Swallownest made their first ever visit to the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield on Tuesday evening for a Second Round League Cup tie. Thackley would start favourites to progress to play Dronfield next week as their opponents were in the division below them. However, they were on an unbeaten five game run so they were a team in form. Again Thackley had to make changes which gave an opportunity for recent signing Keiran Thompson to make his Thackley debut in the centre of defence. Mike Garrod was pushed up front to partner top scorer Joe Hughes.

Mike Garrod very nearly put Thackley in front in the opening minutes, getting to the bye line but seeing his shot rebound off of the post. The early exchanges were pretty even, the Swallownest defence getting in important challenges when Thackley looked dangerous. This, together with the home forwards continually straying offside, meant that they were not able to trouble keeper Darryl Johnson. Swallownest scored twice in as many minutes just before the half hour, both goals coming from their left sided wide player Richard Williams. For the first he cut into the box and from a narrow angle blasted the ball past Luke Wilson, the second was a lay back, his low drive was too good for the Thackley keeper. These goals put the away side in the driving seat and Wilson had to deal with a Daniel Mullooly header following a corner soon afterwards. Thackley did have the ball in the net but it was ruled out for hand ball before Joe Hughes brought a good save from Johnson as the home side strived to get back into the game. Just before the break James Ngoe weaved his way into the box but Johnson again saved well.

Half time: Thackley 0 Swallownest 2.

Jordan Hines came on for Aohdan Brownlee at the start of the second half. The Thackley substitute had a great chance to reduce the arrears with his first touch after Hughes put him clear with just Johnson to beat but the away keeper came out to save. Thackley were looking more positive in this half but from the restart Swallownest were sitting on their two goal advantage and wasting as much time as possible. Jordan Hendrie made way for Kingston David as a frustrated Thackley looked to get back in to the match. Johnson again saved well, this time from a Garrod header following a corner before Hines squandered another one on one. Adam Simpson came on for Hughes as Thackley pushed forward. The Dennyboys were finding it difficult to break down the Swallownest defence this frustrated them which was made even worse by the referee’s refusal to stop the away side’s time wasting tactics. Simpson should have scored a late consolation goal in time added on, failing to connect when just a yard out but if he had scored, it would have been too little too late.

Full time: Thackley 0 Swallownest 2.

Thackley’s last chance of any silverware has gone with this defeat, again they were unable to hit back after giving relatively early goals away. They are being drawn into the relegation dog fight, now they can concentrate on trying to build on their current point’s tally of just twenty three.

On Saturday Thackley travel to Harrogate Railway for what could be described as their first six pointer of the season.

Thackley team: Wilson; Hendrie (David 65 mins); Rothel; McGuire (C); Thompson; Walshaw; Ngoe; Whiteley; Hughes (Simpson 70 mins); Garrod; Brownlee (Hines 45 mins). Sub not used: Tate.

Swallownest team: Johnson; Kent; Cooper; Evans; Cropper; Mullooly (C); Davies (Atkin); Grady; Dougherty (Lill); Blake; Williams (Morritt). Subs not used: Gelsthorpe; Short.

Swallownest scorers: Richard Williams 27 and 29 mins.

Attendance: 53.

Referee: Andy Smith.