2nd November 2024
Thetford Town vs Downham Town @ Mundford Road – Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance – 165
Half-time score: Thetford Town 1-1 Downham Town
Goals:
Thetford Town: Own Goal - 21'
Downham Town: V. Rocha - 44'
Thetford Town: Diggens - 70'
Downham Town: Delgado - 89'
Thetford Town: Mann - 97'
Final Score: Thetford Town 3-2 Downham Town
Another big crunch game down at Mundford Road as Thetford Town welcomed the visit of promotion rivals Downham Town. With both teams on 28 points, but with Downham having played two fewer games, the pressure was on the hosts to get a result, especially following last week’s disappointing result against Mulbarton Wanderers. To add extra significance to the game, there are a few familiar faces at Downham Town, including ex-Thetford Town manager Danny White who took us to the Norfolk Cup Final at Carrow Road and who is the assistant manager, as well as a few players who have previously worn claret and blue, such as the talented Rocha brothers, Marley Delgado and Nathaniel Jamba. Games like this are what it is all about and why local grassroots football keeps so many of us returning.
Today's printed matchday programme had the midfield dynamo Jake Mann on the cover, and he deserved it after his performance today!
Another grey autumnal yet dry and mild day served up at Mundford Road, best footballing weather. Thetford Town lined up in claret and blue, with Downham Town in their away kit of white shirts and blue shorts. Before kick-off a minutes silence in honour of the upcoming Remembrance Day was well observed by the bumper crowd.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
DT = Downham Town
6' - DT - Sivakumar down the left, his ball across is cleared back to him, he takes a touch and shoots but his strike fizzes just over the bar.
8' - TT - Jake Mann bursts down the right, he squares the ball into King who prods it into the path of Diggens inside the box, with the goal begging he shoots, but a Downham defender manages to get something on the ball and it is deflected wide for a corner.
21' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Jake Mann is fouled on the edge of the Downham box. King steps up and hits a fine strike that curls around the wall and is dropping into the bottom right corner, McAnally makes a diving save, Elliot Smith picks up the loose ball and hits the ball across the goal, it is cleared off the line and seems to deflect in off another defender, to give Thetford Town the lead!
28' - TT - Jake Mann steals the ball, he looks up and slides it through to Gilchrist on the left, he skips into the box and shoots just before keeper McAnally is on him, but the keeper applies enough pressure to see the shot fly wide, with Gilchrist clattered on the follow-through.
30' - DT - Dylan Edge has the ball on the edge of the Thetford box, he turns and shoots, the effort is curling into the bottom right corner, but Dickerson gets down low and manages to get a fingertip on it to turn it onto the post and out, incredible save!
44' - DT - GOAL (1-1) - Wonder goal from ex-Thetford Town striker Valter Rocha, he receives the ball on the right, cuts inside and shoots from 30-35yrds out with his left foot, it arcs over Dickerson and drops into the net! Everyone at Thetford knows he has that in his locker, he has scored some absolute belters at Mundford Road, and added another to his tally today.
57' - TT - King crosses in from the left, at the back-post Elliot Smith rises highest and with the side of his head powers in an effort towards goal, McAnally is beaten but the ball clatters into the bar and out.
65' - DT - Dylan Edge is played through on goal, he is in the box and about to shoot but somehow Thetford captain Sam Bond is able to cover back and get his boot on the ball to prevent the strike and dispossess the attacker, a tackle like that is as good as a goal!
67' - DT - A ball from the left is played to Dylan Edge in the middle, he immediately shuffles it out to the right to find Valter Rocha in acres of space, he strides towards goal and goes for power, but mis-cues and drags his shot wide of the far-post.
69' - TT - Grove drives through the middle of the park from 20yrds out he fires in a strike, it is heading into the bottom left corner but McAnally is able to get down to turn the ball away.
70' - TT - GOAL (2-1) - Ball is crossed in from the left, it goes beyond most players but Elliot Smith is on the far-side, he headers the ball back into the mixer, Jaydyn Lott gets up to compete for the ball with a defender, the ball drops to Diggens inside the box and he smashes the ball into the net on the half-volley, Thetford Town back into the lead.
76' - TT - Diggens drives forwards down the right, he plays the ball to Money who takes the ball to the by-line, he then lays it back to Grove who at pace cuts into the box and unleashes a powerful effort at the near-post, but McAnally is able to bat it away.
88' - TT - Penetrating attack down the left involving substitute Harvey Lott and Gilchrist, Harvey Lott prods in an effort at close range but it is stopped close to the line.
89' - DT - GOAL (2-2) - Substitute and ex-Thetford Town player Delgado receives the ball on the edge of the box, he lashes in a strike that has enough pace and swerve on it to beat Dickerson, two goals, two ex-players and two cracking strikes.
97' - TT - GOAL (3-2) - The game plays on deep into stoppage after a nasty looking injury to Dylan Grove as he tried to break into the Downham box at pace. As the game draws to a close, Harvey Lott plays a 1-2 with Gilchrist to slip through down the left, he runs down the flank and cuts the ball back into the box, finding an open Jake Mann who brilliantly slots the ball in with his first touch and the home fans go wild in a sea of limbs!
What a game that was, and what a finale! It was a tight and competitive game, and Thetford were on-top until Downham Town were sparked into life by an unreal Valter Rocha strike. Thetford managed to just about weather the pressure, Bondy with an outrageous challenge, before regaining the lead, and they had chances to see the game off until Delgado hit Thetford with another stunner. With Dylan Grove injured it was looking like the spoils were going to be shared until substitute Harvey Lott set-up Jake Mann for what could prove to be a pivotal goal this season with the league table incredibly tight at the top! After last weeks devastating loss getting all 3-points today was so important, and in the manner the points were sealed made it all the more satisfying! Downham Town looked a good team and likely to be in and around the top, can't wait for the return fixture! Other than Dylan's injury, which I hope is not too bad, everything is set-up wonderfully for a big away day in East London next weekend, should be one to savour, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Elliot Smith, Jaydyn Lott, Sam Bond (C), Jake Mann, Kieran Money, Cameron King, Dylan Grove, George Diggens, Dan Gilchrist. SUBS: Harvey Lott, Marley Reynolds, Malachi Wright.
DOWNHAM TOWN: Duncan McAnally, Ben Smith, Luke Reed (C), George Watts-Sturrock, Jack Gould, Jake Miller, Eoin McQuaid, Nick Castellan, Dylan Edge, Valter Da Rocha, Lagshan Sivakumar. SUBS: Dan Hobbs, Marley Delgado, Carlos Da Rocha, Pat Yates, Jacob White.
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