Thackley have found that Maltby tend to do well on their visits to Dennyfield and they provided the opposition in Tuesday night’s league encounter. The home side were looking to build on their two victories at ‘fortress’ Dennyfield, whilst the Miners, boosted by Saturday’s victory at Armfield, would be looking for another win. Thackley were forced into making one change from the side that won so easily at the weekend, Ben Joyce pulled up in the warm up and the returning Ryan Farrell replaced him from the potential substitutes. The bench included three other players unavailable for last Saturday.

It was the away side that took the initiative from the off and twice Jerry White had to make last ditch tackles to prevent chances. Maltby took just six minutes to open the scoring, Shawn Mitchell’s over head kick from just a few yards out hitting the roof of the net following a corner. Home keeper Matt Convey saved from Ryan Carroll before the home side created their first chance on twelve minutes, Craig Bentham firing wide across goal following a free kick. But Thackley had weathered the early storm, central defenders White and Josh Snowden marshalling the back line well. Maltby, although looking the far more dangerous side, were restricted to long range efforts, long throw ins and a few unattended crosses. Thackley went close to equalising on twenty five minutes; Joe Brown heading a ball knocked out of defence into the path of Dan Broadbent, his shot went narrowly wide. When the referee blew to end the first half, Maltby had been the dominant team and deserved their interval lead. What Thackley could take from the first forty five minutes was that after the early onslaught and set back, they had fought back and were still in the game.

Half time: Thackley 0 Maltby Main 1.

It was Thackley that started the second half the better, Ryan Farrell headed Aodhan Brownlee’s cross wide and Joe Brown latched onto a defensive mistake and was robbed as he was about to shoot. Cameron Jones tested away keeper Danny Rusling with a shot before Thackley made their first change, Dan Clayton replacing Brownlee. Within a couple of minutes of the substitution the Dennyboys were back on level terms. Clayton chased down Brown’s long ball down the left, Rusling came out to challenge but the Thackley substitute won the race and poked the ball past the advancing keeper. Clayton had a rising shot just clear the bar before Thackley made their second change, debutant George Eustance coming on for Brown. The game could have gone either way at this stage but defences were on top and chances were few. Pat McGuire came on for the injured Jones, as Thackley defended a couple of corners well. In the dying minutes of the game it was the Dennyboys that came closest to claiming all three points, Broadbent was upended on the edge of the box, Clayton’s free kick was inches wide. In the end both teams had to settle for a share of the points.

Full time: Thackley 1 Maltby Main 1.

Thackley were subjected to some intense pressure in the early stages of the game, going a goal down after six minutes. Gradually they worked their way back into the game, firstly with some resolute defending, then with a determination to play football. A draw was probably a fair result but Thackley went close to winning it in the end.

Another tough away encounter on Saturday when Thackley travel to Bottlesford Town, for what I believe is the first meeting between the two sides. The Poachers are currently topping the table with nine points from their opening three league games.

Thackley team: Convey; Rouse; Scott; Bentham (C); White; Snowden; Farrell; Jones (McGuire 75 mins); Broadbent; Brown (Eustance 63 mins); Brownlee (Clayton 60 mins). Sub not used: Wilson.

Maltby Main: Rusling; Mitchell; Greeves (Binney); Wesley; Reilly; Mitchell; Lawrence; Snodin; Hopewell (Greg); Carroll; Stacey (Semley). Sub not used: Stancliffe.

Thackley scorer: Dan Clayton 62 mins.

Maltby Main scorer: Shawn Mitchell 6 mins.

Attendance: 104.

Referee: Peter Walker.

Photo and The Terrace (Saltaire) ‘Man of the Match’ – Jerry White.