8th October 2024
Thetford Town vs Fakenham Town @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Norfolk County FA Senior Cup - Round Two (teams both Step 5)
19:45 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - TBA
Half-time score: Thetford Town 1-1 Fakenham Town
Goals:
Thetford Town: King - 44'
Fakenham Town: Middleton - 45'+5'
Thetford Town: H.Lott - 52'
Fakenham Town: Watts - 54', 67'
Final Score: Thetford Town 2-3 Fakenham Town
This evening saw Thetford Town enter the prestigious Norfolk Senior Cup at the 2nd
Round stage. This is a much-loved cup by all, and a great opportunity for a big day out
for whoever reaches the final. However, there are some very strong teams in this competition, such as higher level Wroxham & Gorleston, as well as Norwich City who are fielding an U-21 side for this year’s competition. Tonight, Thetford Town hosted a very strong opponent in Fakenham Town, who are the current leaders of the Thurlow Nunn Premier and in their ranks they have striker Jake Watts who has bagged an unreal 22 goals in 14 goals so far! Thetford’s back-line was sure to be tested to the maximum tonight, however, buoyed by the incredible 7-1 victory over Sheringham on the weekend, and coupled with Fakenham Town being on the receiving end of 4-1 thumping at the hands of Great Yarmouth Town, momentum should be on the side of the hosts. Either way, was going to be one hell of a game, one of the picks of the round for sure!
Today's match day programme had the swiss-army knife of players, Elliot Smith, on the front cover. Equally at home in the middle, in the back-line or as a lone striker.
It was a pleasant evening, not too cool and no wind in the air, and just before the game there was a short downpour making the beautifully manicured playing surface very quick, perfect for a much anticipated cup game. Out onto this glorious surface, hosts Thetford Town lined up in their away mint green kit, I can only assume the home kits weren't ready from Saturday's game. Fakenham Town lined up in what I think is their home yellow and black colours.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
FH = Fakenham Town
11' - FH - Great strength from Watts sees him win the ball, with the field opened up in front of him he rifles in a strike from 25yrds, but it flies just over the bar.
19' - TT - A ball over the top sets Laker off down the left, the ball bounces and from a tight angle Laker sweetly hits the ball on the half-volley, it is dipping into the top left corner but keeper Pearson, at full-stretch, tips it over the bar for a corner.
21' - TT - A slide-rule pass from Olpin splits the Fakenham defence and puts Harvey Lott through, he is ushered out to the right but wraps hit foot around the ball to send in a brilliant cross, Gilchrist gets in front of the defender but is unable to connect with the ball from close range, so unlucky!
40' - TT - Some brilliant direct running from Harvey Lott, a neat 1-2 with Gilchrist sets him through into the box, he manages to evade a couple of flying challenges and shoots, but slightly off balance he pushes his effort narrowly wide.
43' - TT - Gilchrist darts into the box and fires in an effort at the near-post, forcing keeper Pearson to palm it out for a corner.
44' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Thetford finally get the breakthrough, multiple shots fly in, each well blocked, until King picks up the ball, he slinks into the box and cuts his shot across Pearson and into the net via the post, pure accuracy from the Thetford talisman.
45'+5' - FH - GOAL (1-1) - Just before half-time, Thetford concede. Watts does well down the right, beating Wells in a battle of strength, no mean feat, he then immediately crosses the ball in, it takes a deflection but curls perfectly into the path of Middleton who heads in from close range.
52' - TT - GOAL (2-1) - Thetford regain their lead not long into the 2nd half. Harvey Lott shows some fluid play with the ball, running down the right, cutting inside to play a 1-2 with Gilchrist in the box as he continues his pacey run, this puts him through on goal unopposed and he cleanly sweeps the ball past Pearson, magic goal from the youngster and well deserved indeed.
54' - FH - GOAL (2-2) - Disaster at the back gives Fakenham an easy ticket back into this game. A long ball is beaten away by Pereira, but there is not enough on it and it falls to the leagues on-form hitman, Jake Watts, who sweeps the ball into the gaping net.
62' - FH - Fakenham corner, great delivery by Reynolds, that man again, Jake Watts, is on the end of it, his glancing header fizzing just wide.
67' - FH - GOAL (2-3) - Fakenham complete the turn around, a recycled cross in from the right by Reynolds is delivered with precision to find Watts at the far-post, unmarked he heads in with ease, to add another notch to his formidable tally.
68' - TT - King drives in a pacey daisy cutter of a strike from 20yrds out, having Pearson beaten it whistles narrowly past the post.
75' - TT - King giving his all, classic skilful play in the middle of the park opens up the space with a trademark side step to wrong-foot the defender, he powers in a stinging strike from 20yrds, Pearson cannot deal with it and parries it away right into the path of the onrushing Laker, Laker is there first but only just, and Pearson makes himself big to block the shot.
83' - TT - A well hit diagonal ball releases King in an unfamiliar position on the left wing, a wonderful initial touch sees him round the defender and bear down on the goal and into the box, and just as he pulls the trigger, Youngs flies in from the right to make a brilliant sliding challenge, timed to perfection. King gets to the loose ball first near the by-line and has a go from a very narrow angle, which Pearson saves.
84' - TT - Laker is found down the left, he cuts in and fires in a strike at the near-post, but Pearson is equal to it.
89' - TT - King, doing everything to take the game to penalties, picks up the ball on the right, he cuts into the box and shoots, this time he beats Pearson but captain Jake Watts, usually at the other end of the pitch, blocks off the line. What a performance from the captain it has to be said, such an important moment to effectively seal the visitors place in the 3rd round.
A classic cup tie served up at Mundford Road tonight, one I'm sure the neutral enjoyed. I am not neutral unfortunately, and it was one of those games, Thetford dominated for large portions and looked the better team overall, but they were unable to capitalise on this and Fakenham were incredibly clinical on the night. They were able to score shortly after each of Thetford's goals, and after the 2nd goal this seemed to knock the wind out of Thetford and the 3rd goal followed shortly. Thetford certainly done enough after this, playing themselves back into the game, and Cameron King was a man possessed, easily doing enough to deserve a goal, but that sliding challenge from Youngs and block off the line from Watts denied him, and Thetford Town. A word on Jake Watts, the hype is real, really impressed with him, strong and quick, he hassled the Thetford backline all game, and whilst Thetford dealt with him effectively most of the game, he still popped up when it mattered to bag two more goals in clinical fashion, and prevent a goal. Also a shout-out to Harvey Lott, what a performance, he had the left-back on toast and thoroughly deserved his goal. Thetford Town were missing a few players tonight in Dickerson, Diggens and Grove, and whilst I'm not making any excuses, I am looking forward to the league games this season where I think a full strength side could get us over the line. I wish Fakenham Town all the best in the Norfolk Senior Cup, but for Thetford Town focus returns to the league, where we host Hadleigh United on Saturday, time to put this result behind and keep up our league momentum, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Miguel Pereira, Sam Bond (C), Josh Wells, Elliot Smith, Adam Laker, Jake Mann, Kieran Money, Callum Olpin, Harvey Lott, Cameron King, Dan Gilchrist. SUBS: Jaydyn Lott, Malachi Wright, Marley Reynolds.
FAKENHAM TOWN: Luke Pearson, Jak Reynolds, Jayden Wright, Lewis Sturman, Charlie Mayhew, Josh Youngs, Joe Keeley, Mitch Rasberry, Jake Watts (C), Louis Henman-Mason, Luke Middleton. SUBS: Alex Walpole, Morgan Twose, Jake Poore, Josh Blower, Ashton Thorrold.
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