23rd April 2022
Thetford Town vs Mulbarton Wanderers @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£7 entry
Attendance - 81
Half-time score: Thetford Town 0-0 Mulbarton Wanderers
Goal:
Thetford Town: Gilchrist - 84'
Leigh Simons recorded the goal, see the link below:
Final Score: Thetford Town 1-0 Mulbarton Wanderers
With a week still to go in April, this is already the last game of the season for Thetford Town, with the season starting early as contingency in case of further lockdowns, so it is great to be able to write that this is the first time that a season has been completed since the 2018/2019 season, a frankly gobsmacking statistic if you think about it. With so many disruptions over the past two years, it has been brilliant to be able to get out and watch regular live football, it is only when we couldn't go anywhere or do anything that it became clear how important it is, so I have made it my mission to go to as many games as possible, work and family allowing, and mixing things up a bit with some interesting away days and excursions.
Today represented a celebration of Thetford Town's season, one of highs and lows, with some brilliant performances recently to secure safety, whilst also playing with a real attacking threat not seen for a while. Todays opponents have stormed Step 5 in their first season at this level, competing to finish in 3rd, and also in the final of the Norfolk Cup, so it was down to be a huge test for Thetford.
Thetford got the first chance of the game, Lake pumped a ball up to Gilchrist who passed the ball through to Cusack down the left, he beared down on goal and fired in a shot at the near post that was saved by Wright. The game was very tight, with each side battling hard but struggling to create chances, the next good one coming in the 14th minute for Mulbarton when Fancett pinged a clearance from a corner back into the box, it was headed across goal with Nyadzayo very close to heading it in. In the 16th minute, Nyadzayo fired in an awkward shot in from the right, it was saved by Rodgers and collected despite heavy pressure from Thompson. In the 17th minute, Thetford retaliated, the move starting with Varela down the right, he made a skilful run into the box and squared the ball to Gilchrist, but he was being well marshalled and was unable to carve out enough space for a strike, the ball eventually popped out to Campbell on the edge of the area and his well struck half-volleyed effort was blocked by the compact Mulbarton defence.
The game remained a stalemate with decent chances few and far between, and in the 20th minute, a mistake from Thetford's Elliot Smith in the box gave possession to striker Thompson, but before he could do anything he went down for a half-hearted penalty shout. In the 28th minute, Mulbarton player Doggett fired in a dangerous 25 yard shot that was well saved by Rodgers. After this, the only moment of note was when Mulbarton player Self and Thetford captain Bond collided outside the Thetford box, with Bond taking a hard knock and going down the tunnel once up, with Thetford electing to play out the half with 10 men to assess his injury. Despite the differences in league position, the game was evenly poised, and Thetford were giving Mulbarton a really good game.
At half-time, with it being the last game of the season, there were a series of presentations from chairman Nigel Armes honouring the players, support staff, volunteers and fans player of the season, Jake Mann, so big congratulations to him for an outstanding season in the middle of the park, with some excellent assists in recent weeks, has been a pleasure to see.
The second-half was a carbon copy of the first half, with both teams unable to get the upper-hand until around the hour mark when Thetford stepped it up a gear and went in for the win, outplaying Mulbarton and creating some good chances despite the defensive formation employed by Mulbarton. In the 63rd minute, Mann put in a cross from the right, substitute Laker, on for Bond who did not return after his injury, controlled the ball and fired in a half-volley to test keeper Wright. In the 64th minute, Cusack sent in a curling corner that was heading in, but Wright done well to collect the ball at full-stretch. In the 73rd minute, Lake unleashed a wonderful curling strike from 25 yards, but it went just over. In the 80th minute, from a Cusack corner, Varela poked the ball back in, and in doing so nearly chipped the keeper. In the 82nd minute, Cusack put in a dangerous cross, Campbell rose the highest but his glancing header was just wide of the far post. Just it when it looked like Thetford were not going to break through, they deservedly got their goal in the 84th minute, during a Mulbarton attack, Lake got to a loose ball first and pumped it forwards, Gilchrist battled hard to win the ball, got into the box, turned the defender and fired into the corner of the goal, giving Wright no chance despite his dive, a great piece of individual skill and a great moment for the Thetford faithful. In the 89th minute Gilchrist went close to his second with a shot on goal, but it went wide. Despite a relatively long amount of injury time, Thetford closed out the game comfortably whilst Mulbarton floundered for an equaliser, to seal a brilliant and thoroughly deserved win.
That really was a fitting end to what was overall a fine season, finishing on a high with a win against a top team, and keeping a clean sheet to boot. Thetford were overall the better team so the result was well earned, playing three at the back seems to be working well, and a big shout out has to go to player-manager Matt Morton who has strung together a series of huge performances at the back, and today he was cutting out all of Mulbarton's best moves before they even got the chance in front of goal, my man of the match for sure. All-in-all it was a bittersweet day, a wonderful game of football, a big performance from Town, a great afternoon of celebration, but with a sense of longing for it to continue, especially with this momentum behind the team. I really hope the team sticks together over the Summer as something excellent is building on the field, and off it with the media team also looking to push forward with some new and exciting ideas, I can't wait for the pre-season friendlies! A word on Mulbarton, they are a brilliant well organised team at this level and they have had an outstanding season, I wish them the best of luck in Norfolk Cup final, a game I am hoping to be at. In the meantime, I wish an excellent summer for all associated with Thetford Town, and the loyal fans, I look forward to seeing you all again in a few months. All that is left for me to say until then is, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Macauley Rodgers, Sam Bond (C), Matt Morton, Elliot Smith, Joao Varela, Jordan Lake, Jake Mann, Andrew Cusack, Bernardo Felgueiras, Michael Campbell, Daniel Gilchrist. SUBS: Marley Delgado, Artur Visocanskis, Santi Davies, Adam Laker, Nathan Clarke.
MULBARTON WANDERERS: Thomas Wright, Kieran Smith, Dom Doggett, James Page (C), Joseph Easton, Tobias Oliver, Cruis Nyadzayo, Danny Self, Ben Thompson, Timmy Henery, Ian Fancett. SUBS: Daniel Beaumont, Charlie Mayhew, Thomas Matthews.
コメント