17th August 2024
Long Melford vs Thetford Town @ Stoneylands Stadium - Long Melford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry (includes a complimentary programme)
Attendance - 68
Half-time score: Long Melford 0-1 Thetford Town
Goals:
Thetford Town: King - 39', 46'
Thetford Town: Haylett - 59'
Thetford Town: Laker - 73'
Thetford Town: Mann - 76'
Thetford Town: H. Lott - 86'
Final Score: Long Melford 0-6 Thetford Town
Following Thetford Town's heavy 4-0 midweek away defeat at Soham Town Rangers, they were back on the road again, this time to face Long Melford down in deepest Suffolk. With both teams having a challenging start to the 24/25 season, it was a chance for either team to kick-start their season, but who would be taking the chance? Long Melford away is one of my favourites, in possibly the most picturesque town in the league, always a pleasure.
On the gate I picked up one of the complimentary programmes, I enjoyed the front cover of this one with an xenomorph from the Aliens franchise on the front, the Long Melford keeper and with the caption 'In goal nobody can hear you scream', very original :)
In the bar, I was pleased to see Long Melford still serving their Nethergate Brewery special 1868 beer, big fan of this stuff!
It was a perfect Summers day at the perfect temperature, with crisp blue skies. The pitch was a little bobbly but overall decent, to which Long Melford lined up in their black and white stripes, with Thetford Town yet again in their claret and blue.
KEY MOMENTS
LM = Long Melford
TT = Thetford Town
2' - LM - Early chance for the hosts, a long ball bounces over the backline and Judge latches onto it, from the edge of the area he shoots, but Jaydyn Lott gets across to make an important block.
5' - TT - A through ball puts Diggens through on goal, he is much quicker than the defender and is yanked back in what was a clear professional foul, but inexplicably the referee waves play-on...
11' - TT - A Cameron King corner is driven in low, captain Sam Bond swings his boot and connects well with the ball, it is deflected, flicks up and is heading in, forcing keeper Walker to make a brilliant reaction save, tipping it over for a corner.
22' - TT - Harvey Lott is threaded in, he rides the challenge and finds himself charging through on goal, keeper Walker in out fast and from just outside the box Lott tries to chip the ball over him, but Walker is equal to the effort.
35' - TT - From a Thetford attack, the ball is semi-cleared, but falls to Olpin, he takes a touch and powers in a fine low strike from 20 yards out, it cuts through the crowd and beats Walker, but crashes into the post and out, so unlucky!
39' - TT - GOAL (0-1) - A great run from Diggens sees him beat the offside trap, the long ball is volleyed on the bounce from outside the box, it is struck sweetly and whizzes past Walker, absolutely clattering the post, it ricochets out and falls perfectly to King coming in from the right, and he sweeps the ball into the open net, giving Thetford the all important lead, deserved based on the run of the play.
43' - TT - Nearly a quickfire second for Thetford. King chests down the ball and pings it forwards on the volley, the ball is weighted perfectly and Diggens is again through, seeing Walker rushing out he chips him with the outside of his boot like a 5 iron shot, it looks to be looping in, but falls just wide of the mark. It was so close it looked in, causing the fans to initially cheer!
46' - TT - GOAL (0-2) - Only 45 seconds into the 2nd half and Cameron King shows why he is such a feared player in this division. He picks up the ball on the left, skins the defender, drives down to the byline, skips down it towards the goal and bends it into the net from a tight angle, frankly ridiculous solo effort, no idea how he got it from that angle! Great start to the half for Thetford.
55' - LM - A strong Long Melford attack down the left, Judge gets the ball on the edge of the box, steps inside and unleashes a powerful strike at the near post, but Dickerson is equal to it and bats it away for a corner.
56' - LM - The corner ball is swung into the near post and there is contact by a Long Melford player, but a good close range stop from Dickerson prevents the ball from going in.
59' - TT - GOAL (0-3) - Thetford received a free-kick in the Long Melford half after another cynical foul, leading to the first yellow of the game. King steps up and a curls a devious ball into the box, it evades absolutely everyone except Haylett who sprints in behind and guides his side-footed volley into the net. Things looking good for Thetford.
73' - TT - GOAL (0-4) - Excellent run by Harvey Lott down the right, he gets round the defender and whips in a perfect cross, the weighting and depth of it puts the keeper in no-mans land and Laker ghosts in from the left and nods into the wide open net, surely sealing the win for Thetford.
76' - TT - GOAL (0-5) - Thetford now running rampant. Substitute Reynolds passes to Diggens and follows the ball, sprinting down the left, this drags defenders across opening up the middle for Diggens who obliges, strides forwards and sees the run from Jake Mann, threading him through perfectly, and 1-on-1 with the keeper Jake makes no mistake to sweep the ball past the keeper, brilliant play from Thetford.
81' - TT - Diggens is played in down the right, he takes the ball into the box and fires in at the near post, but it is deflected wide by the outstretched leg of Walker, shame as Diggens really deserving of a goal in this game.
86' - TT - GOAL (0-6) - Two substitutes link up brilliantly to bag their 6th of the afternoon. Reynolds pings the ball out to the right, picking up the sprinting Harvey Lott, he is through on goal again, and this time calmly slots it past the keeper, great seeing the youngsters showing what they can do!
88' - TT - Laker played in down the left, he tries to get his second, his shot at the near post saved well by Walker, no seven heaven for Thetford today,
Perfect response from Thetford Town following the lows of Tuesday, a changed formation and line-up working well. A tougher first half saw Thetford go into the break 1-0 up, although there were chances for it to be more, but after King's goal straight after kick-off, Long Melford looked suckerpunched and never really got going as Thetford Town romped to victory. Great performances across the board, Diggens looked sharp again and was unlucky not to bag a goal himself, King looked great in a more forward role, Harvey Lott had a strong cameo down the right, Dickerson made some great saves and the young substitutes also had a good outing. All this was built on a solid base from Bondy, Jaydyn, Money, Haylett, Laker, Jake, with Olpin in a more floating/creative role. Looking at Long Melford, they showed flashes of good play, but ultimately struggled to contain Thetford's attacking threats. Long Melford is a club I have a lot of time for, so I really hope they can kick-start their season soon, I sincerely wish them all the best, all-in-all a great club and always a joy to visit. It is important now for Thetford to follow this strong result up with another, the next game a tricky away game back into deepest Suffolk, this time travelling to near the coast to play Woodbridge Town, looking forward to this one, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
LONG MELFORD: Matthew Walker, Jordan Gibbs, Mckenzie Bone, Munashe Chirimuuta, Deklyn Roy, Jacob Brown (C), George Frodsham, Freddie Pheby, Thomas Chance, Reuben Chinnery, Judge. SUBS: Kelly Ayiteyfio, Harry Whiting-Noakes, Ben Humphreys, Caden Vine, Kieron Reddin.
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Ryan Haylett, Jaydyn Lott, Adam Laker, Sam Bond (C), Callum Olpin, Jake Mann, Cameron King, George Diggens, Kieran Money, Harvey Lott. SUBS: Tom Smith, Dan Gilchrist, Malachi Wright, Liam Levy-Twomey, Marley Reynolds.
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