After battling back to fitness following last season's injury-ravaged campaign, 39-year-old Darron Morris has suffered another cruel blow.

He picked up a knock on his knee in the FA Vase win at North Shields and has been sidelined since the end of September. Ironically the club are in good shape with forwards because of a player Morris recommended. "I feel really sorry for Darron because he worked very, very hard to get back and came to every training session and did the full pre-season," said manager John Boyle.

"It was a nasty challenge that did him up in the north east and he hasn't featured in the side since. In fact he hasn't even been able to train. He tried it last Thursday and he dropped out straight away. He couldn't even jog on it."

Adam Johnson has assumed the mantle of striker and could not have hit a richer seam having netted four goals in the last four games.

He has hit top form at the right time and Thackley's unbeaten run of seven games was only stalled by Tuesday's 4-3 home defeat in the President's Cup.

"Funnily enough it was Darron who brought Adam to our attention and was instrumental in him signing for us," added Boyle.

"When Darron was struggling on the comeback trail last season he went to Golcar in the County Amateur League on loan to get games in. While he was there he struck up a good partnership with Adam and felt he could step up to our level. I asked the Golcar manager and we signed him."