Sleaford 1, Thackley 1: In the gruelling heat of Saturday Thackley played their penultimate pre-season friendly and came away from Sleaford with a creditable 1-1 draw, but with many of players suffering from heat exhaustion.

A sensible approach was taken to the game and copious quantities of water were supplied to the players in an effort to stop them dehydrating.

The pace of the game was understandably pedestrian and both managers realised they had to conserve the energy levels of their charges.

The substitutes were used but it was a double header so the 30 squad members were all thrust into the furnace-like heat.

The first team took the lead in their game with 20 minutes to go. A through ball picked out Andy Patterson and his clever back heeled pass was into the path of Dave Armitage.

He then drilled a shot into the bottom corner without breaking stride.

It was not to be the winner though, the Lincolnshire outfit equalising within minutes.

The reserves, playing on an adjacent pitch with a simultaneous kick-off time, won their match 3-2 but also suffered several players wilting in the soaring temperatures.

"It was a good result, a good game and a good exercise in team bonding because we made a day of it and had a few beers together," said Thackley manager John Boyle.

"I have to say the referee was very good and allowed it to keep stopping while water bottles were passed round. It was very difficult in the conditions.

"I'm not sure if it was a good workout or if it has taken too much out of the players in terms of stamina. We won't know the full extent of that until tomorrow (Tuesday) when we play our final friendly against Stump Cross.

"I had hoped to use that as a full scale practice match for the team we hope to have out against Hallam next Saturday when the league starts.

"We got a few injuries at Sleaford and with the exertions of the players I might have to rest a few of the first team now." Club treasurer and committeeman Steve Paley was acting as stand-in secretary in the absence of the holidaying Stewart Willingham and he added that he hoped there would be no lasting affects to the players due to the blistering heat.

"I was on water carriage duties all afternoon and with two matches on separate pitches it seemed like they were going down like flies," said Paley.

"One or two of the younger lads in the reserve game were showing signs of heat exhaustion and we had to get them cooled down as soon as possible. It was quite an arduous few hours for them."