19th October 2024
Thetford Town vs Cornard United @ Mundford Road - Thetford
FA Vase First Round Proper (both teams Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - 90
Half-time score: Thetford Town 3-0 Cornard United
Goals:
Thetford Town: Smith - 17'
Thetford Town: Olpin - 43'
Thetford Town: Gilchrist - 45'+7'
Cornard United: Soraf - 46'
Thetford Town: Diggens - 62', 72', 85'
Final Score: Thetford Town 6-1 Cornard United
A big afternoon at Mundford Road as Thetford Town hosted Cornard United in the First Round Proper of the FA Vase. Thetford had not beyond this round for a few years now, but if they were to manage it they would receive some decent prize money, but more importantly they would advance to the 2nd round of the competition, a good cup run is long overdue for The Brecklanders! On paper, Thetford have a favourable draw at home against Cornard United, a team that they defeated 6-1 only a month ago, after one of the best 1st half performances seen at Mundford Road. However, today's game is a cup competition and Cornard, now knowing what Thetford are all about, will certainly come into the game with a different playing style in mind, but if Thetford play like they have been recently, surely their front-line firepower will be too much for the visitors?
Today's FA Vase programme had Thetford Town legend and club captain, Sam Bond on the front cover, has been imperious for us at the back this season.
In typical British fashion, some nice sunny and warm weekdays had disappeared for the weekend, to be replaced with rain, rain that went on all morning and into the afternoon. But come kick-off, the rain was replaced with sun, and with the wet pitch, perfect conditions for a cup game. Thetford Town proudly lined-up in their claret and blue, with Cornard United in blue and white stripes. Being a Col U fan, seeing an opponent team in blue and white stripes and also called CUFC was odd for me indeed!
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
CU = Cornard United
1' - In the first minute of the game, young Thetford keeper Miguel Pereira is injured. A ball over the top from Cornard forces him to come out to the edge of his area to compete for the ball and unfortunately he collides with Elliot Smith. After a few minutes of treatment he walks off the pitch with what looked like an injury to his nose, and is replaced by Dickerson. I hope that he recovers quickly and is back in the squad soon.
10' - TT - Grove with the ball on the right, he drives forward and cuts into the middle, he plays Gilchrist inside the box who does well to fend off the challenges before he shuffles the ball onto Diggens, whose effort is well saved by Lees.
17' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - An inswinging corner from Money at the near-post invites a glancing header from Elliot Smith that flies into the net, brilliant start from Thetford.
26' - CU - Jack Graham is in down the right, he sprints into the box and tries to bury his strike across goal at the far-post, but Dickerson gets down low and dives to direct the ball just wide of the post, fine save.
37' - TT - Great ball from Elliot Smith releases Laker down the left wing, he gets to the by-line and cuts back to send the covering defender the wrong way, with space he squares the ball into Gilchrist, a neat first touch followed by a strike but the snapped effort fizzes just over.
41' - CU - Jack Graham in again down he right, he bears down on goal and it looks bad for Thetford, but he fires his effort the wrong side of the near-post, big let off!
43' - TT - GOAL (2-0) - Swift attack down the right, Diggens threads Grove through, he gets to the by-line and whips in a beautiful cross to the far-post, where Olpin is steaming in and directs the ball in with a diving header, well executed goal, what a move!
45'+7' - TT - GOAL (3-0) - Deep into a long stoppage time due to Pereira's unfortunate injury, Thetford bag their 3rd just before the break. Grove powers forwards and jinks left and right to turn the defender in knots, he then drills in a powerful strike from the edge of the box, it is at goalkeeper Lees but at pace, all he can do is parry the ball but it falls to Gilchrist who sweeps it into the net, class play from Dylan Grove again there to make that goal.
46' - CU - GOAL (3-1) - After only 30 seconds into the second half, Cornard grab a goal back. Sloppy play at the back from Thetford gifts Cornard the ball, Soraf is in acres of the space and from 20yrds out absolutely smashes the ball into the net, was a cracking finish it has to be said!
62' - TT - GOAL (4-1) - Gilchrist finds a pocket in the middle, he receives the ball, turns and threads a perfectly weighted ball through the Cornard back-line for Diggens to latch onto, and he fires the ball in, Thetford showing their quality up-front with that goal!
67' - TT - This time it is Elliot Smith who splits the Cornard defence with a beautifully weighted through-ball, Diggens is in and it looks a dead cert, he tries to sweep the ball in but Lees sticks out his leg to make a fine stop.
70' - CU - A ball over the top, Jack Graham gets to it first, but under immense pressure his touch is just wide of the post.
72' - TT - GOAL (5-1) - Cameron King, on from off the bench today, runs with the ball in the middle of the park, another through-ball carves through the defence and Diggens is in yet again, but this time he makes sure of things and beats Lees this time, and the ball rolls into the bottom right corner.
82' - TT - A sustained Thetford attack results in Money driving the ball into the danger area from the right, it deflects off a Cornard defender and is going in, but substitute Murton makes a brilliant sliding clearance off the line to spare his team mates blushes.
85' - TT - GOAL (6-1) - A great ping releases Laker down the left, he sprints forwards and crosses the ball into the far-post to find Diggens who taps the ball in on the volley from close range to complete his 2nd half hat-trick, tremendous stuff.
88' - TT - Thetford go for the 7th. A crazy passage of play sees Diggens burst forward, under the attention of two defenders he manages to squeeze the ball through to substitute Harvey Lott sprinting in from the right, he is through on goal and shoots at the near-post, Lees makes a fine stop and tries to smother the ball, but King is there first, he has to turn and evade a challenge before he himself cracks in a strike, Lees saves yet again and the ball falls to Elliot Smith lurking at the edge of the box, the goal is wide open but his snapped effort flies over the bar.
A fine win from Thetford Town sees them advance into the 2nd round of the FA Vase, for the first time in 7 years! The first half was hard work, after Thetford's initial goal Cornard played themselves into the game and were on top for a while, their No.9 Jack Graham looking the main goal threat. But, two quick fire goals created by Dylan Grove at the end of the 1st half put the home side on top. After a poor start to the 2nd half gifting Cornard a goal, they held their nerve and scored their 4th before bringing on some strong reinforcements off the bench, it must be a difficult thing to be 4-1 down and seeing a fresh Cameron King coming on off the bench! Diggens completed his hat-trick in fine fashion as Thetford comfortably cruised to victory, repeating their earlier 6-1 win against Cornard United. The draw for the 2nd round of the FA Vase is this coming Monday and I'm hoping for an interesting tie, but thoughts need to turn quickly to next Saturday as Thetford Town host Mulbarton Wanderers, the team who knocked them out of the play-off semi-final last season in extraordinary scenes, this is bound to be a spicy one, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Miguel Pereira, Elliot Smith, Jaydyn Lott, Sam Bond (C), Adam Laker, Kieran Money, Jake Mann, Callum Olpin, Dylan Grove, George Diggens, Dan Gilchrist. SUBS: Cameron King, Josh Wells, Harvey Lott, Marley Reynolds, Ryan Dickerson.
CORNARD UNITED: Ryan Lees, Luis Berkane, Josh McFaull, Lewis Soraf, Josh Hughes, Ryan Culleton, Scott Kemp (C), Sam Parker, Jack Graham, Louie Arnold, Harry Shawyer. SUBS: Shaye Willats, Charlie Lindoe, Toby Murton, George Day.
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