Thackley’s attempt to get to Wembley this season started on Tuesday night when they travelled to Padiham in the opening round of this year’s FA Vase. The game was scheduled for last Saturday but the Wells Street pitch was waterlogged. The two teams had never met in a competitive game before; Padiham had beaten Burscough in their last game, whilst Thackley had claimed all three points against Bottesford in their previous outing. Craig Bentham, Kris Hargreaves and Gary Sunderland were unavailable for the game so Marcus Harper, Jerry White and Dan Broadbent started for the first time this season.

Perhaps Nicky Matthews should have done better in the opening minutes but his shot from the edge of the box cleared the bar. Thackley conceded a goal on five minutes, it followed a corner, the ball falling to Jay Hart and he found the top corner with his well struck shot. The goal certainly gave the home side impetus and Thackley survived a number of scares. On two occasions keeper Luke Wilson made important saves, firstly from Dom Craig and then Chris Turner. He could do nothing about Padiham’s second goal on twenty minutes; it was another good strike, this time from Turner, which beat the Thackley keeper. The Dennyboys were looking vulnerable at the back and blunt up front. They created a couple of half chances; Dan Broadbent was wide with his shot before heading over following a Pat McGuire free kick. Craig blasted the ball over from a good position and twice Wilson was called on to make saves as Thackley strived to stay in the game. The home side’s pressure paid off five minutes before the break when they scored their third goal, a well struck Turner shot beating Wilson for the second time. Jerry White fired over following a corner but the home side were good value for their half time lead.

Half time: Padiham 3 Thackley 0.

Thackley came out for the second half hoping to get something from the game and started to put the home defence under some pressure. Joe Hughes hooked the ball over from close range early on before the Dennyboys had four corners in quick succession. It was from the last of these set pieces that Padiham broke up field and scored their fourth goal, Hart sliding the ball past Wilson after getting clear. Five minutes later Thackley were trailing by five, it followed a free kick which earned Kesi Omolokun a booking, Craig fire home from close range after the Thackley defence failed to clear. Dan Taberner made a rare save after Hughes had got to Matthews’ cross but the away forwards were making no impression on the home defence. Hughes and Broadbent gave way to Tom Marshall and Sam Cable but it made little difference. Pat Barlski came on for Matthews but it was the home side that looked the more likely to score. Turner’s shot just cleared the bar before Marcus Harper had to head off of the line. Wilson kept the score to five late on making a good save to deny Hart his hat trick. It was the Dennyboys that were the happier of the two teams to hear the final whistle on a wet and windy night in Lancashire.

Full time: Padiham 5 Thackley 0.

I am not going to say anything about Thackley’s performance; the score line speaks for itself. The only pleasant thing about the evening was meeting up with the good people of Padiham, we wish them well in the next round against Ashington and for the remainder of the season.

Things do not get any easier for Thackley, for on Saturday Bridlington Town are the visitors to the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield. If the Dennyboys put in a similar performance to this latest one, it could be another bad day.

Padiham team: Taberner; Brierley (Townsend); Barski; Hoskin (Hargreaves); Young (C); Holden; Turner; Craig; Hart; Pickup (Coyne); Taylor. Subs not used: Walker; Murphy.

Thackley team: Wilson; Garrod; Harper; McGuire (C); White; Omolokun; Broadley; Whiteley; Hughes (Marshall 61 mins); Broadbent (Cable 65 mins); Matthews (Barylski 74 mins). Sub not used: Higginson.

Padiham scorers: Jay Hart 5 and 54 mins; Chris Turner 20 and 40 mins; Dom Craig 58 mins.

Attendance: 92.

Referee: Joe Pettitt.