20th January 2024
Thetford Town vs Harleston Town @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - 145
Half-time score: Thetford Town 0-0 Harleston Town
Goals:
Thetford Town: Lott - 80'
Thetford Town: Avis - 87'(P)
Final Score: Thetford Town 2-0 Harleston Town
With some recent sub-zero weather, it was looking touch-and-go as to whether this game would go ahead, but some strategically placed sheets protected the ground, allowing the game to go ahead. This game is part two of a Thetford Town vs Harleston Town league double-header, the game last week a cracker by all accounts as Thetford Town overturned a 2-1 deficit to emerge 3-2 winners, two of Thetford goals long range screamers from Cameron King and Hugh Cullum. The winning goal sounded dubious in nature, with some saying it did not cross the line in some potential rare luck for Thetford Town, but undoubtedly, Harleston would be fired up to avenge this, especially being so fresh in the memory, setting up a belter of a game - 5th vs 3rd.
Todays Barnes Print programme had Elliot Smith on the front cover.
It was a calm and dry evening, with a biting cold that got worse as the sun drew in. Following introductions of key club sponsors, The Thomas Paine Hotel, both teams lined up for kick-off, Thetford Town in their claret and blue, with Harleston Town in their home black and white stripes, with yellow accents.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
HA = Harleston Town
7' - HA - Chaos in the Thetford box as Harleston scramble from a set-piece, the best chance an effort from Harrison Hide that forces a brilliant reaction save from Tom Smith, the ball rolling along the line before being cleared.
10' - HA - Harleston win multiple corners, and they nearly score again, a ball is swung in to the far-post, and Ebbage goes close, his effort hitting the woodwork.
29' - TT - Thetford Town somehow are able to weather the early onslaught, and begin to get more of the ball, creating their own chances. The best chance a brilliant ball through from King, finds Avis who had made a great angled run to beat the organised defence, his first time struck effort hooked wide of the post.
52' - TT - Diggens, on for an injured Gilchrist before the break, has an effort off the post, King chests down a ball inside the box and squares it out to Diggens on the right, his shot from a narrow angle beating Pride but slamming into the post and out.
58' - TT - A ricocheted ball hits King, he manages to control it himself and drives into the box from the right, a low stinging shot at the near-post forcing a good save from Pride.
76' - TT - Harleston are attacking, but King steals a loose ball to set-off a swift counter-attack. He pings the ball out to the right where Diggens and fellow substitute Haylett link up wonderfully to put the former into some space, a wonderful cross to the far-post finds captain Elliot Smith open, his diving header seemingly blocked by the stray arm of a Harleston defender, but the referee waves play-on.
80' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Grove battles excellently down the left with the tall Harrison Hide to win a corner. The ball is pumped into the danger area by King, captain Elliot Smith flicks the ball on with his head, to find centre-back Jaydyn Lott at the far-post who absolutely powers the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle, what a finish to break the deadlock!!
87' - TT - PENALTY & GOAL (2-0) - Thetford seal the deal, taking advantage of being fresh, Haylett sprints in from the right, heading the ball over one player and ghosting past another as he drives into the box, just as he sets himself up for the strike, he is clumsily taken out, the referee pointing straight to the spot, but dishing out no cards. Avis steps up to take the penalty, it was never in doubt as he sends the keeper the wrong way to give Thetford an important 2-goal cushion.
What started out as a difficult afternoon as Harleston Town flew out of the blocks, ended with a dominant 2nd half performance from Thetford Town, comfortably closing out the game for a big three points, seeing them leapfrogging over both Harleston Town and Mulbarton Wanderers to take 3rd place in the table! Harleston were unlucky not to score in the opening exchanges, but once Thetford Town got a toe-in they played themselves back into the game, with the substitutes providing the extra impetus to seal the result. Harleston Town appear reliant on long-balls and set-pieces, particularly through the imposing Harrison Hide, but the two Thetford centre-backs, Jaydyn Lott and Hugh Cullum held firm, with Jaydyn scoring a blinder to set Thetford on their way. As we get towards the business end of the season, Thetford are beginning to find some of their initial form this season, seeing them climbing the table as they look to cement a play-off place, hopefully this continues as each play-off place is going to be fiercely contested. Next up, is a welcome distraction, a Norfolk Cup game against local rivals Diss Town, and going by the pre-season friendly, it is sure to be a good contest. All-in-all, a great afternoon/evening to seal a confidence boosting 6-point double-header against a very good and physical Harleston Town side, onwards and upwards, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Tom Smith, Adam Laker, Dylan Grove, Jaydyn Lott, Hugh Cullum, Jake Mann, Elliot Smith (C), Kieran Money, Shaun Avis, Dan Gilchrist, Cameron King. SUBS: George Diggens, Callum Olpin, Sam Bond, Ryan Fuller, Ryan Haylett.
HARLESTON TOWN: Elliot Pride, Nathan Russell, George Barber, Olly Ebbage, Harrison Hide, Joe Manning, Nathan Page, Rob Turner, Josh Durham, Jerry Dasaolu, Nathan Stone. SUBS: Nathaniel Jamba, Sam Aldous, Brandon Pickess, Kieran Nunn.
Comments