Thackley 2 Worksop Town 4

IT IS a measure of how well Thackley’s revival has gone that they competed with an excellent Worksop side in a thoroughly entertaining game at Dennyfield.

The Tigers – the Northern Counties East Premier Division table-toppers – blasted three goals in an 11-minute spell late in the second half. However, there was still time for the home side to respond with the goal of the game.

It’s easy to see why Worksop are the leaders. They are well organised, with three towering defenders that get forward for every set-piece.

One of the three centre backs steps up into a tight midfield diamond when Worksop are in possession while the full backs provide the width.

All of that sees plenty of chances created for the front two, one of whom bagged a brace.

The visitors dominated possession and territory in the goalless first half without really forcing too many clear-cut openings. Any headers from the many corners forced were meat and drink for Thackley keeper Ed Hall.

Nick McNally dug out a shot to test Worksop keeper Jonathan Stewart following an early corner and a Kris Hargreaves effort just after the half-hour was deflected for a corner but chances were sparse for the Dennyboys.

Thackley right back Sam Cook picked up a yellow card when he slid in late on Conor Higginson but Conor Sellars put the free-kick from the corner of area high and wide. Higginson then went down theatrically in first-half stoppage time, only to sheepishly get to his feet as one of his team-mates put the ball out of play.

The scoring started soon after the interval as Worksop took a 47th-minute lead. Thomas Burgin had limped out of the dressing room at the start of the second half after being treated for an injury in first-half stoppage time. He justified the manger’s decision to send him back out when he rose to head home Sellars’ excellent cross from the right flank.

The Dennyboys were level nine minutes later thanks to a superb finish from NcNally after he was gifted possession by an error from Sam Liversidge.

The game got away from Thackley with a little over a quarter of an hour remaining. Worksop restored their lead when a through ball picked out Higginson and he rounded Hall before slotting in as Jerome White attempted to cover.

In the 81st minute, Higginson picked his spot after another intelligent through ball found him in acres of space.

Just two minutes later Ryan Farrell was guilty of a poorly-timed challenge on Tom Elliott in the area and Sellars sent Hall the wrong way from the spot.

All the goals were top drawer but Dennyboys substitute Joe Keen netted the pick of the bunch. There was a surreal moment as time seemed to stand still as he rifled into the top corner from 25 yards.