Thackley travelled for their final match of 2016 to Hemsworth on Tuesday in a game which was originally scheduled to be played on Boxing Day. Thackley were looking to finish the year in good style and cement their second position in the league and extend their ten match unbeaten run. Joe Brown made way for Chris Wademan to lead the attack.

It was the home side that pushed forward in the opening fifteen minutes or so, Thackley having to defend a number of corners and free kicks. It did not help their cause when they lost Ryan Farrell with an arm injury on twelve minutes; he was replaced by Ben Joyce. As the half progressed, Thackley came more into the game and had what looked like a good penalty appeal turned down when Joyce was brought down in the area after skipping past Cameron Clark. Bill Law headed over before the Dennyboys created a couple of good chances. Chris Wademan pulled the ball back to Craig Bentham who fired over, then the Thackley front man got clear but put the ball wide, when with a little more composure, he could have done better. Midway through the half the Dennyboys went in front, it followed a great run down the left by Luke O’Brien, he pulled the ball back and first Wademan then Bentham helped it into the net. Hemsworth looked to get back on level terms and the Thackley defence came under a certain amount of pressure. A Nash Connolly cross bounced off of the bar, as the away side tried to protect their lead. Just before the break, Richard Collier had the best chance to score but he blasted the ball over from ten yards out. Thackley had managed to hold onto their lead until the break.

Half time: Hemsworth MW 0 Thackley 1.

Thackley keeper, Luke Wilson, pushed away a Collier free kick early on, as the home side looked to continue where they had left off in the first half. Thackley were finding things a bit easier and Bentham put the ball narrowly wide after Pat McGuire had set up the chance. Wademan got booked when home keeper Chris Snaith made the most of his attempt to get the ball, before Thackley made a double substitution, Wademan and Bentham giving way to Dan Broadbent and Joe Brown. George Eustance skipped past a couple of defenders; Snaith could only parry his shot, then Broadbent got clear, this time Snaith came out to block. O’Brien was on hand to hook the ball off of the line before Hemsworth equalised. Substitute Dominique Blair firing the ball just inside the post from Collier’s cross. Thackley had the chance to get back in front when Brown set up Broadbent, but his shot just cleared the bar. On these small margins are games won and lost and it was the home side that got the winner with less than five minutes remaining, Law just getting to a long ball knocked over the defence before Wilson and sliding it into the net. Kris Hargreaves had a well struck shot blocked in time added on but the home side were not letting their lead go and took all three points.

Full time: Hemsworth MW 2 Thackley 1.

A good entertaining game, both teams creating a number of chances. Hemsworth deserved their victory in the end; the Dennyboys never really got a grip on the game. In the dressing room after the game the players were gutted with their performance. The unbeaten run had come to an end.

It is the same opposition next up, when the ‘Wells’ visit Dennyfield on the 2nd January. Thackley will be looking to prevent them from completing a double and looking to turn the tables on Hemsworth.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare team: Snaith; Wilson; Clark; Jones (Bucknall); Viggars (Blair); Steers; Connolly (Wilkinson); Tiani; Law (C); Guest; Collier. Subs not used: Smith; Hayward.

Thackley team: Wilson; Hargreaves; O’Brien; McGuire (C); White; Snowden; Farrell ( Joyce 12 mins); Whiteley; Wademan (Broadbent 63 mins); Bentham (Brown 63 mins); Eustance. Sub not used: Howe.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare scorer: Dominique Blair 78 mins; Bill Law 86 mins.

Thackley scorer: Craig Bentham 21 mins.

Attendance: 206.

Referee: Lee Freeman.

Photo: Ben Joyce - had what looked like a penalty claim turned down in first half.