18th April 2023
Brandon Town vs Thetford Rovers @ Brandon Remembrance Playing Fields - Brandon
Anglian Combination Division One (Step 8)
18:30 KO
Free entry
Attendance - approx. 80
Half-time score: Brandon Town 3-1 Thetford Rovers
Goals:
Brandon Town: Green - 5'
Brandon Town: Tuffs - 30'
Brandon Town: Francis - 38'
Thetford Rovers: Kukuris - 42'
Brandon Town: Buckmaster - 55'(P)
Brandon Town: Sharpe - 60'
Thetford Rovers: Kukuris - 85'
Final Score: Brandon Town 5-2 Thetford Rovers
With the nights getting longer, it gives the opportunity to go see some mid-week Anglian Combination games, and todays game was a must see, pitting two of my local teams, Brandon Town and Thetford Rovers, against in each other in a game where Brandon were looking to get a win as they teeter on the edge of relegation. It had been a while since I last saw either team, and at this level, the turnover rate seems to be high, so I only recognised a few players on each team. I always enjoy games at Brandon Town, its set in a nice location, has a nice community feel, with a bar located near the pitch, so was great to get over again.
It was a chilly and overcast, yet dry evening, to which Brandon Town came out in their home red kit and Thetford Rovers in their away yellow colours, onto a somewhat bobbly pitch.
KEY MOMENTS
BT = Brandon Town
TR = Thetford Rovers
2' - BT - Brandon striker Tuffs, from inside the opposition box, lays the ball back to tee-up captain Buckmaster on the outside of the area, his well struck shot forces a save from the keeper to win an early corner. The ball is swung into the near-post and Tuffs rises highest to get a good connection with his head, but his effort is wide.
3' - BT - Pacey forward Francis bursts past the defence to get hold of the ball deep in the Rovers box, he lays the ball back to Green and his strike from just outside the area is deflected, nearly curling into the net, eventually flying wide of the post but winning another corner
5' - BT - GOAL (1-0) - Francis steals the ball from a poor goal kick, he plays in Green who hits a pearler of a strike into the top right corner of the goal, a brilliant finish and what a way to put Brandon into the lead, top bins!
23' - TR - SIN BIN - A Thetford Rovers player, No. 14, is sin-binned for 10minutes for dissent.
30' - BT - GOAL (2-0) - A bizarre goal, the Thetford Rovers keeper has the ball in laying in the palm of one hand, Tuffs knocks the ball down then taps the ball into the open net, and amongst the baffled looks the goal is awarded.
32' - TR - SIN BIN - In the aftermath of the goal, with emotions running high, the Thetford Rovers No.4 is sin-binned for dissent, seeing Rovers down to 9 men for a minute before the No. 14 returned.
38' - BT - GOAL (3-0) - Grochocki hits a good deep diagonal ball into and across the box, Tuffs gets his head on the end of it, but it is directed at the keeper for a relatively comfortable save. From the resultant goal kick, the Brandon players apply good pressure, Francis gets to the ball before the keeper and taps the ball home, to give Brandon a strong 3-0 lead.
42' - TR - GOAL (3-1) - Sandell drives a low free-kick towards the bottom left corner of the goal, the keeper gets down to the ball but spills it into the path of Kukuris who slots the ball in from an acute angle, is this the start of a comeback?
50' - BT - Grochocki hits a low free-kick, it is heading into the bottom right corner of the goal, the keeper gets down low but the bobbling ball evades his grip and spills out for a corner.
55' - BT - GOAL (4-1) - From a long ball, Francis skins the Rovers defence, he enters the box where he is wiped out by the flagging defender, and the referee wastes no hesitation to point to the spot. Captain Buckmaster steps up and absolutely leathers the ball into the goal, giving the keeper no chance, and killing any hint of a Rovers comeback, emphatic.
57' - BT - A long ball is punched forwards, the bounce causes confusion in the Rovers ranks, allowing Francis to get between the keeper and the defender, his effort going just wide.
60' - TR - SIN BIN - Another sin-binning for the No.14 Rovers player in the aftermath of a conceded free-kick right on the side of the penalty area...
60' - BT - GOAL (5-1) - Grochocki drives a low ball into the box, Sharpe takes a touch to control the ball, then blasts it home from close range to surely put the game beyond any doubt!
75' - BT - Substitute Joe Allen snaps a half-volley towards goal from just outside the box, his effort going just over the bar.
77' - TR - Sandell strikes a 20 yard free-kick, it is dipping under the bar, but the keeper stretches to turn it over for a corner.
79' - TR - Another Sandell free-kick, this time the keeper palms it out to keep the ball out of the net.
83' - TR - Yet another Sandell free-kick, this one is struck sweetly and has the beating of the keeper, but the ball clatters into the post, and on the rebound the No. 5 misses from close range, slicing the ball wide.
85' - TR - GOAL (5-2) - Thetford Rovers win a free-kick just inside their own half. Sandell steps up and launches a lovely long floating ball into the box, Kukuris gets on the end of it with his head to loop the ball over the keeper for a consolation goal.
86' - TR - SIN BIN - Yet another Rovers player is sent to the bin for 10 minutes in the final moments of the game, as the darkness is drawing in.
A brilliant performance from Brandon Town helps them secure a valuable 3 points against local rivals in their bid for survival, and they were the much superior side on the evening. Pacey striker Francis was the clear outlet, and Brandon utilised this tactic well, hitting lots of long balls for him to chase, but also providing plenty of support to back him up. They were also strong in the tackle and physical, to win the all important midfield battle. It has to be said that Thetford Rovers were their own worst enemy on the day, receiving no less than 4 sin-binnings, and therefore playing large parts of the game understrength, this somewhat ruined the spectacle, but I'm sure that Brandon won't give a damn! Brandon took real advantage of this, as well as bagging a very creative goal for the 2nd, I have not seen something like this ever as far as I can recall, not even sure if it was legal. I'm glad Brandon Town secured the win, I want them to stay in D1 of the Anglian Combination, and Rovers aren't really playing for anything, so this result helps out another local side, which is important from my point of view. From what I saw, I cannot see why Brandon Town are in the relegation battle, so I am hoping that a corner has been turned, and that they push on into safety, I wish them all the best.
Line-Ups:
BRANDON TOWN: Logan Hales, Charlie Power, James Buckmaster (C), Thomas Morton, Tomasz Ostrowski, Callum Horn, Kacper Grochocki, Preston Sharpe, Josh Green, Lewis Tuffs, Shomari Francis SUBS: Joe Allen, Will Martin, Rhylee Whiteman.
THETFORD ROVERS: TBA SUBS: TBA
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