18th November 2023
Thetford Rovers vs Castle Acre Swifts @ Euston Park - Euston, nr. Thetford
Anglian Combination Division One (Step 8)
14:00 KO
Free entry
Attendance - approx. 40
Half-time score: Thetford Rovers 0-0 Castle Acre Swifts
Goals:
Castle Acre Swifts: Hewitt - 83'
Castle Acre Swifts: Howman - 92'
Final Score: Thetford Rovers 0-2 Castle Acre Swifts
With the Thetford Town Norfolk Senior Cup game called off due to the weather, I was glad to see that the Thetford Rovers game was still on, so I made the short trip down to Euston Park. It was also a good match-up in the Anglian Combination D1, pitting the league leaders, Castle Acre Swifts, against a 4th place Thetford Rovers. The league leaders, with a goal difference of +21 after 10 games, were sure to be giving the Rovers defense a big workout today.
With the overnight storm, the pitch was a bit muddy in places, and was bobbly, however, with all things considered, not actually all that bad. It was a mild and dry afternoon, with a bit of a background breeze. Thetford Rovers lined up in red shirts with black shorts, with the away team in white shirts and navy shorts.
KEY MOMENTS
TR = Thetford Rovers
CAS = Castle Acre Swifts
3' - TR - A quick break from Thetford Rovers, Gibson finds Candu down the left wing, he takes it forward and whips in a good ball for the striding Gibson, but his header towards goal is collected by the keeper.
7' - TR - Some great work from James Dean down the left, he pumps in a dangerous ball, it evades the keeper and invites a tap in from Hunter at the far-post, but he is unable to get a clean connection on it and the chance goes begging.
13' - CAS - A ridiculously long throw from the No.3 is flicked on, forcing an acrobatic save from Tomasz Ostrowski, and the No.9 cannot capitalise on the follow-up.
14' - TR - A mishit kick from the keeper falls straight to James Dean in the box, it looked a sure fire goal, but the keeper gets across quick to prevent the tap-in, Dean then tries to make space to slot it in but the keeper is equal to the movement and blocks the eventual shot, big opportunity that!
20' - CAS - Two quickfire dangerous inswinging corners from the No.3 are both heading goalbound at the near-post, forcing Ostrowski to make a couple of tricky saves.
22' - TR - The tall Kukuris flicks a back-header into the box, it falls nicely for striker James Dean but he is unable to take the chance.
25' - CAS - Castle Acre break fast, a through ball puts the No.6 in, he immediately pings the ball to the left to release the No.9 and he is through on goal, but Ostrowski is out quickly to narrow the distance, and the shot is saved by his outstretched leg.
33' - CAS - The No.6 measures up and cracks in a dangerous strike from outside the box and it curls just wide of the top left corner.
41' - CAS - From a corner, the ball falls to the No.3 who has a shot from inside the box, but it is deflected wide for a corner.
48' - TR - From a corner, the balls falls to Kukuris, he powers in a low strike which is scrambled wide for a corner. In the subsequent corner, captain McGeeney connects with the ball at the far-post, but it is straight at the keeper who obligingly collects.
59' - CAS - The No.9 bursts through again, but Ostrowski reacts quickly too and makes another fine stop by making himself as large as possible.
62' - CAS - A long ball puts the substitute Cator through, pure route one football, he takes the ball forwards and fires in a strike at the near-post, which is stopped by the legs of Ostrowski and out for a corner.
83' - CAS - GOAL (0-1) - Castle Acre Swifts break the deadlock, a deadball is whipped in by the No.3, it is headed on towards the near-post where Hewitt smashes it in from close range, skimming the post on the way in, it has to be said that it was coming.
84' - TR - Thetford Rovers start pushing higher, a cleared ball falls nicely to Bishop who hits a clean volley from 25 yards, but sadly it is straight down the throat of the keeper.
92' - CAS - GOAL (0-2) - Castle Acre Swifts absorb the pressure and get the chance to break through the winger Alfie Cator, he takes it down the wing and curls in a perfect ball where it is met by fellow substitute Howman, to tap in a side-volley from close range. And with that, the 3-points are secured for the league leaders.
Overall, considering the opposition, that was a strong and solid performance from Thetford Rovers, who went toe-to-toe with the league leaders, and matched them until the latter stages, and indeed should really have taken the lead in the first half as James Dean was presented an opportunity on a platter. Castle Acre Swifts were made to work hard for their goals, and it was not until the substitutes came on that they were able to start carving out some better opportunities, with special mention to the left-winger Alfie Cator, who made a big difference today. Thetford Rovers should take heart from their performance and certainly have what it takes to keep competing near the top of the division. I hope to be back soon and I wish Rovers all the best with the season ahead.
Line-Ups:
THETFORD ROVERS: Tomasz Ostrowski, Costa Candu, Tomas Kukuris, Steven Davies, Lewis Bishop, Liam Levy-Twomey, Harvey McGeeney (C), Elliot Gibson, James Dean, Bradley Sandell, Robbie Hunter. SUBS: Arnas Pupelis, Jack Salmons, Jamie Smith.
CASTLE ACRE SWIFTS (alphabetical order): Benjamin Carlton, Joshua Carlton, Ben Durrant, Luis Gibbons, Luke Goble, Curtis Head, Ashley Hewitt, Daniel King, Bradley McCormack, Deklin Ramsden, Ryan Scott. SUBS: Alfie Cator, Nathan Cross, Aiden Howman.
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