Thackley travelled to South Yorkshire on Wednesday night for a Third Round League Cup game against Maltby Main. The Miners had beaten Glasshoughton in the previous round of the competition, whilst this was the Dennyboys first game. Thackley’s starting line up showed five changes to the team that took the field against Albion at the weekend. Ray Sibanda was starting for the first time this season and there were a further four of the Under 21 squad on the bench.

From the start in was an end to end game, Adam Simpson went close early on and Luke Wilson made a fine save before Thackley went in front in the ninth minute. It was a well worked goal involving Simpson, Luke Robinson and finished with Jordan Hines hitting the back of the net with some force. It was just the start the Dennyboys needed. Wilson did well to push Steven Hopewell’s header against the post, the home side looked dangerous going forward. Hopewell, and his striking partner Ross Duggan, were causing problems for the Thackley defence but they managed to get a foot in or block most of their attempts on goal. Just after the half hour they were caught out with a long ball, Hopewell was clear, he rounded Wilson before slotting into the empty net. Three minutes later the Dennyboys went a goal behind, Thackley failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Alfie Dodsworth to fire home. Both sides had chances before the break but Thackley got back on level terms on the stroke of half time. Ray Sibanda’s strike from 25 yards out flew into the top corner giving home keeper James Pollard no chance.

Half time: Maltby Main 2 Thackley 2.

Playing against the Maltby slope Thackley went close in the opening minutes, Pollard getting across to push Hines’ long range effort around the post. Wilson made another fine save to deny Duggan after the ball had been headed back into the six yard box before another Maltby effort scraped the bar. Redmond Lee came on for Adam Simpson just after the hour. At this stage it was all to play for, Wilson made a couple of timely saves and both Robinson and Hines had half chances. Maltby had the chance to take the lead when Duggan got clear, he squared the ball to Parirs Dixon but his shot went narrowly wide. Wilson again saved Thackley from falling behind, coming out to block a shot and getting a kick in the head for his trouble before the home side scored what turned out to be the winner. It came from a corner knocked long; Jonathan Hill rose above the defence to head back across goal into the top corner. The Storey brothers were introduced late on and Thackley created a couple of chances that could have taken the game into extra time. Kieran Thompson got his head to a free kick but headed wide before Joe Storey got clear but put the ball over with just the keeper to beat.

Full time: Maltby Main 3 Thackley 2.

Thackley played some good stuff in this game and with a relatively inexperienced team pushed Maltby all the way. There is no doubt the home side created more chances but Thackley created quite a few and could have taken the game into extra time.

It is Thackley’s most important game thus far this season on Saturday when West Auckland Town visit the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield for the FA Vase Second Round tie.

Maltby Main team: Pollard; Morton; Cutts; Dixon; Austin; Dodsworth (Moore); Forster; Hill; Duggan; Hopewell (Smythe); Nodder (O’Brian). Sub not used: Bailey.

Thackley team: Wilson; Marsh; Rothel; Whiteley (C); Thompson; Basi; Sibanda; Hines (Joe Storey 86 mins); Robinson; Ngoe (Tom Storey 85 mins); Simpson (Lee 65 mins). Subs not used: Thomas Cokewright; Theo Cokewright.

Maltby Main scorers: Steven Hopewell 31 mins; Alfie Dodsworth 34 mins; Jonathan Hill 82 mins.

Thackley scorers: Jordan Hines 9 mins; Ray Sibanda 45 mins.

Referee: Mark Thomas.

Attendance: 62.

Photo: Jordan Hines scorer of Thackley's first goal.