27th September 2022
Lakenheath vs Sheringham @ The Nest - Lakenheath
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
19:45 KO
£7 entry
Attendance - 81
Half-time score: Lakenheath 1-1 Sheringham
Goals:
Sheringham: Abbott - 13'
Lakenheath: Peters - 25'
Lakenheath: Manels - 53'
Lakenheath: Hawley - 66'
Sheringham: Cary - 85'
Final Score: Lakenheath 3-2 Sheringham
I always enjoy a midweek game, so I made the short trip to Lakenheath to see them take on Sheringham. Lakenheath have had a strong start to the season, and are in a free-scoring mood, recently beating Long Melford 4-0, and impressively despatching Ely City 6-0 at their own ground, so I was hoping for lots of goals tonight. On the other hand, Sheringham have had a slower start, but despite results not going their way, they are clearly a good side who went on a strong FA Cup run where they impressively knocked out March Town United, Fakenham Town and higher level Lowestoft Town, before losing only 2-0 to Step 3 Needham Market, and it looks like they are starting an FA Vase run having beaten Mulbarton Wanderers on penalties on Saturday.
I picked up a match-day programme, got a pint of lager and sat in the main stand ready for the game, with this evening feeling the first bitterly cold one of the year, certainly time to crack-out the winter coat. Lakenheath came out in their famous green strip with Sheringham wearing white shirts and red shorts.
KEY MOMENTS
LH = Lakenheath
SH = Sheringham
4' - LH - A well struck Luke Young free-kick from 25 yards out is painfully close to the top right corner of the goal.
13' - SH - GOAL (0-1) - Haylett whips in a ball from the right-wing, keeper Beckwith comes to collect it but it falls out of his hands, straight to Abbott who stabs in from point-blank range to put Sheringham ahead against the run of play.
17' - SH - A mis-hit clearance falls straight into the path of Nelson, he takes a superb touch to round his man and bursts through on goal to hit a powerful low shot, but it travels millimeters wide of the post.
25' - LH - GOAL (1-1) - Peters picks up the ball on the left-wing during a sustained Lakenheath attack, he takes it past a defender and fires in a low driven ball into the box, it takes a deflection off a defender which takes it beyond the reach of the keeper and into the far side of the goal.
39' - LH - Manels whips a ball into the box from the right wing, Thulborn comes to meet it and collides with keeper Oliver, but he somehow manages to connect with his head and the ball is bouncing slowly goal-bound until a last second clearance from a defender.
40' - LH - A 20 yard free-kick is sweetly struck by the left boot of Sam Peters, but it is narrowly wide, shaving the wrong side of the side-netting.
41' - LH - Manels intercepts the ball and powers forwards, he plays in Debenham who fires in a strike from inside the box which is blocked, it rebounds to Bailey whose effort effort is also blocked, leading to a corner.
45' +2 - LH - Manels turns his man inside out near the right corner flag, allowing him space to whip in a cross, it heads towards Wells coming in at the far post, but his shot travels wide just before the break.
50' - SH - A long ball is pumped up to Nelson, he battles 2 defenders and manages to make the room to turn and shoot, the effort flying just over the bar.
52' - LH - A Luke Young corner is met by captain Hawley but his header goes just over the bar.
53' - LH - GOAL (2-1) - Bailey whips in a pin-point from the right flank to find an unmarked Kaine Manels inside the box, with acres of space he hits an acrobatic volley which flies into the goal despite taking a touch from the keeper - a brilliant crisp strike, and strong contender for my goal of the season for sure, you don't see many of those go in!
66' - LH - GOAL (3-1) - Peters whips in another deadly free-kick ball, and it meets the head of captain Hawley at the near-post, the ball clattering into the crossbar and bouncing down into the goal to stretch their lead.
71' - LH - A trademark big goal-kick from Beckwith flies all the way up the field to Thulborn whose stabbed effort is saved by keeper Oliver.
85' - SH - GOAL (3-2) - From a Sheringham throw-in, the ball is allowed to bounce, and just inside the box, Cary turns and hits a half-volley which loops over everyone and into the top left corner of the goal, another fine goal to set-up an exciting finish to the game.
89' - LH - Sheringham begin to dominate territory, but Manels steps in to intercept the ball deep in the Lakenheath half, he breaks down the right wing, and beating the defenders for pace he gets to the Sheringham box and squares the ball to Thulborn who slides in to get the feintest of touches on the ball, but it is not enough and goes straight into the arms of keeper Oliver.
92' - SH - A long ball bounces and captain Hawley attempts to head back to keeper Beckwith, but Galley gets between the two players and fires in a shot which is well stopped by a sprawling Beckwith to rescue 2-points for Lakenheath!
That was another entertaining Thurlow Nunn game, Lakenheath controlled large portions of the game, creating enough chances to put the game to bed, but Sheringham were resolute and fought back to take the game right to the wire. The fantastic Kaine Manels' acrobatic volley was enough to earn Lakenheath the win, I saw a Veo in-place so I'm looking forward to seeing a replay of the goal! Even despite the goal, he was the star man today, he was a constant threat down the right and was the centre of much of Lakenheath's best play during the game, playing a deeper role with the freedom to burst forward seems to suit him well based on tonight's performance. Sheringham look a tough side and did not give up so they will be stern opposition for anyone in this league, and I suspect to see them climb the table in due course, and I also hope they go on a good FA Vase run. Not sure when I will be next up The Nest to watch Lakenheath, so until then I wish them all the best!
Line-Ups:
LAKENHEATH: Charlie Beckwith, Kaine Manels, Sam Peters, Sam Hawley (C), Lee Hammond, Josh Wells, Ryan Yallop, Ross Bailey, Tom Debenham, Tommy Thulborn, Luke Young. SUBS: Shaun Avis, Finn Logan, Zak Morley, Craig Nurse, Dan Olive.
SHERINGHAM: Denham Oliver, Ryan Haylett, Elijah Lawrence-Gate'te, Seamus Bobby, Shane Cox (C), Billy Wenn, Kieran Hagan, Archie Galley, Jamie Nelson, George Abbott, Tim Cary. SUBS: Graham Hinton, Aidan Browne.
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