Following Saturday’s rather disappointing performance against Albion, Thackley entertained Parkgate at Dennyfield on Tuesday night. The Steelmen were looking for their first points of the season having played four games with no return. Thackley would be looking to build on their tally, not only to boost their total but build some confidence for Saturday’s trip to Easington in the opening round of the FA Vase. Declan Howe made his first start for the club and Aohdan Brownlee came back in on the left for the unavailable George Eustance.

The Dennyboys got off to the perfect start, on three minutes Dan Broadbent had converted Ben Joyce’s cross in front of goal to give the home side the lead. On fifteen minutes the scores were back level, Ross Shelton was allowed to run from mid field to the edge of the box before unleashing a shot that beat the diving Matt Convey. A minute later, Thackley were back in front, Ryan Farrell provided the cross, Joyce headed past Josh Lill from six yards. The away side went close to levelling the scores again soon afterwards, a Macole Lamaman shot across the face of goal going narrowly wide, then Convey did well to smother the ball on the line following some hesitancy in the Thackley defence following a long throw in. Both sides were using the long ball to try to penetrate, the home defence sometimes looking vulnerable to high balls knocked into the box. Just after the half hour, Thackley could have increased their lead when Aohdan Brownlee pulled the ball back to Broadbent but his goal bound shot was blocked. The half ended with no further score, Thackley maintaining their one goal advantage.

Half time: Thackley 2 Parkgate 1.

The home side started the second half on the front foot and Joyce just failed to get enough on the ball after it had been knocked long, Lill making the save. The Dennyboys did increase their lead just six minutes into the half, Broadbent firing in from a free kick after Brownlee had been upended on the edge of the box. Ben Thornton saw his shot go narrowly wide and Joyce fired over after beating a defender as both teams looked for the important next goal. It was Thackley that got it just after the hour; Craig Laight’s tackle on Brownlee in the box earned him a yellow card and Thackley a penalty. Broadbent completed his hat trick with an unstoppable shot. Thackley lost a bit of impetus after this and Michael Cuckson and Mohammed Amid had shots go narrowly wide. With fifteen minutes remaining, Lill made the save of the night, after some good approach work, Brownlee pulled the ball back to Broadbent, the away keeper made a remarkable save to prevent the Thackley striker notching a fourth. Thackley made three late substitutions, Cameron Jones, Rob Foulds and Pat McGuire replacing Broadbent, Farrell and Declan Howe. It was Foulds that made his substitution count, running the length of the field to head Brownlee’s cross into the net from close range. In the end it was a comfortable win for the Dennyboys.

Full time: Thackley 5 Parkgate 1.

A much improved performance from Saturday, when Thackley looked a little blunt up front. They looked much more dangerous going forward in this game and were justly rewarded for their efforts.

On Saturday Thackley travel to Easington in the opening round of the FA Vase, they should be in good spirits after this display. It is now the most important game left this season, defeat would leave just the domestic cups to go for, these do not carry the same prestige as the Vase.

Thackley team: Convey; Rouse; Scott; Bentham (C); White; Hargreaves: Farrell (Foulds 84 mins); Howe (McGuire 85 mins); Broadbent (Jones 80 mins); Joyce; Brownlee. Subs not used: Brown; Wilson.

Parkgate team: J Lill; Yates; Lamaman; Laight; Plant (Mumbanya); Hague; Mbeka; Shelton (C); Thornton (A Lill); Ashton (Amid); Cuckson. Subs not used: Fuscoe; Davies.

Thackley scorers: Dan Broadbent 3, 51 and 62 (pen) mins; Ben Joyce 15 mins; Rob Foulds 88 mins.

Parkgate scorer: Ross Shelton 16 mins.

Attendance: 101.

Referee: Joe Goodwin.

Photo: The Terrace (Saltaire) Man of the Match and hat trick hero Dan Broadbent.