Thackley travelled to Maltby to play the Miners for the second time this season, they met at Dennyfield about a month ago and shared the points. After picking up six points from their last two games, Thackley would be looking to continue their winning run. However, Muglet Lane has a tight pitch with a slope and it is a difficult place from which to return with all three points. This, together with a rather strong wind blowing up the slope, meant the game was not likely to be a classic. Paul Whiteley had recovered from injury and was on the bench ready to make his first competitive start of the season.

Playing down the slope in the first half, it was the home side that started the better. However, Thackley should have gone in front on three minutes, George Eustance got clear and with just the keeper to beat, put the ball wide. This was a rare breakaway and Matt Convey was busy dealing with a number of shots. On ten minutes, he made a fine double save, a shot from Joshua Schofield looked a certain goal, somehow the away keeper got to it, the ball ran loose but Convey got down to turn the second attempt for a corner. Thackley were restricted to breakaways but gradually, as the half progressed, they began to look more dangerous. On twenty eight minutes they took the lead, the Maltby keeper, Louis Jones, made a hash from a clearance, hitting the ball straight to Dan Broadbent, he perhaps should have done better but the ball was knocked away for a corner. Pat McGuire took the kick and with the help of the wind, the ball deceived everyone and floated in at the far post. Maltby were level six minutes later, some poor defending left Jordan Poole all alone on the left, he curved his shot across Convey into the net. Thackley regained the lead almost straight away, McGuire finding the net in identical fashion to his first, direct from a corner. Thackley increased their lead a minute later with a well worked goal. McGuire played the ball out to Eustance, he cut in before shooting, Jones could only parry his shot and Broadbent slotted the loose ball home. The Dennyboys took their rather fortuitous two goal lead into the break.

Half time: Maltby Main 1 Thackley 3.

Playing up the slope but with the wind, the away side pressed from the start of the second half. Convey was tested on a couple of occasions by both Steve Hopewell and Schofield before the home side reduced the arrears. It was Hopewell that got the final touch slipping the ball over the line from a cross from the left. Although with the slope in their favour, Thackley were finding it difficult to break out of defence and it was no surprise when Maltby equalised in the sixty third minute. It was a messy goal that came from a corner, the away defence failed to clear before Jordan Snodin tapped the ball into the net. At this stage their looked to be only one winner, but a couple of substitutions seemed to steady the ship somewhat for the away side. Paul Whiteley replaced Craig Bentham and Ben Joyce came on for Eustance. The game had become very scrappy, not helped by the pitch or the wind, and neither side were able to create anything other than half chances. Maltby went closest to breaking the deadlock with the final kick of the game, a free kick across the face of goal just too far in front of an advancing forward. For the second time this season, the game between the two sides finished all square.

Full time: Maltby Main 3 Thackley 3.

It was obvious from the outset the game was unlikely be a classic and it wasn’t. Thackley were rather fortunate to go into the break with a two goal advantage. Had they performed at all in the second half, they may have gone on to win the game. However, they were well below par but came away with a point.

Another away game on Tuesday when Thackley travel to Retford United. The two teams have already met this season, the Dennyboys putting five past the Badgers, all in the opening half. Thackley will be hoping for a similar performance and grabbing all three points from the game.

Maltby Main team: Jones; Mitchell; Hibbert; Hill (Greeves); Reilly; Darker (C); Lawrence (Stacey); Snodin; Hopewell (Gregg); Schofield; Poole. Subs not used: Roberts; Betts.

Thackley team: Convey; Foulds; Hargreaves; McGuire (C); White; Hudson; Farrell; Howe; Broadbent; Bentham ( Whiteley 70 mins); Eustance (Joyce 75 mins). Subs not used: Scott; Wilson.

Maltby Main scorers: Jordan Poole 34 mins; Steven Hopewell 56 mins; Jordan Snodin 63 mins.

Thackley scorers: Pat McGuire 28 and 38 mins; Dan Broadbent 39 mins.

Attendance: 45.

Photo: Pat McGuire - his two goals direct from corners gave the Dennyboys an interval lead.