Thackley had begun the week in top spot; a Cleethorpes victory on Tuesday night had dropped them to second, if they had any chance of returning to the summit, a win against Saturday’s visitors Worksop Town was essential. The Tigers were in the bottom half of the league and had gone five games without a win; Thackley had not been beaten since mid October. Thackley made one change to the team that returned from Barton with all three points, Jordon Rouse giving way to Kris Hargreaves. Following the visit of Angus earlier in the week, the pitch was still very heavy. Would this be the game where Thackley at last wrestled points for the first time from their opponents?

It was a pretty uninspiring opening half hour, both sides giving the ball away too easily, meaning goalmouth action was at a premium. From a possession point of view, Thackley were in command in the opening ten minutes or so, Worksop came more into the game after this initial period. Worksop won a couple of corners on the half hour, the second of which saw a cross in front of goal go unattended, this was as close as they came to scoring. Thackley were little better, George Eustance got on the end of a Ryan Farrell cross but his chip cleared the bar. Worksop had what they thought was a penalty appeal turned down but Jerry White’s challenged looked to be fair and it was outside the box, the referee did give a free kick which amounted to nothing. White then had the ball in the net following a Thackley corner, but it had gone out of play prior to getting to him. All in all, it had been a scrappy uneventful first forty five minutes.

Half time: Thackley 0 Worksop Town 0.

It looked as if the second half would be more exciting when, five minutes in, Dan Broadbent got clear but Jon Kennedy came out to save with his legs, the ball deflecting for a corner. Luke O’Brien had a run down the left a couple of minutes later, this time it was his cross in front of goal that went unattended. It was the home side that looked the more dangerous, although the pitch was affecting the sort of football being played. Eustance picked out Craig Bentham on the edge of the box, his low drive went narrowly wide. Chris Wademan came on for Broadbent on the hour as Thackley tried to break the deadlock. A one two between Farrell and Bentham resulted in the latter firing over. It looked like a goal was coming and it did mid way through the half. Eustance used his guile and pace to outwit full back Leon Loftus, before crossing in front of goal, Wademan slotted in from close range. It was a lead the Dennyboys deserved from their second half possession. Thackley pressed to make the game safe, first Eustance then Wademan had chances but put the ball wide. Bentham was replaced by Joe Brown with ten minutes remaining. In the final minutes of the game, it was the away side’s turn to press and Luke Wilson did well to turn Connor Brunt’s low shot away for a corner. In time added on, Worksop levelled the scores in somewhat controversial circumstances. Eustance adjudged to have brought Brunt down in the box. It transpired that the penalty was given, not for a trip, but shirt pulling. Brunt converted the spot kick and Eustance got booked.

Full time: Thackley 1 Worksop Town 1.

This draw felt more like a defeat for the Dennyboys, the last minute penalty costing them two valuable points. From what was said afterwards, there was some serious doubt about whether the penalty should have been given. Referee’s need to be one hundred percent certain when giving spot kicks, any doubts and they should be waved away. The result means Thackley now fall two points behind leaders Cleethorpes Town, so near to keeping the pressure on them.

No action now for the Dennyboys until Tuesday week, they have a blank Saturday next week, when they take on Bradford Park Avenue in the West Riding County Cup.

Thackley team: Wilson; Hargreaves; O’Brien; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell; Whiteley; Broadbent (Wademan 60 mins); Bentham (Brown 79 mins); Eustance. Subs not used: Joyce; Rouse; Howe.

Worksop Town team: Kennedy (C); Loftus; Johnson (Andrews); Booth; Lawrence; Adams; Scott (Dawes); Waddle; Brunt; Husbands; Fenton. Subs not used: Rickards; Jordan; Harrison.

Thackley scorer: Chris Wademan 65 mins.

Worksop Town scorer: Connor Brunt 90 mins (pen).

Attendance: 122.

Referee: Dean Watson.

Photo: The Terrace (Saltaire) Man of the Match Luke O'Brien being presented with his voucher by Club Chairman Phil Woollias.