Worksop Town were the visitors to the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield on Tuesday night, without a win since October they had drawn six of their nine league games since then. Thackley needed all three points from the match; they were being sucked into the relegation battle and were running out of homes games. Kris Hargreaves was back after a lengthy absence in the middle of defence and Mark Trueman was making his seasonal debut.

It was the home side that were quickly out of the blocks and Joe Hughes tested Callum Fielding on three minutes, the away keeper pushing the ball away for a corner. From the resultant kick Jerry White rose above the defenders to head against the bar. Five minutes later and Hughes found Fielding in the way again. Thackley had started well, Worksop, however, looked quite dangerous when they pushed forward. They took the lead on twenty minutes somewhat against the run of play, Harry Wakefield firing in a fierce shot which Luke Wilson could not hold onto, the ball fell kindly to Charlie Baird to slot into the net from close range. Two minutes later Worksop had scored a second, a good run from Michael Trench and the ball was played to Wakefield, another fierce drive, again Wilson parried and this time it was the Tiger’s full back that was on hand to slot home. Thackley pushed for the equaliser, Mike Garrod firing wide on a couple of occasions before clearing the bar from a free kick after Hughes had been pulled back. When the referee blew for the break, the Dennyboys knew that they needed an early second half goal if they wanted to get anything from this game.

Half time: Thackley 0 Worksop Town 2.

It was the away side that went closest in the early stages of the second period, Jed Phillips hitting the post in a goalmouth scramble. Moments later Thackley had reduced the arrears to one, Hughes got clear of the defence and with just Fielding to beat Trench hacked him down from behind. The Worksop full back received his marching orders and Garrod converted the spot kick. Within a minute of the restart the home side had three goal bound efforts blocked by a frantic defence, it was all Thackley now and Worksop were slowing the game down at every opportunity. Luke Robinson replaced Mark Trueman as Thackley strived for the next goal. Garrod headed over from Paul Whiteley’s cross and Fielding failed to hold onto a Robinson shot but the away defence was holding firm. Matt Broadley replaced Hughes and Adam Simpson came on for Ethan Walshaw, Thackley needed a goal. It came from a corner in the fourth minute of added time, with everyone thrown forward; Garrod tapped the ball home from close range. Justice was done; a draw was the minimum the Dennyboys deserved from the game.

Thackley 2 Worksop Town 2.

An exciting game for both sets of supporters, coming back from two goals down is not the easiest position to be in, when you are struggling for form it makes it all that more difficult. Credit to all the Thackley players, they never stopped battling and fully deserved the point they earned.

The fixture schedule means that Thackley have no game this weekend, so some extra time for the new management team to work with the players. They have got to be pleased with the effort and determination shown by them in their first two games in charge.

Thackley team: Wilson; Walshaw (Simpson 85 mins); Rothel; McGuire; Hargreaves; White; Ngoe; Whiteley (C); Hughes (Broadbent 80 mins); Garrod; Trueman (Robinson 67 mins). Subs not used: David; Thompson.

Worksop Town team : Fielding; Hodder; Trench; Husbands; Phillips; Varley; Woolley (C); Barnett; Wakefield; Baird (Higginson); Templeton (Mlynarski). Subs not used: Boyd; Dunbar.

Thackley scorer: Mike Garrod 51 (pen) and 90 mins.

Worksop Town scorers: Charlie Baird 20 mins; Michael Trench 22 mins.

Attendance: 112.

Referee: Aaron Bannister.

Photo: Joint Manager Mike Garrod scored both Thackley goals to earn another point for the Dennyboys.