Thackley’s first home league game of the season on Saturday saw Barton Town as the visitors to the Mitton Group Stadium at Dennyfield. Like Thackley the Swans were looking for their first victory of the season. A draw in their opening game at Staveley was followed by defeat in a FA Cup replay on Tuesday night. Thackley’s season has followed a similar pattern, a point at Eccleshill in the opening game but since then, two defeats, against Whitley Bay in the FA Cup and Penistone in the league. Again Thackley were missing some key players, Nicky Matthews and Jordan Hines had picked up injuries on Wednesday night and with a number of other absentees it meant a first start for Adam Muller and Redmond Lee.

There was little goalmouth action in the opening twenty minutes or so, Thackley were having slightly the better of the possession but passes were going astray and they could not find that final ball to create a chance. Barton were looking for the ball to be played over the top but their forwards were getting caught offside on a regular basis. It was the away side that created the first real chance of the game, Danny Chambers getting his head on a cross that brought an acrobatic save from Luke Wilson. Ryan Basi picked up a yellow card for what looked like a good old fashioned shoulder charge (come on referees, it would not even have been a foul ten years ago), Owen Marshall headed over from the free kick. Wilson was on hand to punch away following a free kick before Adam Muller should really have done better after getting clear but his lob over the advancing keeper was well wide. All in all, not the most exciting half of football, most of the play was contained in mid field, neither side able to cause any real concern to their opponent’s defenders.

Half time: Thackley 0 Barton Town 0.

Luke Robinson came on after the break for Redmond Lee. Barton went close to opening the score in the first minute of the second half but Wilson did well to push Donald Chimawlo’s shot for a corner, a goal mouth scramble followed which was eventually cleared. Ten minutes into the half and Thackley at last created a real chance, Robinson got his head to Alex Marsh’s cross but the ball was cleared off of the line. Five minutes later the Barton keeper, Tom Collins, did really well to block Muller’s close range effort. Barton too had their chances; Kris Hargreaves headed a dangerous looking cross from under the bar and Tom Bennett headed wide. Thackley made their second change, Mark Trueman coming on for James Rothel. The game was moving from end to end both teams looking to break the deadlock. Adam Simpson came on for his seasonal debut to replace James Ngoe. Barton had the ball in the net following a Chimawlo run down the right but the referee had already blown for a foul before he crossed, Wilson punched away from the free kick. The away side started to turn the screw in the final five minutes, Chimawlo hit the side netting and Paul Whiteley cleared off of the line before Wilson ensured that Thackley maintained a clean sheet with a late stop. The game finished all square and Thackley had got their second point of the season.

Full time: Thackley 0 Barton Town 0.

Thackley can take some positives from the game, they kept a clean sheet for the first time this season but their failure to create chances is slightly worrying. There were quite a few players missing and because of injury and unavailability there has been enforced changes for each game this season (twenty two players used so far) which does not make for a settled side.

Athersley Recreation are the visitors to Dennyfield on Tuesday night, like Thackley they are finding points hard to come by so far this season.

Thackley: Wilson; Marsh; Hargreaves; Whiteley (C); Thompson; Basi; Lee (Robinson 45 mins); Rothel (Trueman 65 mins); Muller; McGuire; Ngoe (Simpson 75 mins).

Barton Town: Collins; Shelley; Binns; McNamara (C); Knaggs; Marshall; Bennett (Tennant); T Waudby; Chambers (Barlow); Chimawlo; W Waudby. Subs not used: Plummer; Train; Popple.

Attendance: 91.

Referee: Paul Roots.

Photo: Thackley's 'The Terrace (Saltaire)' Man of the Match Alex Marsh being presented with his meal voucher by Geoff Scott.