22nd March 2025
Mulbarton Wanderers vs Thetford Town @ Mulberry Park - Mulbarton
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£5 entry (non-league day promotion)
Attendance - 297
Half-time score: Mulbarton Wanderers 1-0 Thetford Town
Goal:
Mulbarton Wanderers: Lane - 14'
Final Score: Mulbarton Wanderers 1-0 Thetford Town
Thetford Town started 2025 strongly, stringing together 6-0, 4-0 and 5-0 wins, but since the away game at Fakenham Town where they were defeated 3-0 after a disastrous first half, their form has taken a serious nose dive. In the past 8 games, Thetford have only managed to notch up 5 points on the board, scoring a paltry 5 goals and conceding 13. It has to be put into context that this was a tough run with 5 away games and facing a series of strong sides, however, this run has led to Thetford Town dropping down the table and crucially outside of the play-offs. The games do not get any easier for the faltering Brecklanders as they travelled up the A11 to face Mulbarton Wanderers, returning to the scene of their play-off semi-final defeat last season in controversial circumstances. There is still a small glimmer of hope, but anything but a win today could see that extinguished, so this was almost as big as that ill-fated game in 2024. The hosts were only three points ahead in the table, occupying the final play-off spot, and with striker Ash Jarvis in a rich vein of scoring form again, having netted 34 times this season, getting a result was going to require a complete performance.
With it being non-league day, Mulbarton Wanderers had a brilliant promotion to attract fans to the ground, with tickets only £5 and putting on a BBQ, there was a decent turnout and a buzz about the place, the only negative the lack of a printed matchday programme.
It was a changeable day, bouts of sun and warmth, with grey skies and drizzle, followed by a sharp drop in temperature and yet more rain by the end. Into these conditions, the hosts lined up in their blue and black stripes, with Thetford Town in claret and blue.
KEY MOMENTS
MW = Mulbarton Wanderers
TT = Thetford Town
14' - MW - GOAL (1-0) - A goal from nothing for the hosts, a ball across into Hunt and a deft touch from him as he lays it out to the left to find Lane, he drills in a low effort which is deflected off a defender, beyond Dickerson into the net, good start for the hosts.
40' - MW - Hunt has a pop from 20yrds out, it is struck well but Dickerson is equal to it.
51' - MW - Lane charges along the edge of the box and into space, he shoots but drags his effort wide.
58' - TT - Laker with a long-range effort from the left-flank, his 25yrd effort is heading in under the bar, but the scrambling Wright is just about able to tip it over.
61' - TT - Laker with the corner to the far-side, Jaydyn Lott climbs high and powers in a header, but it is blocked close to the line.
66' - TT - Laker with a great cross from the left to find Elliot Smith, he is unbalanced and going down, but still manages to get his head on the end, but the effort flies over the bar, Thetford creating some decent chances.
72' - TT - A ball into the box, Wright comes off his line to punch clear but it only goes as far as substitute Gilchrist on the edge of the box, he steps past the covering defender and fires in a cross goal effort which skips narrowly wide of the far-post.
76' - TT - Substitute King steps up to a take a corner, his in-swinging delivery is heading in at the far-post, but Wright gets his fingertips on it to push it out for a corner.
81' - TT - King is threaded through, under pressure he puts Gilchrist in on the right, he hits the ball cleanly but Wrights is across well and makes the save with his outstretched leg, brilliant stop to deny Thetford town the equaliser.
85' - TT - Thetford are awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position, the initial delivery is cleared, but the ball is recycled, Wells with a neat ball into the box, Elliot Smith is on the end again but his bullet header flies wide, unlucky.
A much better performance from Thetford Town, they competed all game, limited Mulbarton to only a few chances, kept Ash Jarvis quiet and dominated the final half hour, the only thing missing was the goal, which they certainly deserved to secure at least a point, but it was not to be. The fourth loss on the bounces sees Thetford Town sink further down the table to 8th, the bid for promotion hanging by a thread, however, if they can take the performance levels of that 2nd-half into the final 5 games, there is still an outside chance of salvaging this season, other results willing. Mulbarton Wanderers have arguably the tightest defence in the division, and Thetford crafted some excellent chances which is a huge positive, the rub of the green not going Thetford's way unfortunately. Mulbarton are a very good side, organised and well-drilled, with some quality up top, with Owen Lane the key danger man today, his direct and strong running causing problems for the Thetford back-line and his goal proving the difference, and the back-line pulled off some magnificent defending to protect their slender lead, the way Thetford played in the 2nd half they could have bagged at least 4 goals against a lesser team. Thetford Town still have 5 games in the league, so that's 15 points on offer, so time for the players to dig deep and step up, backed by the fans, and with the next fixture a home game against high-flying Fakenham Town, a monumental effort is needed from all, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
MULBARTON WANDERERS: Tom Wright, Angus Mackie, Tom Hunter, James Page (C), Joe Easton, Chris Skipper, Ben Jones, Miguel Lopez, Ash Jarvis, Owen Lane, Noah Hunt. SUBS: Peter Lambert, Liam Ireland, Dom Doggett, Dan Self, Fraser Field.
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Sam Bond (C), Jaydyn Lott, Adam Laker, Dylan Grove, Marley Reynolds, Kieran Money, Callum Olpin, Jordan Buttle, George Diggens, Elliot Smith. SUBS: Cameron King, Dan Gilchrist, Jake Mann, Josh Wells.
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