Thackley were back in league action on Saturday, travelling to Penistone Church following the free weekend last weekend due to the freezing conditions. Alex Washington was banned following his red card last time out, so Mason Wilson came into the side in his place. On the bench, new signing Olaf Figurny took a seat looking for a debut.

Thackley started the game the better and there were a couple of early chances, with Nathan Hunt hitting an effort too well which went just over the stanchion after being set by Toby Marriott on the edge of the area, before Lewis Sugden also saw a driven effort wide of the post.

The game settled down for a period before Thackley had another chance to get the first goal, as a ball from Sugden with his left foot from out wide saw Brooks arriving at the back post, but his effort would go over the bar.

Next up Hass Gorji cut in from the right wing after being set away, but his left footed shot would go wide of the post and would not trouble Ambler in the Penistone Church net.

Thackley's defence stood firm for the half, where Penistone's limited forages into the Thackley half were quickly snubbed out without an effort on Liam Wilson's goal. Carlton Pownall took an early yellow card for Penistone following an important professional foul on half way as Hunt looked to break clear, and the Penistone captain Howes had a nervous few moments as his lunge on the edge of the area on Brooks fell firmly into the "orange card" category. The referee opted for a yellow card and the free kick was cleared.

HALF TIME: Penistone Church 0 v 0 Thackley AFC

The yellow card to Howes saw him withdrawn at half time, and his replacement would make his mark on the game almost immediately. Jordan Coduri, a long time thorn in the Thackley side over the years, found himself on the edge of the box on the end of a cut back from Pownall and his first time effort found the bottom right corner with a well timed and hit strike, which left Liam Wilson with no chance in the Thackley goal to give Penistone the lead.

This saw a period where the home side were on top, with Liam Wilson forced into two further good stops, the first another long range effort from Coduri pushed around the post, and the next an important stop at the back post.

Olaf Figurny would be introduced for his debut in place of Brooks, before Tom Whelan replaced Hunt in the 77th minute. It was Thackley pushing for the equaliser after the Penistone pressure, but it quickly looked like being "one of those days", with the ball somehow not finding its way into the back of the home goal.

First Paul Walker put in a fantastic low ball from the right wing across the box, with three Thackley players arriving but just being unable to get the finishing touch. Lewis Sugden put two fantastic balls into the box which were begging for a touch, but the Penistone defender's were first to it to clear. Toby Marriott then had a header in the six yard box which sadly was directly at Ambler who gathered, when either side would have left the keeper with no chance. Marriott then had another opportunity which looped up to the back post and hit the cross bar and behind for a goal kick.

Into the last 5 minutes and stoppage time and the home side sat into their shape and Thackley were invited to try break them down. Despite probing the defence stood firm, seeing Penistone hang on to take a crucial 3 points.

For Thackley, it was a positive performance with long spells in both half seeing the Dennyboys in control. However, missed chances when on top and failing to get that breakthrough goal, followed by Penistone taking their chance when they were on top, saw Thackley leave the Parker Roofing Memorial Ground empty handed.

FULL TIME: Penistone Church 1 v 0 Thackley AFC

Thackley hope to be at the Meridian Stadium at Dennyfield next weekend for the first home game of 2026 as league leaders Liversedge FC are the opponents.

Penistone Church team: Ambler, Pownall, Young, Howes, Johnson, Stocks, High, Newsome, Keighley, Hurles-Brook, Clayton
Subs: Ludlam, Coduri, Cawthorn, Coulter, Defalco

Thackley AFC team: L.Wilson, M.Wilson, Parkinson, Sugden, Coates, Hunt (Whelan 77'), Brooks (Figurny 68'), Mannings©, Marriott, Gorji, Walker.
Unused subs: Basi, Gibbon, Polwarth

Penistone Church scorer: Coduri (51’)