16th July 2024
Thetford Town vs Diss Town @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Brian Major Memorial Trophy/Pre-season Friendly (Step 5 vs Step 6)
20:00 KO
£5 entry
Attendance: approx. 150
Half-time score: Thetford Town 3-1 Diss Town
Goals:
Thetford Town: Laker - 2'
Thetford Town: Gilchrist - 20', 29'
Diss Town: No.8 - 41'
Thetford Town: Diggens - 50', 59'
Final Score: Thetford Town 5-1 Diss Town
With the end-of-season drama prolonging last season, it has only been a short break to the start of the 24/25 season friendly games, with tonight's game Thetford Town's 3rd, but importantly their first at home. I did go to the first game at The Nest against Step 4 Gorleston, but the torrential downpour and the lack of a shelter destroyed my notes.
The club has been incredibly busy during the break, revamping facilities behind the scenes, installing a swish new powder coated fence as well as giving their famous stand a nice new lick of paint, all looking fantastic, well done and thank you to all involved.
Despite the break, there has certainly been no shortage of football with the Euros and despite England progressing to the final, I found a lot of the games to be pedestrian, lacklustre and frankly dull, a stark contrast to non-league football, games are rarely dull with Thetford!
Thetford Town have been busy in pre-season, managing to re-sign the majority of last seasons squad, and they will be a formidable opponent this coming season having a point to prove and wrongs-to-right following the play-off debacle. The most notable absentees are Ryan Fuller embarking on his managerial career, and last seasons top scorer Shaun Avis making the move down to Haverhill Rovers as they continue to build a strong squad, expecting big things from them in D1 North.
Tonight's game sees our annual match against Diss Town for the Brian Major Memorial trophy. Whilst Thetford Town are the current holders, Diss Town knocked Thetford out of the 3rd round of the Norfolk Cup last season, so this was set-up to be a hotly contested game.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
DT = Diss Town
2' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Elliot Smith takes the ball to the byline and squares the ball back into the box, it is just beyond the reach of Harvey Lott, but he picks up the ball and crosses in from the right, his low driven ball pinging off the knee of Laker and into the net, not sure how much Adam knew about that one, nevertheless, he made the run and gave Thetford the early lead.
7' - TT - A slick move sees King find Gilchrist open in the box, he curls in a well struck effort which is tipped over the bar by the keeper for the corner, fine save.
11' - TT - A deft ball from Grove is lofted into the box, a strong backheader from Elliot Smith is looping in under the bar, but the keeper gets up to tip the effort over, another smart save.
15' - TT - Grove charges into the box from the left with the ball at his feet, a couple of neat step-overs sees the goal open up for him, he fires in towards the near post but his effort crashes into the side netting, unlucky.
20' - TT - GOAL (2-0) - From the left flank, Grove finds Gilchrist loitering on the edge of the Diss box, he pokes the ball between two defenders, darts in and powers in a left-footed strike to lift the ball over the keeper and into the net, wonderful solo piece of skill from Dan!
23' - TT - A brilliant turn and strike from Cameron King from 20yrds out, his effort flashing narrowly wide.
29' - TT - GOAL (3-0) - A pinpoint perfect long diagonal ball from Wells finds Gilchrist down the right, his first touch is sweet to eliminate the defender, and just inside the box his venomous strike rifles under the diving keeper and into the net, what a ball, what a touch and what a finish!!!
41' - DT - GOAL (3-1) - Diss Town peg Thetford back a goal, the No.8 intercepts the ball, powers forwards, does well to outpace the tracking defenders and lashes in a fine strike across Dickerson to slam the ball into the inside of the side-netting, sweet finish.
50' - TT - GOAL (4-1) - Gilchrist does well to defend the ball in the middle of the park, before he turns and pings a diagonal ball out to the right to find substitute Diggens who runs with the balls, cuts into the box and curls a left-footed effort beyond the reach of the keeper, the ball smashing into the post, across the line and into the net, brilliant skill and finish.
59' - TT - GOAL (5-1) - A deflected ball finds Diggens in a central position, he sprints towards the right flank then cuts back inside, a neat jink sees him burst through into the box, his right footed strike punching under the keeper and hopping in despite a touch on the way through, Diggens looking sharp indeed!
76' - TT - Substitute Jake Mann is slid in down the right, he takes the ball to the byline and cuts it across the box, it is on a plate for Diggens to bag a second half hattrick, but the effort is turned over the bar.
A slick performance from Thetford Town saw them retain the Brian Major Trophy, with the majority of the squad getting a good run out against a Diss Town side that never gave up. Thetford strikers Gilchrist and Diggens looked sharp, with great performances across the field as Thetford continue to build towards to the start of the new season. Diss Town showed some great guile and put in some dangerous attacks, I sincerely wish them all the best next season and I will try and get down for the odd game as I always do. Final pre-season friendly sees Thetford Town travel down the A11 to face a familiar foe in Mildenhall Town, now Step 4 and impressively defeating King's Lynn Town last Friday, will be a big final test for the boys before the league begins, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups (not fully complete):
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Sam Bond (C), Josh Wells, Adam Laker, Dylan Grove, Kieran Money, Malachi Wright, Harvey Lott, Elliot Smith, Dan Gilchrist, Cameron King. SUBS: Santi Davies, George Diggens, Jake Mann, Liam Levy-Twomey etc.
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