14th October 2023
Thetford Town vs Fakenham Town @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - 248
Half-time score: Thetford Town 2-0 Fakenham Town
Goals:
Thetford Town: Diggens - 37'
Thetford Town: King - 45+1'
Fakenham Town: Watts - 85'
Final Score: Thetford Town 2-1 Fakenham Town
Having the lost the last two games, the first two league defeats of the season thus far, Thetford Town were looking to get their season back-on track as they hosted Fakenham Town today. Defeats came away at Newmarket Town, and hosting bogey team Mildenhall Town, and it perhaps comes as no surprise that these two teams were sitting 1st & 2nd in the league at the start of the day. The race for play-offs is tight, and it is looking like it will go to the wire this year, with at least 8 teams vying for the top 5 positions, with Thetford Town currently just sitting outside them in 6th. Opponents Fakenham Town currently lead the chasing pack in 9th, and going by their recent results, this was certainly going to be yet another tough game for Thetford Town.
Today's Thetford Town programme had goalkeeper Tom Smith on the front.
On another mild autumn day, the sun was out, the pitch was looking glorious. Thetford Town were in their home claret and blue, with Fakenham Town in yellow and black.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
FA = Fakenham Town
1' - TT - King bursts into the box and fires in a shot at the near post, it is saved and falls to Money on the edge of the area. In space, he fires in a powerful strike which is blocked, the ball deflects back to him and he has a second go, and the ball is blocked again, so close to an early goal, but the ball could not make its way through all the bodies on both occasions!
3' - TT - King unleashes a fizzing shot from 25 yards, it is spilled by keeper Pearson, but Avis cannot control the follow-up and the chance goes begging.
34' - TT - From a short corner routine down the by-line, King bursts into the box, he hits a firm low ball into the danger area, Avis tries to turn it in, but it is a bit behind him and the cross-backheeled effort pings out wide for a goal-kick.
37' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Thetford finally get the goal for all their domination, a burst of speed from Haylett down the right wing sees him beat the defender, he cuts the ball back for Diggens who has an easy tap in from close range, great work from Haylett to create that goal.
39' - TT - Fakenham ping a high ball forwards, Cullum rises highest and his firm defensive header puts Diggens through, with the ball on the bounce he hits it on the volley, his looping effort has Pearson beaten, but it does not dip in time and flies just over the bar, so close to being a special goal!
45'+1' - TT - GOAL (2-0) - Just before the break, Thetford score an all important deserved 2nd goal, in a half where they had all the play. Olpin steals the ball in midfield and immediately threads through King along the left, he takes the ball into the box, performs a couple of neat step-overs to wrong foot the defender, then slots the ball across the keeper and into the far side of the goal, brilliant calm finish from Cam.
83' - FA - In a half devoid of clear chances, Fakenham carve out the first, Myhill beats the offside trap and is through on goal, he shoots at the edge of the area, but Tom Smith makes a fine save to turn the ball away with his palms, big moment.
85' - FA - GOAL (2-1) - Another ball through and Fakenham spring the offside trap again, Myhill was offside so the Thetford defenders slowed up as they appealed for offside, but the onside Watts takes advantage, bursting through onto the ball and finishing neatly into the bottom left corner to set-up a nervy final 10 minutes for Thetford Town.
After a brilliant first half performance from Thetford Town, they went completely flat in the 2nd half, and laboured to victory, creating little-to-no decent chances. In contrast, the Fakenham Town subs livened up their play and they began to make in-roads down the wings, particularly down the right through substitute Ben Terry. The late goal set-up a nervy final 10 minutes for Thetford Town, but they held firm, and even had a few forays forward to score a 3rd, the final balls lacking the accuracy needed. Whilst not a vintage performance from Thetford Town, an important 3-points against an unpredictable Fakenham Town sees them stop the rot, moving them up to 4th in the league, and giving them something to build on for a tricky away game against Woodbridge Town next weekend. I hope Thetford can bring their 1st half performance for both halves in that one, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Tom Smith, Sam Bond (C), Ryan Haylett, Hugh Cullum, Adam Laker, Kieran Money, Jake Mann, Cameron King, Callum Olpin, George Diggens, Shaun Avis. SUBS: Matt Morton, Ryan Fuller, Malachi Wright, Santi Davies, Macauley Rodgers.
FAKENHAM TOWN: Luke Pearson, Alex Rodway-Brown, Fin Page, Mitch Rasberry, Cameron Beazer (C), George Edwards, Jude Frostick, Lewis Sturman, Jake Watts, Fin Whiteley, Jay Myhill. SUBS: Ben Terry, Jake Poore, Lewis Bonner, Josh Blower, Jayden Wright.
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