22nd February 2025
Sheringham vs Thetford Town @ Weybourne Road - Sheringham
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - TBA
Half-time score: Sheringham 0-0 Thetford Town
Final Score: Sheringham 0-0 Thetford Town
Following last week's loss at Ely City in difficult conditions, although Thetford Town remain top, the league has closed in on them, and it looks ever likely that the season is going to go down to the wire. With Thetford Town on-the-road again, they travelled up to the North Norfolk coast to play a struggling Sheringham who sadly look all but relegated. The reverse fixture was a convincing 7-1 win for The Brecklanders, but with nothing to lose in front of their home fans, I was sure that things would not be as simple this afternoon. Nevertheless, this was a big opportunity for Thetford Town to notch up a win before a much needed run of home games.
It's a long trek up to Sheringham, furthest away league game of the season, and upon arriving I headed to the club house for a cup of tea before heading into the ground itself, this being one of those grounds where the pitch and clubhouse are separate. On the gate it was a shame to hear that there were no printed matchday programmes available. The pitch was grassy and not water-logged, which was a relief, but on closer inspection it was very uneven and tufty. Before long the teams were lining up on this sunny mild afternoon, the Sheringham in all-red, with Thetford Town in their away mint green kits.
KEY MOMENTS
SH = Sheringham
TT = Thetford Town
14' - SH - The hosts are awarded a phantom corner, a crossed ball heading out having clearly not touched a Thetford player. From the corner, there is a goalmouth scramble and as a Sheringham player goes to strike from close range, captain Sam Bond puts his body on the line to make the block.
16' - TT - A neat Thetford move ends with a strike from inside the box, either from Elliot Smith or Diggens (hard to see through the congestion), Arnautov saves but the ball is loose, Elliot steams in but somehow Arnautov gets to the ball first to prevent the tap-in.
24' - TT - A cleared ball is beautifully controlled by Buttle on the left-flank, he sprints forwards and feeds the ball into Gilchrist, who steps round the defender, he spots Diggens completely open on the right-flank and squares the ball to him, but Arnautov was across his goal quickly to save the effort fired in at the near-post.
25' - TT - Thetford immediately create another good chance, Diggens squares to Elliot in the middle, he plays Gilchrist in just inside the box, his first effort is blocked, it spins up and he has another strike, but it is straight at Arnautov who obligingly saves.
45'+2' - TT - Laker with a probing run down the right, he squares the ball in and what follows is an almighty goalmouth scramble, but Sheringham eventually clear.
46' - TT - Thetford out of the blocks quickly and nearly score 25 seconds in, Thetford break through Diggens on the right, he crosses in the perfect ball to the far-post, Gilchrist with a free-header directs his effort straight at Arnautov and he is unable to control the follow-up, almost the perfect start to the 2nd half from Thetford.
50' - TT - Fast counter from Thetford, Gilchrist slides Buttle in down the left, from inside the box he powers in a left-footed strike, it has Arnautov beaten but smashes into the crossbar and out.
54' - SH - The hosts turn to counter, this time down the right flank, the ball is squared into Henman, the goal is begging but he drags his effort wide of the target, huge let off for Thetford Town.
58' - TT - A long-ball sets Diggens free along the right, he takes the ball into the box and tries to beat Arnautov with a strike across goal, but Arnautov gets down well to make the diving save.
61' - SH - Ball finds Nelson on the edge of the box, he performs a neat shuffle to open up the space before rifling in a vicious shot, but it is always rising.
65' - SH - Substitute Gilmore tears down the left flank, he crosses the ball in, striker Nelson hits a brilliant scissor kick, the ball is heading in but Wells is able to block the effort with his back, almost a spectacular opener to this game.
72' - SH - A long-free is pumped into the box, captain Matt Hoeppner is on the end, and with the gift of an open header he makes a hash of it, his tame effort is straight at Dickerson, another let off for Thetford.
75' - TT - Thetford's best move of the game, Gilchrist with a neat ball to unleash Diggens, with the offside trap beaten he is 1-on-1, he rounds he keeper and just as he is about to score Arnautov clips his heel with an outstretched hand and he goes down, but somehow the referee allows the play to continue, shocking officiating.
79' - SH - Marshall steals the ball in the middle of the park, he threads Gilmore in on the left and his powerful strike at the near-post forces Dickerson to make a good save.
89' - TT - Substitutes Harvey Lott and King linking up well along the right flank, King takes the ball to the by-line before cutting it back to Gilchrist, his first time strike is blocked before spinning out narrowly wide of the post for a corner.
90' - TT - Laker fires the corner ball out to the far-post, Diggens is open and hits a sweet volley, but it is deflected wide for another corner.
93' - SH - The hosts with their own penalty shout at the end as Gilmore goes down in the box, all I will say is I've seen those given.
Whilst Thetford Town had chances to win the game, so did the hosts, and it is a wonder that the game ended 0-0. The stone-cold penalty for the foul on Diggens was completely missed by the officials and was so frustrating to watch, but Sheringham did have their own penalty shout at the death to equal things out. Sheringham battled hard for the point, giving Thetford little space and winning most 50-50's as the visitors struggled with the bobbly pitch, simply the hosts had more fight in them on the day and the result is fair in my view. Highlights include keeper Maksym Arnautov who made some fine stops and substitute Archie Gilmore who was a lively down the left flank. Thetford Town need to raise their game sharpish as the chance for promotion seems to be slipping from their grasp, the only silver lining is that this game marks the end of a long run of away fixtures with the next three at home, and 6 out of the final 9 games at Mundford Road, lets make them count, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
SHERINGHAM: Maksym Arnautov, Kyle Kelly, Charlie Abbs, Alfie Bell, Lawland Gray, Matt Hoeppner (C), Charlie Pennell, Charlie Marshall, Jamie Nelson, Jed Atkinson, Ted Henman. SUBS: Archie Gilmore, Rob Highe, Charlie Gaskin, Arthur Watson.
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Adam Laker, Sam Bond (C), Josh Wells, Jordan Buttle, Callum Olpin, Jaydyn Lott, Jake Mann, Elliot Smith, George Diggens, Dan Gilchrist. SUBS: Cameron King, Kieran Money, Harvey Lott, Marley Reynolds.
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