was on target, and it resulted in the Dennyboys taking the lead and giving CRAIG TONKINSONhis first goal for the club. The Thackley player picked up Garrod's header, and from the edge of the box, fired low across goal, past the diving Biggs, into the net. It was a goal that the Dennyboys deserved for all their possession, up to this point Matt Convey had been a virtual spectator. Thackley continued to dominate, and a Davey flick nearly caught Biggs out. As half time approached, Armthorpe at last started to move forward and created a couple of chances that could have brought them level. The first, Bhekisipho Sibanda rose to meet a cross at the far post, his header was blocked. Then, on forty minutes, Gary Mundy squandered an easy chance, firing straight at James Firth, after Convey had been left stranded following the central defender's head back. A Luke Richardson cross hit the bar and rebounded to safety, before Whiteley picked up a rather harsh booking. Thackley went into the break just one goal to the good, they would be playing against the slope in the second half, would it be enough?

Half Time: Armthorpe Miners Welfare 0 - 1 Thackley

It was Armthorpe that were first to create something in the second half, James Walker firing wide early on. Richardson, groin strain, was replaced by Liam Hudson as the sides seemed more evenly matched in this half. Jay Rollins shot straight at Convey and Garrod had his effort blocked, before the Dennyboys scored for the second time. A move, involving Garrod, Davey and finally MATTY HALL, left the Thackley midfield player with a one on one with Biggs, as the home keeper came out, Hall calmly lifted the ball over his head and into the net, it was, (as our tweeter reported on the night), a sublime finish, (that is Hally's seventh of the season and third in three matches). Luke Hudson replaced Lewis Morgan on the hour, before both he and Garrod had shots which went wide of the post. Garrod laid the ball back to Whiteley but he fired over, before Convey did well to push away a fierce drive from Sibanda. In the last ten minutes, Armthorpe started to push forward, substitute Stuart Preston should have at least tested Convey when well-placed but shot wide. The same player did test the away keeper a couple of minutes later but Convey got down well to block. As the game entered added time, Thackley should have increased their lead, a quick break, Davey crossed to Hall, and from just ten yards out and with only Biggs to beat, he ballooned the ball over the bar (so nearly his eighth). At the end, the Dennyboys had done enough to progress to the next round of the competition.

Overall, it was a typical Armthorpe v Thackley match, both teams battling for the ball, Thackley had pretty well dominated proceedings, and they had had quite a lot of the possession but had not turned that into goal scoring opportunities. However. two goals scored and a clean sheet away from home, it was a job well done.

A free weekend, before returning to the Welfare Ground next Tuesday for the league match against Armthorpe. Teams at the top of the league will have the chance to make ground on, and in the case of Barton go above, the Dennyboys. A victory next week is likely to be even more important than the one in this match.

Armthorpe Welfare team: Biggs; Taylor; Tunney; Gibbard (Atkinson); Smith (C); Garner; Rollins; Mirfin; Mundy; Kilmartin); Walker (Preston); Sibanda. Subs not used : Benson; Ryan.

Thackley team: Convey; White; Richardson (Liam Hudson); Whiteley (C); Firth; Hopkins; Tonkinson; L Morgan (Luke Hudson); Garrod; Davey; Hall.

Thackley scorers: Craig Tonkinson 33 mins; Matt Hall 54 mins.

Attendance: 37

Referee: Adam Burgess