28th December 2024
Thetford Town vs Dereham Town @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - 348
Half-time score: Thetford Town 1-1 Dereham Town
Goals:
Dereham Town: Blois - 44'
Thetford Town: Diggens - 45'+2'
Thetford Town: Buttle - 80'
Dereham Town: Watts - 95'
Final Score: Thetford Town 2-2 Dereham Town
Last game of 2024 for Thetford Town, and what a way to end the year as they hosted local rivals and fellow promotion candidates Dereham Town. Over the past few years, Thetford have struggled to get results against Dereham, but today at home represented a great opportunity as Thetford Town aimed to finish 2024 at the head of the table. With the league form having stuttered of late with 3 hard fought draws away from home on some tricky pitches, Thetford Town beat another local team, Lakenheath, away from home on Boxing Day, so they were looking to make it two wins on the bounce in the December mist. Dereham Town are fierce competition, having beaten current table toppers Fakenham Town on Boxing Day and with one of Norwich City's record goal scorers Grant Holt in the squad, so everything was set-up for a big afternoon at Mundford Road!
Today's printed match day programme had goalscorer extraordinaire Dan Gilchrist on the front cover, although he was unfortunately unavailable for this game. Apologies for the poor image, the programme got a bit crumpled in my pocket.
It was a misty afternoon and chilly, but with thankfully no wind in the air. Out onto the wintery pitch, and in front of a big crowd, Thetford Town lined up in claret & blue, with Dereham Town in their away all-green kit.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
DT = Dereham Town
12' - DT - Dereham long ball headed out but drops only as far as Holt on the edge of the box, his first time strike is heading into the bottom right corner but Dickerson gets down well to make a fine save.
14' - DT - Corner ball punched clear by Dickerson, it falls to ex-Thetford player Jordan Lake just inside the box, he shoots and forces Dickerson to make another excellent save this early into the game.
19' - DT - Ball chipped into Holt, he is unable to get the ball out of his feet to strike so lays it back to the open winger Thurston who blazes over.
28' - DT - Free-kick whipped in by Rhys Logan, amongst the pack Holt gets his head on the ball, his effort looping just wide of the far-post.
34' - TT - Buttle on the ball down the left, he steps to make space and crosses the ball into the near-post, a diving headed effort from Elliot flies just over.
44' - DT - GOAL (0-1) - Ball out to Holt on the right, his first time ball into the box is perfectly between the two centre-backs to find Blois who drills the ball into the net, quality goal to take the lead.
45'+2' - TT - GOAL (1-1) - Thetford equalise just before half-time, Elliot Smith threads King through on goal, his strike has Ben Self beaten but crashes into the post and out but Diggens is alert to power in the rebound.
51' - DT - Dereham win a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the box. Rhys Logan looks to be the one taking it but last second Grant Holt steps in and smashes in a low flat strike, forcing another brilliant save from Dickerson.
55' - TT - Buttle goes on a run down the left, he cuts inside and hits a looping strike that is heading in below the crossbar, but Ben Self is able to tip the ball over for a corner.
57' - TT - A classic Thetford short corner sets King into the box, he lashes in a powerful strike that is deflected onto the bar and out for another corner, so close!
60' - TT - A long diagonal ball finds Grove on the right, with a great touch he rounds the defender and drives to the corner of the box where he powers in an effort at the near-post, forcing Ben Self to turn it out for a corner.
71' - DT - A Dereham corner is curled straight into the crossbar, it drops to Toby Oliver whose headed effort is wide.
79' - DT - A long diagonal ball from Holt finds Rhys Logan on the right, he steps inside and whips in a sweet left-footed strike that has Dickerson beaten, but it smashes into the upright and out.
80' - TT - GOAL (2-1) - Moments later, Thetford break through Diggens down the middle, he squares the ball out to his left to find Buttle who strokes the ball into the bottom right corner for a pinpoint finish, and to put Thetford into the lead.
94' - DT - Late corner for Dereham, it is cleared as far as Pitcher who shoots, his effort cleared off the line and out for a corner by Elliot Smith.
95' - DT - GOAL (2-2) - Second corner is whipped in, Thetford are unable to clear and captain Sam Watts smashes in from close range. From the kick-off the final whistle is blown after 10 seconds or so....
Another disappointing late goal conceded by Thetford Town, again coming from a set-piece, sees two-points dropped. After the 1st half, where Dereham Town looked by far the better side, a draw would have looked a great result, but Thetford Town done well in the 2nd half, they were the better side and only a few seconds away from the win. Goals conceded from corners are becoming too frequent of late so this needs urgent attention. Looking at the positives, Thetford were able to score a wonderful goal after being under the cosh for most of the first half and they came out fighting in the 2nd half, these lads never give up. It should also be noted that Thetford Town have not lost in the league since October, a string of 8 games undefeated. On the flip side, 4 of these results have been draws, so if Thetford wish to secure promotion these need to be converted into wins. Looking at Dereham, they looked an organised side, Rhys Logan is a fine playmaker and Grant Holt certainly still has lots to offer at this level! Overall, it has been a great 2024 following the mighty Thetford Town, there have been so many excellent performances and fine goals to look back on, but the year was also tainted by some painful moments, the play-off debacle chief amongst those! Here's to hoping 2025 is a memorable year for Thetford Town for all the right reasons, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Sam Bond (C), Jaydyn Lott, Josh Wells, Kieran Money, Elliot Smith, Callum Olpin, Cameron King, Jordan Buttle, George Diggens, Dylan Grove. SUBS: Adam Laker, Harvey Lott, Malachi Wright, Marley Reynolds, Miguel Pereira.
DEREHAM TOWN: Ben Self, Kai Thurston, Harvey Gilham, Harry Pitcher, Sam Watts (C), Toby Oliver, Ronnie Blois, Max Melanson, Grant Holt, Rhys Logan, Jordan Lake. SUBS: Andy Eastaugh, Alex Brasero, Omar Ellis, Dylan Derbyshire, Max Voutt.
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