Thackley travelled to Parkgate, in their penultimate league match of the season, in the hope of gaining some revenge for the 4-3 defeat the Steelmen inflicted on them a couple of weeks ago. This time they fielded a much stronger line up, with just one change from the starting eleven that beat Barton in the League Cup semi final. 16 years old Lewis Morgan being selected to play alongside James Firth in the centre of the defence. There was quite a strong breeze blowing down the pitch, strong enough to play a significant part in the match.

Thackley started with the breeze in their favour, but Parkgate were first to get a strike on goal, away keeper, Mark Bower, getting down well to smother the shot. It took a little time for both teams to adjust to the blustery conditions and for the first fifteen minutes or so, most of the play was in midfield. Seventeen minutes in, Thackley had their first real assault on goal, Chris Davey played the ball through, getting caught with a late tackle in the process, Dempsey Smith latched onto it and crossed to Matt Morgan, home keeper, Jamie Bailey, got down well to save. With the wind at their backs, the away side looked to be getting the upper hand, Davey firing over from the edge of the box, before Matty Hall combined well with Davey, his shot was blocked. Parkgate had their chances, first James Firth deflected an Ashley Worsfold effort for a corner before Chris Wood shot wide. At the other end Callum White found Davey wide on the right, the Thackley wide man pulled the ball back to Liam Moore, the ball skipped by his boot, when he should have at least tested the home keeper. With just over ten minutes to go to the break, the home side had a bit of a let off. Smith turned a defender on the edge of the box and shot, the ball sailed over Bailey but hit the bar and rebounded to safety. It was Smith again who went close minutes later, before the Thackley forward hobbled off to be replaced by Deroy White. Bailey pinched the ball off Davey's toes after Keenan Ratcliffe had done well down the right before the Dennyboys took the lead on the stroke of half time. Davey got clear on the left, his cross found both of the White's lurking in the box, first Callum got a touch before DEROY WHITE took his time to side foot the ball past Bailey. It was the perfect time to score, the referee blowing for the break almost immediately after the restart. On the balance of play, Thackley just about deserved their interval lead.

Parkgate replaced Joe Jerrison with Matt Needham at the start of the SECOND HALF. On a couple of occasions in the opening ten minutes Deroy White got in the clear but some alert defending closed him down and he failed to get his shot off. Thackley made a double substitution on the hour, Darrell Kendall and Lee Newall replacing Matty Hall and Matt Morgan. The home side started to exert some pressure in an attempt to get back into the game. Worsfold and Keir Hannity both had shots blocked before Bower did well in dealing with a deflected shot from Danny Major. Parkgate were having their best spell of the game, and Thackley needed to defend, the ball being cleared off the line following a long throw into the six yard box. With fifteen minutes to go, the home side should have drawn level, but Hannity fired wide from close range when he really should have done better. As the game entered the final ten minutes the Dennyboys started to rally and Bailey came out to save with his body after Moore had got clear of the defence. DARRELL KENDALL shot wide after Whiteley had fed the ball to him, before the Thackley substitute made the game safe with a great individual effort. He picked up the ball down the right, ran into the box and cleverly placed it past a diving Bailey. Kendall had another shot go just wide after Davey had given him the ball before the referee called time.

Thackley had put in a very workman like performance in claiming the three points, this should give them confidence going into their final two games of the season. The match against Retford on Tuesday night now becomes of vital importance in deciding the League Champions and promotion candidates. If the Dennyboys take points from the match, Bridlington Town will be champions, nothing less than a Retford victory will give them that honour.



Parkgate team : Bailey; Darker; Major; Jerrison (Needham); Cusworth (C); Fletcher; Hannity; Jordan; Ashley Worsfold; Wood; Barlow (Lindsay). Subs not used : Lipka; Senior; Aaron Worsfold.

Thackley team : Bower; Ratcliffe; M Morgan (C) (Newall); L Morgan; Firth; Whiteley; C White; M Hall (Kendall); Moore; Smith (D White); Davey. Subs not used : Mallinson; E Hall.

Thackley scorers : Deroy White 45 mins; Darrell Kendall 86 mins.

Attendance : 81.

Referee : Sean Richardson.