Thackley travelled to South Yorkshire on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run and for their fourth double of the season. They beat Parkgate 5-1 in the reverse fixture back in September; however, the Steelmen had turned things around recently after a poor start to the season. They had lost just once in the last four games, new manager Graham Nicholas had made quite a number of signings since taking over in October. Thackley had Josh Snowden and Luke O’Brien back after missing Tuesday’s match against BPA, which meant a more conventional back four. Chris Wademan was unavailable for this match so Joe Brown was asked to lead the attack.

In the opening ten minutes or so, Parkgate did not get a kick. Thackley were well in control and created a number of good chances. George Eustance just failed to get on the end of a Ryan Farrell cross, Craig Bentham saw his header rebound off of the bar and Ben Holder needed two attempts to save Joe Brown’s shot. The first time Parkgate made headway into the Thackley half was on sixteen minutes, Danny Harris firing wide from well outside the box. It was all the away side, their build up was good but they were finding it difficult to break down the home defence, who were playing five at the back. Twice Brown got his head to crosses but Holder saved both, then Farrell headed wide from a Eustance cross. Parkgate had the chance to go in front on thirty five minutes, from one of their rare ventures into the Thackley half. A defensive mistake left Alex Lill clear in the area, Jerry White’s attempt to stop him took the man not the ball; referee Andy Smith gave a spot kick and showed White a yellow card. It would have been an injustice, based on the balance of play, if Parkgate had scored, but Luke Wilson brought off a fine save to deny both the Steelmen and Craig Fletcher a goal. Eustance had the ball in the net but was ruled offside before the break but Thackley were unable to make their possession count and the half ended goalless.

Half time: Parkgate 0 Thackley 0.

Thackley started the second half quite well, perhaps not as assertive as the first. Farrell got his head to a Luke O’Brien cross but the ball was knocked away for a corner and Eustance cut in from the left but his shot was high and wide. More was seen of the home side moving forward and they had a good couple of minutes around the hour mark. They won a couple of corners in quick succession and from one the ball was cleared off of the line following a goalmouth scramble. The Dennyboys had lost some of their first half fluidity; again they were struggling to break down a packed defence. Thackley made a couple of changes mid way through the half, Dan Broadbent and Ben Joyce replacing Brown and Bentham. Joyce provided Eustance with the chance to shoot; his low drive was saved by Hunter. A number of other half chances were created but either the shots were charged down or the ball stuck under the forward’s feet and these were gone. With ten minutes to go, Parkgate were reduced to ten men, Joshua Moore seeing red for an irresponsible tackle on Kris Hargreaves. Thackley pressurised the ten men but they packed their defence even tighter. Substitute Declan Howe, who had replaced Eustance a few minutes earlier, got on the end of a Pat McGuire free kick but Hunter saved easily and Broadbent had a shot which was deflected over. It was not to be Thackley’s fourth double of the season, they had to be content with a point and a clean sheet and that was down to Wilson’s fine first half penalty save.

Full time: Parkgate 0 Thackley 0.

Thackley had travelled to Parkgate favourites to return with all three points, however, from the start the home side had set out their stall to make it as difficult as possible for the away side to score. The Dennyboys looked good in the first half, knocking the ball about well but unable to penetrate a stubborn defence. They lost their fluency in the second half and could not find that important final touch to gain all three points.

No mid week action this week, Garforth Town are the visitors to Dennyfield next Saturday, will they provide Thackley with their fourth double of the season.

Parkgate team: Hunter; Hall; Harris; Dacre; Senior; Alali (C); Fletcher (Cuckson); Emmett; Moore; A Lill; Hirst. Subs not used: Lanaman; Howard; Thornton; J Lill.

Thackley team: Wilson; O’Brien; Hargreaves; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell; Whiteley; Brown (Broadbent 67 mins); Bentham (Joyce 67 mins); Eustance (Howe 83 mins). Sub not used: Scott.

Attendance: 84.

Referee: Andy Smith.

Photo: Luke Wilson - his penalty save ensured Thackley's unbeaten run continued.