9th March 2024
Thetford Town vs Brantham Athletic @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - 84
Half-time score: Thetford Town 0-0 Brantham Athletic
Goals:
Thetford Town: King - 46', 81'
Final Score: Thetford Town 2-0 Brantham Athletic
It had only been two short weeks since these two sides faced each other, in a tight game on a difficult pitch with Thetford Town holding out for a 1-0 win. Having been dumped out the Challenge Cup a week and a half ago, and with no games since, this was the first opportunity to make up for it, and it is now the play-offs or nothing for Thetford, with every game and every point important to salvage something from what was such a promising start to the season. Brantham were certainly going to try their damnedest to avenge their recent loss, setting up an enticing Saturday afternoon game at Mundford Road.
Today's programme had centre-back Hugh Cullum on the front cover, with the match report of the previous Brantham game a fortnight ago in the centre.
It started off sunny, but ended grey and windy with a real chill in the air, but at least no rain! Just like the game two weeks ago, Thetford Town lined up in claret and blue, with Brantham Athletic in navy blue.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
BA = Brantham Athletic
3' - TT - Thetford Town start off well and get a chance for the opener early on. Captain Elliot Smith steals the ball off the Brantham backline and charges forwards down the right, he squares the ball back to find King who powers in a well hit strike from just inside the box, keeper Shorten makes a good save but Diggens is unable to convert at the far-post on the follow-up, his effort the wrong side of the post.
11' - TT - Thetford Town look to break with a high ball to release Elliot Smith, but Godbold punches the ball away with his fist, and whilst a free-kick was awarded, it was cynical in stopping the Thetford counter, so should have been a yellow really.
30' - TT - King threads Diggens down the flank, he carries the ball forwards and shoots from a narrow angle, his stabbed effort flying wide of the far-post.
36' - BA - From a throw-in, striker Bloom picks up the loose ball, the space opens up and from just inside the box he fires in a shot, it is heading into the bottom right corner but deflected away, and Wrathall is unable to capitalise on the follow-up, his chipped ball back in too high for everyone.
39' - BA - From a corner, Godbold punches the ball into the net, and this time is given a yellow card, had the first been given he would have been off.
42' - TT - A beautifully weighted ball from King slides Laker through down the right-flank, from the by-line he cuts in a brilliant ball, Diggens leaves it to wrong-foot the defence as Mann is coming in at the far-post, it looks a certain goal, but somehow Shorten gets his leg on the strike and deals with the loose ball, amazing piece of keeping to keep Brantham in the game!
45'+ 4' - BA - A loose ball is picked up from a throw-in by Godbold and he flashes in a stinging strike that flies narrowly over.
46' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Thetford come out of the traps fast and win a quick corner. King takes it short to Money who returns the ball to King, he skips past two challenges as he cuts through on goal then buries his strike across the goal, seeing it nestle into the bottom left corner, brilliant play from the Thetford Town talisman to give Thetford the all important lead!
62' - TT - A possible penalty shout for Thetford as Grove is taken out on the edge of the box. A large divot suggested it was in the box, but after consulting with the linesman, the free-kick is awarded, but the effort comes to noting as King is wide of the target.
71' - TT - A King corner is curled in, new centre-back Wells rises highest and powers his header into the ground, as it bounces up, keeper Shorten manages to flick it over the bar, not sure he knew too much about that one!
72' - TT - From the next corner, captain Elliot Smith gets his head on the ball, a powerful effort but straight down the gullet of Finn Shorten.
73' - BA - Thetford make a typical defensive error at the back, Wrathall intercepts and squares to Wilcox, seeing the scrambling defense he pumps in a strike from 25 yards and hits it superbly, it is heading into the top left corner, but Tom Smith stretches and gets a fingertip on the ball to turn it away for a corner.
75' - TT - Diggens attacks down the right and pokes in a speculative strike, the ball bounces in front of the keeper seeing him flap at it, but luckily for him, nobody is at the far-post for the follow-up.
81' - TT - GOAL (2-0) - Thetford attack through Diggens down the right again, he gallops down the right and finds King inside the box. King controls the ball, pauses for a moment then shimmies round the defender and lashes in a strike from a wide angle to beat the keeper at the near-post, absolutely incredible, he had no right to score from there, what a player!
85' - TT - A flat corner in from King causes all manner of havoc at the near-post, multiple efforts from Avis and Cullum are somehow kept out by Brantham!
87' - BA - RED CARD - It all kicks-off down at the dugouts, I did not really see what happened, but it looks like Godbold received a second yellow and his marching orders. I could be wrong, there was a big kerfuffle, either way, Brantham were down to 10-men.
90' - TT - Laker in a more central position, cuts along the box and from 20 yards tries one his now trademark curling strikes, it is heading into the top right corner, but Shorten makes a fine diving save to deny him, conceding a corner. From this corner, Wells yet again gets his head on the end of it, but despite ample power, it was at keeper Shorten yet again.
96' - TT - Brilliant running and skill from Grove down the left-flank, he turns the defender inside-out and finds King open in the middle, with all that space he decides to let rip from 25yards out, his effort zipping narrowly over.
97' - TT - In the dying moments, substitute Gilchrist is released through on goal, but good covering by Shorten and the last defender squeezes Dan out wide and he is unable to get a meaningful effort on goal.
That was a much improved performance from Thetford Town, they dominated the majority of the game and had enough chances to have won by at least 4. Diggens was a breathe of fresh air down the right and it was a great debut from new centre-back signing Josh Wells, who was strong and solid with an eye for goal in the opponents box. However, man of the match must go to Thetford's playmaker Cameron King, he was brilliant today, some visionary passing and fine skill seeing him rewarded with two excellent goals, the 2nd one a ridiculous strike from a tight angle. Despite Thetford's dominance, Brantham Athletic made them work hard for the win, they were dogged and compact, and keeper Finn Shorten kept them in the game making some outrageous saves. The win sees Thetford Town secure 3 important points, moving up to 3rd in the table, for now. It is incredibly tight with 5 teams fighting for 4 places, every point and goal is going to be vital. Next up is a huge game at home against Downham Town, and with Downham having pumped Mulbarton 5-1 today, Thetford were going to have to be on it to get anything from that game, but we all know they can on their day, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Tom Smith, Adam Laker, Dylan Grove, Josh Wells, Hugh Cullum, Jake Mann, Elliot Smith (C), Kieran Money, Cameron King, Shaun Avis, George Diggens. SUBS: Ryan Haylett, Sam Bond, Dan Gilchrist, Callum Olpin, Malachi Wright.
BRANTHAM ATHLETIC: Finn Shorten, Charlie Howlett, Max Wilcox, Iuri Fernandes, Alfie Owen-Jones, Charlie Canham, Adam Wrathall, Tom Lawson, Louie Bloom, James Lee (C), Ollie Godbold. SUBS: Ollie Thorburn, Shaheen Temory.
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