Thackley’s final home game of the season was against Rainworth Miners Welfare, a club that had already decided to take a voluntary step down in league status following this, their last game in the NCEL. The Dennyboys were looking to end a run of poor results to lift them up the table and allow them to finish in a respectable position. Thackley had captain Paul Whiteley missing, Jerry White taking on the role. There was a return from injury of manager Pat McGuire, as Mike Garrod was moved back to defence and James Ngoe into mid field.

Thackley started reasonably brightly, Luke Robinson headed James Ngoe's cross over, Kieran Thompson saw his free kick go narrowly wide before Matt Broadley’s cross skimmed the face of the bar with keeper Max Pemberton beaten. However, it was the away side that took the lead on the quarter hour, a ball knocked out of defence gave Charlie Daws a run down the left, he cut inside, Gareth Curtis was there to slot his lay back past Luke Wilson. Thackley were having plenty of the possession but were not troubling Pemberton in the away goal. Just before the half hour they should have levelled the scores, Jordan Hines firing wide from a Broadley pull back. The miss could have been costly had Wilson not come out and spread himself to block Cutis who was through on goal. Thackley went close on a number of occasions, Mike Garrod’s header flew across the face of goal, minutes later he headed over from a corner and Broadley’s saw his cross beat everyone, close but not testing Rainworth’s stand in keeper. Jerry White and Richard Adams picked up yellow cards for a spat just before the break but Rainworth finished a goal to the good at the end of the half.

Half time: Thackley 0 Rainworth Miners Welfare 1.

Within seven minutes of the restart Thackley had taken a two goals lead. It took less than a minute for Robinson to fire in shot which beat Pemberton at the near post, then two goals in as many minutes both with a certain amount of farce about them; put Thackley well and truly in the driving seat. Broadley’s cross, after being brought down just outside the box, passed under the away keeper’s body, then Garrod‘s free kick hit the inside of the post before crossing the line. Rainworth hit back a few minutes later, the lively Daws, cutting inside before getting off a shot that hit the foot of the post, he picked up the rebound and looped the ball over the defence for Curtis to head past Wilson. The goal spree continued, for a couple of minutes later Robinson got his head to Broadley’s cross to score a goal which went in off of the post. Lawrance Hunter headed off of the line before Thackley made a double substitution. Ngoe and Hines replaced by Mark Trueman and Nicky Matthews. Daws' shot hit the side netting before Matthews should have made the game safe, through on goal he lifted the ball into the arms of Pemberton. Rainworth got back into the game on seventy seven minutes, Matt Sykes slotting in from close range. Joel Beattie came on for Pat McGuire as Thackley pushed for another goal. There were a couple of half chances but they had to settle for a one goal advantage in the end.

Full time: Thackley 4 Rainworth Miners Welfare 3.

They was certainly plenty of action in the second period with six goals, five them in the first fifteen minutes of the half. The game had an end of season feel about it with some of the goals a little unusual, and the hot weather slowing things down. However, it was good to finish with a victory in the final home game of the season.

Thackley’s final game of the season is on Thursday night when they travel to local rivals Liversedge in the match rearranged from last week. A win would lift the Dennyboys to fifteenth in the table.

Thackley team: Wilson; Garrod; Hunter; McGuire (Beattie 77 mins); Thompson; White (C); Broadley; Rothel; Hines (Matthews 65 mins); Robinson; Ngoe (Truemen 65 mins). Sub not used: David.

Rainwoeth Miners Welfare team: Pemberton; Royles; Jones; Goodwin (C); Ludlum; Adams; Curtis; Poole (Nightingale); Modest; Sykes; Daws.

Thackley scorers: Luke Robinson 46 and 61 mins; Matt Broadley 51 mins; Mike Garrod 52 mins.

Rainworth Miners Welfare scorers: Gareth Curtis 15 and 58 mins; Matt Sykes 77 mins.

Attendance: 115.

Referee: Jamie Rhodes.

Photo: Luke Robinson being presented with The Terrace (Saltaire) MOM award.