14th November 2021
Thetford Town vs Wroxham @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier League (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£7 entry
Attendance - approx. 120
Half-time score: Thetford Town 0-1 Wroxham
Goals:
Wroxham: Miles - 24'
Thetford Town: Dixon - 50'
Wroxham: Miles - 59'
Leigh Simons recorded the goals, see the links below:
Final Score: Thetford Town 1-2 Wroxham
Today's fixture would be a big test for Thetford, and will allow them to see how far they have progressed since the 2nd game of the season where they were thumped 7-2 by Wroxham away from home. In that game, King's Lynn Town loanee, Joe Taylor, was a threat all night and bagged an impressive hat-trick. Just before the game, there was news that he had signed a professional contract with Peterborough United, so many congratulations to Joe, well deserved, but also good news for the Thetford defence! With the previous result in mind, Thetford lined-up with 5 defenders, and with Marley Delgado playing in a defensive midfield role, in an attempt to prevent another rout, but the Wroxham faithful were still expecting lots of goals from their high-flying team. Before the game, there was a minutes silence for Remembrance Day, observed by
everyone in the ground, you couldn't hear a pin drop.
From kick-off, Thetford actually started the brightest, and in the 2nd minute, Delgado stole the ball in midfield, passed to Varela down the right-wing, he managed to whip in a dangerous ball but it went narrowly past everyone. As expected, Wroxham had the majority of the possession, but Thetford did look dangerous when they broke. Wroxham, getting increasingly frustrated, started to shot from outside the area, and in the 16th minute, Hill had a powerful effort from 25 yards out, it was swerving and looked like it could nestle into the top left corner of the goal, but it went narrowly over. In the 20th minute, striker Hayden, who was being man-marked, managed to get some room to strike from 20 yards out, but his snap shot was sliced wide.
In the 24th minute, Wroxham finally broke through the compact Thetford defence, a moment of great skill from Miles who picked up the ball in the centre of the Thetford half, ran through into the box, skipping past three tackles and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal, it had to be a touch of class to get through the stalwart Thetford defence today.
Thetford responded well, and in the 28th minute, they had another good attack down the right wing. Varela desperately tried to get room to either cross or get round the defenders, but he was well marshalled, so he chipped the ball over to Delgado, who played a one-two, putting Varela through on goal, running into the box where he powered in a shot, but it went just wide of the near post.
Wroxham thereafter continued to dominate possession and territory, and in the 38th minute, they were awarded a penalty, I think it was Spooner who was brought down in the box. Goalscorer Miles stepped up, but he hit is penalty near the middle of goal, and the ball was kept out by the legs of the diving Macauley Rodgers, lofted high and over the onrushing attackers, some great goalkeeping skill. That was a huge moment, and the save undoubtedly kept Thetford in the tie and half-time.
In the second half, Thetford again came out looking bright, and in the 50th minute, they scored an equaliser that stunned the Wroxham fans into silence. Thetford attacked down the right, Fuller had the ball in a deep position and launched in a great cross that evaded the keeper, and at the far post, onrushing attacker Dixon, rose high and fired his bullet header home, and the bumper crowd went wild.
After the equaliser, Wroxham looked on the ropes, and Thetford pressed for a 2nd goal and were having the better play. However, as they pressed, they were left exposed at the back, and in the 59th minute, Delgado was dispossessed in midfield, the Wroxham player threaded a through-ball through the Thetford defence with his first touch, unleashing Ryan Miles through 1-on-1 on goal, and despite Thetford keeper Rodgers closing down the angle, Miles was able to still find the back of the net and make it 2-1 to Wroxham.
After the goal, both teams endeavoured to score, but both sets of defences held firm, and chances were few and far between. In the 75th minute, Wroxham substitute Curtis had a deflected shot that went just wide, and in the subsequent corner, the ball fell to King, but he blasted his effort well over. In the 79th minute, Thetford had the opportunity to level up the game again, Smith went on a marauding run, laid the ball off to Fuller, who flashed his shot across goal, and just wide of the far post from a tight angle, if only it had gone in! After this scare, Wroxham opted to close out the game professionally, maintaining pressure, not probing too deep, and guarding the ball down the wings to run the clock down, a sign that Wroxham were rightfully wary of the threat that Thetford posed, and they managed to see the end of the game out and take home the valuable three points to The Broads, but the Thetford players walked off the field with their heads held high, to a standing ovation from the crowd.
I must admit, as a Thetford fan, and being at the last Wroxham game, I was expecting a bit of a walloping, but the game could not have turned out more differently. Despite losing, I was really proud of the Thetford performance, the defensive formation seemed to work really well, but they also showed a lot of threat on the counter that kept the Wroxham defence honest. The whole team worked hard, and it was great to see Clarke and Dixon back in the squad, and the penalty excellent save from Rodgers definitely kept the tie alive for Town. Wroxham certainly struggled today at times, with attacker Ryan Miles looking sharp and proving to be the difference between the two teams on the day, and with the win, Wroxham are able to maintain pressure on Gorleston at the top of the table. Thetford have a big couple of games coming up, a home tie against Long Melford, followed by another home tie the week after against Kirkley & Pakefield. The performance today should give them huge confidence going into these fixtures, I certainly wish the lads well, UP THE TOWN!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Macauley Rodgers, Sam Bond (C), Andrew Cusack, Marley Delgado, Connor Balment, Nathan Clarke, Matt Morton, Elliott Smith, Ryan Fuller, Kristian Dixon, Joao Varela. SUBS: Max Williams, Adam Laker, Joshua Mann, Artur Visocanskis, John Taylor.
WROXHAM: Oli Sutton (C), Wyatt Hill, Joe Keeley, Jordan King, Chris Skipper, Tom Huckerby, Ryan Miles, Harley Black, Matty Hayden, Shaun Taylor Brad Spooner. SUBS: Ryan Curtis, Conley Poynter.
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