STEVE PALEY describes the action for us.

It was Cup (well Vase really) action at Dennyfield on Saturday, when Thackley entertained fellow NCELP side Armthorpe Welfare. With £1200 for the winners and a place in the 3rd Round, to be drawn on Monday, at stake, it was certainly a game both sides were hoping to win. The Dennyboys had already beaten Armthorpe earlier in the season and were likely to be still on a high from Tuesday night's victory at Retford. Armthorpe are always a difficult side to beat, and although the home side were likely to start favourites, the result of the game was by no means a forgone conclusion. With quite a number of players still unavailable, the only change to Tuesday night's team was the return of Matt Mathers, he replaced Liam Hudson in the centre of the defence. Craig Tonkinson, who had joined the club this week from Ossett Albion, was on the bench.

Armthorpe pushed forward from the opening whistle and home keeper, Matt Convey, did well to save from Jay Rollins after just two minutes. The away side continued to press and the Thackley defence came under some pressure early on. However, the Dennyboys broke out after seven minutes and a Matty Hall shot was cleared off the line, Matt Morgan saw his cross, come shot, skim the bar moments later. Thackley won a number of corners in quick succession but could not get a strike at goal, on sixteen minutes Luke Richardson did, but away keeper, Will Biggs, easily saved from his free kick. The game was now being played in the Armthorpe half, and Biggs did well to tip a Matt Morgan effort over for a corner, Matt Mathers headed wide from the kick. Half way through the first period Hall picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Richard Smith before Biggs got down well to save from Richardson. The Armthorpe keeper's name was added to the referee's book soon afterwards, for questioning a refereeing decision. The away goal had a let off on twenty eight minutes, Mathers got his head to a Richardson corner, it was destined for the back of the net, but a defender got something on it, it fell to Chris Davey but Biggs again got down well to make a good save. A minute later, the away keeper was once more in action, pushing another Davey shot around the post for a corner. There followed a period where the away side came a little more into the game without creating any real threat on goal. Five minutes before the break, Mike Garrod got clear for the Dennyboys but Biggs pushed his shot away for a corner. Rollins managed to get a shot off but it was wide, before Richardson picked up Thackley's second yellow card for a show of petulance when he was adjudged to have handled the ball. Daniel Taylor headed wide following a free kick, before the referee ended the first half proceedings, the game remaining goalless at the break. From a chances point of view, the vast majority had fallen to Thackley, but they had nothing to show for all their possession.

Half Time: Thackley 0 – 0 Armthorpe MW

Thackley had a scare just four minutes into the second half when Armthorpe were awarded a penalty. Kevin Mansaram, who had held the ball up well for the away side and was proving difficult to dispossess, got the ball in the penalty area, Damian Hopkins, attempted a tackle but fell, as he did, the ball touched his hand, the assistant immediately signalled for a spot kick. Taylor stepped up and placed the ball towards the bottom corner, but somehow MATT CONVEY managed to get a hand to it and turn it around the post, it was an excellent save. Moments later the Thackley stopper was again called into action with a save from Rollins. However, the home side again began to wear down the opposition, Mathers headed wide from a Richardson free kick, before they took the lead on the hour. Richardson was the provider, crossing along the face of the goal after a nifty run down the left, it eluded everyone except MATTY HALL, coming in at the far post he slid it home. It was the breakthrough the Dennyboys needed, but they could do with another goal to make the game safe. Jonathan Mirfin tested Convey with a close range header before Biggs did very well to thwart Richardson, pushing away his well struck shot. The game was still in the balance and Lewis Morgan got in a timely tackle to deflect a goal bound effort wide before Steve Garner fired over. Both sides made changes, for the Dennyboys, Lewis Morgan and Luke Richardson were replaced by Brendan Maltby and Craig Tonkinson, the latter was making his debut for the club. With ten minutes remaining, Thackley got the goal that made the game safe and what a strike it was. Matt Morgan's cross field pass found CHRIS DAVEY wide on the right, the Thackley forward ran into the box and let fly an unstoppable shot across Biggs, giving the Armthorpe keeper no chance to save. Lewis Morgan put the ball over from inside the box soon afterwards and Maltby picked up a booking, before Thackley made their final change, bringing on Liam Hudson for Mike Garrod. Davey hit the bar after Paul Whiteley had teed the ball up for him, before the Dennyboys got their third. It was BRENDAN MALTBY, scoring his first goal for club on eighty seven minutes, powering a header home from a Callum White cross. Twice Biggs did well to save from Hall, then pulled off an even better save to deny Davey, pushing the ball away for a corner. Davey took the kick, MATT MATHERS rose above everyone to head the ball home and make the winning margin four. Thackley deserved their victory and would be progressing to the Third Round of the Vase for the second consecutive year.

Overall, it was a good performance, perhaps Thackley should have made more of their first half possession and turned chances into goals. Matt Convey's brilliant save from the penalty was probably the turning point of the match, if Armthorpe had scored, things may have been different. However, when the Dennyboys got in front, they went on to capitalise on their chances and ran out comfortable winners. I am sure everyone will be waiting with bated breath for Monday's draw.

Tuesday night sees the Dennyboys back in league action, when Long Eaton United make the long journey north to Bradford. With Tadcaster grabbing another three points this weekend, a victory is needed to cut their lead back to just two points.

Thackley team: Convey; White; Matt Morgan (C); Whiteley; Mathers; Hopkins; Hall; Lewis Morgan (Tonkinson); Davey; Garrod (Hudson); Richardson (Maltby).

Armthorpe Welfare team: Biggs; Tunney; Garner; Mirfin (Kilmartin); Smith (C); Gibbons; Davies; Taylor; Mansaram; Walker (Benson); Rollins. Subs not used : Ryan; Hattersley.

Thackley scorers: Matt Hall 60 mins; Chris Davey 80 mins; Brendan Maltby 87 mins; Matt Mathers 90 mins.

Attendance: 88

Referee: Anthony Murphy