7th January 2022
Thetford Town vs Norwich United @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier League (Step 5)
19:45 KO
£7 entry
Attendance - 158
Half-time score: Thetford Town 1-0 Norwich United
Goals:
Thetford Town: Dixon - 11'
Norwich United: Jackson - 59'
Norwich United: R. Forbes - 85'
Final Score: Thetford Town 1-2 Norwich United
First Friday night kick-off the season for me, and luckily it was at Mundford Road, my home ground, and first game back here since late November during the awful storm against Kirkley & Pakefield which resulted in a win for Town. I enjoy a Friday night game as it gives people more of a chance to have a few drinks after the game without having to worry about work the next morning. Norwich United are tough opponents, sitting near the top of the table, and with one of the leagues most potent strikers in Liam Jackson. It also signified the return of Max Melanson, since his move from Thetford Town to Norwich United at the start of the season. Based on form, The Planters would go into the game as firm favourites, but I was sure that Thetford would be keen to put in a performance following the disappointing loss to Haverhill Rovers earlier in the week. Despite the chilly evening, there was a good turnout for this game, with the bar area and stands looking fuller than usual, and there was a good buzz about the place.
The game started evenly, with both teams playing the ball, and attacking each other when they got the chance, but it was Norwich United who crafted the first few good chances. In the 3rd minute, Jackson was in, but his shot was put out for a corner by player-manager Matt Morton with a good block. From this corner, a header from the No.8 was on goal, but was scrambled out by Bugg. In the 7th minute, Hunter went on a great run down the left wing and flashed the ball across the face of goal, but nobody was there to connect. In the 8th minute, Norwich United had an excellent chance to go 1-0 up, an errant ball was picked up by the No. 11, he played in Jackson, and based on his goal scoring form it looked a certain goal, but goalkeeper Bugg closed down the angle well and produced an excellent save.
Bugg's hard work was repaid in the 11th minute, when Thetford broke quickly to go 1-0 up, against expectations. Campbell ran onto a long ball, beating the back line, took the ball down the left wing and cut the ball back into the box, but it was too close to keeper, however, it slipped through his legs, straight to the surprised Dixon who managed to keep his composure and simply walk the ball into the open net to put Thetford one goal to the good.
In the 23rd minute, Thetford had a chance to go 2-0 up, good play from Laker allowed Thetford to win a corner. The ball was whipped into the box, and it eventually fell to Laker who struck a shot from 10 yards out, but it sailed just wide of the far post. As the half progressed, Norwich began to see more of the ball to dominate possession and territory, however, they struggled to break down the resolute and hard working Thetford defence, and were unable to create any goal scoring chances of note.
In the second half, Norwich United resumed as they had finished in having the lion's share of the possession and territory, and took little time to begin to start create some good chances of their own. In the 48th minute, the No. 5 went close from a corner, and there were vociferous shouts for a penalty claiming that he was brought down, but nothing was given. In the 58th minute, Norwich United had another shout for a penalty. Right back Jordan Forbes had been causing havoc down the right flank all game, and he was able to burst into the box, and was challenged by a Thetford player. Initially it looked like the defender had won the ball and the referee just gave a goal kick, however, he consulted his linesman and the decision was overturned to award Norwich United a penalty, much to the displeasure of the crowd. I was the other side of the pitch so my view was unclear, but from what I saw, it looked like a 50/50 to me. Either way, it was very unlucky for Thetford, who up until this point were containing the dangerous Norwich United front-line really well. Jackson stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistaking in stroking the ball home to bring the scores level at 1-1.
After the goal, Norwich continued to press, but were struggling to break down the compact Thetford defence, and Thetford had opportunities to break, but the counter-attacks all broke down due to inaccurate or intercepted passes. In the 81st minute, looking increasing desperate for a winner, Melanson struck a venomous shot from 25yards out, but it flew harmlessly wide. Thetford began to drop deeper and deeper, and were undone in the 85th minute. A hard, direct ball was pumped into Jackson, who was in the box with his back to goal, he flicked the ball onto substitute Ryan Forbes who was in a bit of space, and he made no mistake to fire home the winner, a great bit of link-up play, but crushingly disappointing for Thetford.
Norwich United nearly scored a third in the 88th minute, a ball was whipped in from the left wing, and Jackson was in at the far post, but keeper Bugg got an important touch on the ball to deflect it out of his path. Thetford had an excellent chance in the 90th minute to equalise, Norwich United were still pressing up high, leaving the back line exposed, and substitute Akpan showed a blistering turn of pace and with the support of Laker it was 2-on-2 and looking perilous for Norwich United. Akpan played in Laker who opted to strike from the edge of the box but it went wide, a big missed opportunity for Thetford. Norwich United closed out the final 3 minutes of injury time to secure the three-points, and condemn Thetford to yet another loss.
Another game and another bittersweet loss for Thetford. The team battled hard, gave it everything and certainly earned a point, frustrating one of the better attacking sides in the league, but the attacking play was found lacking at times and the key passes were not quite going where they should. They also had to play the final 10 minutes with an injured player on the field in Visocanskis, but battled on regardless. To the frustration of the Thetford fans, they were ultimately undone by another 50/50 decision that went the wrong way for them. Nevertheless, the performance and intensity was a step-up from the Haverhill game. There are some important games coming up in the next couple of months, so I hope that they can build on this, and there are also some players to come back into the fold such as Smith, Varela, Fuller and Clarke. From a Norwich United perspective, they certainly knew they were in a battle this evening and will feel like those points were very hard earned, but ultimately, the class of Jackson and the two Forbes proved to be the difference in this very close game. I aim to next be at Mundford Road for the game against Fakenham Town at the end of the month, but in-between that they face front-runners Mildenhall at Recreation Way, one of the toughest fixtures of the season. I hope that Thetford can put in another resolute performance and hopefully get an upset against the odds, UP THE TOWN!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: George Bugg, Sam Bond (C), Matt Morton, Connor Balment, Andrew Cusack, Kristian Dixon, Jake Mann, Marley Delgado, Artur Visocanskis, Michael Campbell, Adam Laker. SUBS: Sonil Vasileiou, Bernardo Felgueiras, Samuel Cantley, Macauley Rodgers, Emmanuel Akpan.
NORWICH UNITED: Ryan Dickerson, Jordan Forbes, Tom Hunter, Dillon Alexander, Jordan-Lee Buttle, Haydn Davis, Max Melanson, Andrew Eastaugh, Kyle Richardson, Liam Jackson, Sam Watts. SUBS: Jeorgy Batch, Lennie Blythe, Ryan Forbes, Harry Pitcher, Bradley Revell.
Comments