Thackley travelled to Rainworth on Saturday looking for their second double of the season and cementing their position of second in the table. The Wrens had beaten Worksop Town last weekend, and had won their two previous games to that, a good performance would be required. Thackley were forced into making changes, Matt Convey, Dan Clayton, Jerry White and Ryan Farrell were unavailable. Luke Wilson made his first start of the season and Craig Bentham dropped to the centre of defence. Tawonga Gumboh was making his seasonal debut on the bench.

Thackley were dominant throughout the first half and as early as the second minute a Pat McGuire free kick went just wide. Chris Wademan brought a save from home keeper Ben Townsend with a low drive in the third minute and Joe Brown had a header cleared off the line following a corner on the quarter hour. During this time the home side managed a couple of breakaways, a Jordan Claxton cross in front of goal and Tomas Poole’s shot was pushed for a corner by Luke Wilson. However, most of the action was in the Rainworth half, Thackley won numerous corners, Ben Joyce volleyed over, Wademan headed over and Joyce got clear but his shot was deflected wide. It looked like being one of those days for the Dennyboys, plenty of possession but nothing to show for it. They made the breakthrough on forty minutes, and it was a defensive mistake that led to the goal. It was Wademan that capitalised on the error, slotting the ball past Townsend after getting clear. George Eustance tested the home keeper after cutting in from the left moments later. A good defensive tackle from Craig Bentham on Julian Topliss just before the break ensured the Dennyboys kept their lead at half time.

Half time: Rainworth Miners Welfare 0 Thackley 1.

The second half continued much the same as the first, Thackley hogging possession, Rainworth breaking occasionally, but they looked dangerous when they did. Ten minutes in and Thackley should have increased their lead, Wademan getting to the ball before the advancing Townsend but his shot was wide. Just before the hour Thackley got their second goal, it was from a free kick when Joyce was brought down, it was given just outside the area but most in the ground felt the foul was committed in the box. Justice was done, McGuire’s free kick made its way into the six yard box, Joe Brown got a foot to the ball but Bentham made sure it crossed the line. Twice Townsend saved, tipping over a shot from Joyce and then blocking Brown’s effort. Joyce made way for Tawonga Gumboh and Brown for Dan Broadbent as Thackley looked to make the game safe. Wademan fired narrowly wide before Rainworth missed a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears just as the game was going into time added on. The home side were having their best spell of the match, the ball was knocked across the face of goal and Poole blasted over from just six yards out. It could have made it an uneasy final few minutes for the Dennyboys but they went straight back up the other end and made the game safe, Gumboh getting his head to a McGuire corner and scoring for the first time this season. In the end it was a comfortable win for Thackley.

Full time: Rainworth Miners Welfare 0 Thackley 3.

From the outset the result never looked in doubt, Thackley dominated possession throughout the game. Rainworth for their part always tried to play football but tended to give the ball away too easily. Thackley capitalised on these mistakes and deserved the three points. Thackley sixth away victory of the season and another clean sheet.

Another blank midweek for the Dennyboys, with nineteen games completed they are nearly half way through their league programme with the season just over three months old. Barton Town Old Boys are the next visitors to Dennyfield on Saturday. The Swans are having a torrid time of it this season with just seven points from their nineteen games, Thackley must be looking for all three points from this match but ‘it’s a funny old game’ as they say.

Rainworth Miners Welfare team: Townsend; Cheeseman (Brewin); Griffin; Buxton (C); Booker; Ludlam; Herbert; Claxton (Heather); Topliss (Langford); Poole; Sykes. Sub not used Maturin-Drew.

Thackley team: Wilson; Rouse; Hargreaves; McGuire (C); Bentham; Snowden; Joyce (Gumboh 83 mins); Whiteley; Wademan; Brown (Broadbent 85 mins); Eustance (Scott 90 mins).

Thackley scorers: Chris Wademan 40 mins; Craig Bentham 59 mins; Tawonga Gumboh 90 mins.

Attendance: 54.

Referee: Martin Chester.

Photo: Luke Wilson made his first start in goal.