Thackley made a rare trip north on Tuesday night to take on promotion chasing Pickering Town. With the potential of more than the top club taking a step up, the Pikes would be looking for all three points from this match. Again player unavailability and injury made for a number of changes in the Thackley line up. Both Mike Garrod and Pat McGuire had picked up knocks on Saturday so dropped to the bench. Mark Trueman and James Ngoe were not available which gave a first start of the season to Tawonga Gumboh at full back, James Rothel, Matt Broadley and Joel Beattie moved from the bench to start.

Thackley came under intense pressure from the start, Ryan Blott fired over; Joe Danby’s free kick was pushed around the post by Luke Wilson, Billy Logan’s shot across goal went narrowly wide and Wilson did well to push a Blott shot over, this was all in the opening ten minutes. Jerry White picked up a yellow card for a pull back before Thackley’s first real shot at goal on twenty minutes, Luke Robinson turning on the edge of the box, the ball just clearing the bar. A couple of minutes later the Dennyboys went in front, a corner on the left, Matt Broadley’s down header passed through a number of legs, including Robinson’s (did he touch it?) and into the net. It was a boost for Thackley as they started to more than match their opponents. Wilson did really well to thwart Logan, coming out to the edge of his box to rob the forward as he burst through but it was Thackley that looked the more dangerous. They could have gone further in front five minutes before the break when Robinson got to a Broadley cross but Charlie Andrew made the save. Thackley had recovered from a rather nervy start and deserved their one goal advantage at half time.

Half time: Pickering Town 0 Thackley 1.

The home side started the second half with the same vigour they had shown in the opening minutes of the first. Wilson had to make saves from both Danby and then from Logan before the Pickering forward levelled the scores ten minutes into the half. A defensive mix up left Blott clear on the left, his cross found Logan who this time slotted the ball past Wilson. Twice the Thackley keeper was called on to maintain parity, down at the feet of Logan after he got clear, then with a point blank save from Blott. The home side were maintaining the pressure in this half. James Rothel picked up Thackley’s second yellow card of the night before the Pikes went in front. In a goal mouth incident Tawonga Gumboh was rather harshly adjudged to have impeded a Pickering player and referee Matt Sowerby seemed only too pleased to gift the home side a penalty, Blott does not usually miss the opportunity to convert these. Wilson came to the rescue again, coming out to block Blott before the home side got a third goal. A corner from the left nudged over the line at the far post by substitute Brad Freer. Mike Garrod replaced the injured Jerry White and Jordan Hines came on for Nicky Matthews but Thackley were unable to get back into the game and Pickering had got the points to continue their promotion challenge.

Full time: Pickering Town 3 Thackley 1.

Overall a disappointing result considering the first half rally following the opening ten minutes or so. Pickering certainly dominated the second half but the rather soft penalty was the real turning point in the game.

Another away trip on Saturday when Thackley travel to the east coast to play fellow strugglers Hall Road Rangers. The Hull based team are probably stronger than their league position suggests after having twelve points deducted earlier in the season.

Pickering Town team: Andrew; Tilsley; Danby; Chipps; Turnbull (C); Bissett; Taylor; Birch (Cooper); Blott (Cass); Logan; Dalton (Freer). Subs not used: Ingram; Belt.

Thackley team: Wilson; Gumboh; Hunter; Whiteley (C); Thompson; White (Garrod 76 mins); Broadley; Rothel; Robinson; Matthews (Hines 82 mins); Beattie. Subs not used: Walshaw; David; McGuire.

Pickering Town scorers: Billy Logan 55 mins; Ryan Blott (pen) 68 mins; Brad Freer 75 mins.

Thackley scorer: Matt Broadley 22 mins.

Attendance: 153.

Referee: Matt Sowerby.

Photo: Keeper Luke Wilson made a number of important saves for Thackley.