27th November 2021
Thetford Town vs Kirkley & Pakefield @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier League (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£7 entry
Attendance - 50
Half-time score: Thetford Town 2-0 Kirkley & Pakefield
Goals:
Thetford Town: Cusack - 5'
Thetford Town: Varela - 16'
Kirkley & Pakefield: Haylock - 46'
Thetford Town: Campbell - 81'
Kirkley & Pakefield: Herbert - 89'
Leigh Simons recorded the goals, see the links below:
Final Score: Thetford 3-2 Kirkley & Pakefield
Storm Arwen was wreaking havoc across the country, and games were being called off left, right and centre, but the game at Mundford Road was never in doubt, the pitch did not even look too bad. I wrapped up in extra layers, put on the waterproof walking shoes, and took the lazy option of driving down, but I think it was justified this time! It was worth braving the elements as it was a big game, and a chance for Thetford Town to get some more points, Kirkley & Pakefield (K&P) being in a similar place in the league, and also out-of-form. I was expecting a big performance from Thetford Town in response to the controversial game last week, against Long Melford, where points were undoubtedly dropped.
I sheltered in the top row of the stands, and the players were clearly freezing, all were jumping about on the spot prior to kick-off to keep the muscles warm. Despite the stormy conditions, both teams started well, and in the 4th minute, Thetford broke down the left wing courtesy of Cusack. He passed to Varela, who was taken out by two K&P defenders, but he managed to nudge the ball back to Cusack before he went down, and Cusack continued his run towards the box, fired a ball across the goal and striker Fuller was inches away from making contact at the far post. In the 5th minute, an interesting series of events occurred, player-manager Morton pumped a ball into the corner which tempted K&P keeper Jordan Smith out, but he misjudged this, and was quickly surrounded by two Thetford players, Elliot Smith and Joao Varela, next to the touchline, and after some battling, Jordan Smith lost possession and went down, the ball found its way to Fuller who ran into box and squared the ball across to Cusack who fired into the gapping net, 1-0 to Town and an excellent start to the game.
It was clear that goalkeeper Jordan Smith was badly injured in the incident, seemingly twisting his knee, and he had to receive medical attention and be stretchered off. This took around 10 minutes, and the referee sensibly allowed the players to take shelter from the storm in the changing rooms. It sounds like Jordan Smith ended up in West Suffolk Hospital, so I wish him all the best, and I hope that the injury is not too serious, and that he can recover quickly. K&P had no reserve keeper on the bench, so an outfield player had to put on the goalie jersey & gloves.
When play had resumed, K&P quickly crafted a chance of their own in the 7th minute, a Conroy shot from the edge of the area that looped goalbound after a deflection, but it was turned around the post by Thetford keeper Bugg for a corner, which came to nothing. In the 16th minute, Thetford mustered two quick fire attacks, firstly Cusack whipped in a deep cross that was met by Fuller, but his headed effort was straight at the stand-in keeper for an easy save. In the next passage of play, Elliot Smith played a through ball for Varela, who beat the offside trap and was 1-on-1 with the keeper with plenty of time, the inexperienced goalkeeper did not fully commit to coming out, and was caught in no-mans land, inviting Varela to chip over him, and the chip was sublime, dropping into the goal perfectly, some brilliant skill from the youngster to make it 2-0 to Thetford so early into the game.
After the second goal, K&P pressed hard for a goal to get back into the game, and the Thetford defence had to weather wave after wave of attacks. In the 20th minute, Conroy mustered another strike, but this time it was just wide of the far post. In the 24th minute, player-manager Morton put in a expertly timed tackle in the box to prevent a certain shot on goal and in the 28th minute, K&P's brightest player, midfielder and playmaker Haylock, whipped in a ball that was headed by captain Herbert, but it was pushed out for a corner.
With K&P pressing high, Thetford looked to counter attack, and went close to putting in a three goal margin on two separate occasions. In the 29th minute, a great ball from Jake Mann released Cusack down the left wing, seeing the novice keeper in an unorthodox position, he also attempted to loft the ball over the keeper, but his effort was from a tight angle and went wide. In the 34th minute, a long, accurate diagonal ball from Morton found Cusack on left wing, he charged into the box, and shot at the near post and the ball smashed into the feet of the keeper and out, I don't think he knew too much about it.
In the 36th minute, K&P had a great chance to pull a goal back, some neat interplay between Russell & Haylock opened up the Thetford defence, Russell got into the position to shoot just inside the box, but his effort was wild and blazed over, he should have done better. As the half worn on, both teams cancelled each other out, with play becoming sloppy at times in the difficult conditions, and Thetford held their nerve to go in at half-time two goals to the good.
In the second half, Thetford had the nightmare start, with K&P scoring within 30 seconds. K&P launched a fast attack, Russell cut the ball, at pace, across the pitch to Haylock, who with his first touch, and from an odd angle, sent the ball goalward, and it seemed to catch the floundering Thetford goalkeeper unawares to sail in, 2-1 now and game very much on!
Both team battled hard, and the game was very physical in the middle of the park, partly a symptom of the conditions, and lots of big tackles were flying in. In the 57th minute, the two main K&P threats, Haylock & Russell, linked up again, Haylock got into a good position and flashed a shot across goal, narrowly wide. Thetford responded with a good chance of their own in the 60th minute, a good ball released Cusack, who was having a lot of luck down the left wing today, he turned the defender, created some space in the box allowing him to crack off a shot at the near post, but it was too close to the goalkeeper and saved.
In the 74th minute, we had another moment reminiscent of the first goal, Thetford goalkeeper Bugg came out for a ball, but he was dispossessed outside of his area, K&P quickly recycled the ball and substitute Barber had a shot at the open goal, from outside the area, but he sliced the ball wide, albeit under immense pressure from the scrambling Thetford defence. Thetford forward Varela was injured during a heavy challenge, not the first of the day, and was replaced by Campbell. Immediately, Campbell looked pacey, and was causing the K&P defenders issues on the counter. In the 81st minute, a short goal kick from Bugg was helped on its way by captain Bond, and it flew behind the defence, and Campbell ran onto the ball, skinning the K&P defenders. The stand-in goalkeeper was in an advanced position outside his area, Campbell half-stumbled but regained his balance, rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the net to restore the 2 goal cushion for Thetford, cue a knee sliding celebration to the Thetford fans, great stuff.
The final ten minutes was all K&P, and lots of last gasp defending was the order of the day, to prevent them from getting back into the game. They did eventually break through in the 89th, courtesy of a tenuous free-kick awarded just outside the right hand corner of the box. Haylock stepped up and whipped the ball in towards the far post, and it was headed home by captain Herbert, with the score now 3-2 and K&P in the ascendancy, nervy times for Thetford. However, it was too little too late, and the referee blew for full-time shortly afterwards, as Thetford were looking to break down the middle through substitute Visocanskis. The loyal crowd gave the team a standing ovation, and Thetford had certainly earned a very important, and well deserved 3 points, not even Storm Arwen could stop them today.
It is difficult to read too much into the game owing to the horrendous conditions, but both teams have to be commended for playing some good football, it was an exciting, competitive game. Thetford were clinical today, and Cusack was a constant threat down the left. The team all battled hard, and left it all out there today, righting the wrongs of last week, they looked like a team fired up. The all important three points are even more significant as Haverhill Rovers won again today, it is getting awful tight at the bottom for the final relegation spot, but the win lifts Thetford up to 12th, if at least temporarily. I was proud of the lads today, and coming out in the storm was certainly worth it. In fact, last time I saw Thetford win was in rainy conditions against Newmarket, so I actually hope for more rain in future games, getting wet is worth it! With Christmas on the horizon, and a couple of cup games already pencilled in, my schedule is looking quite full, so I wish Thetford all the best for their December fixtures, but I will try and get down again as and when I can, UP THE TOWN!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: George Bugg, Sam Bond (C), Matt Morton, Connor Balment, Nathan Clarke, Andrew Cusack, Jake Mann, Elliot Smith, Kristian Dixon, Ryan Fuller, Joao Varela. SUBS: Sonil Vasileiou, Marley Delgado, Michael Campbell, Artur Visocanskis, Adam Laker.
KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD: Jordan Smith, Ben George, Alex Meeken, Lewis Hammond, Jack Herbert (C), Lewis Flower, Kyle Haylock, Keenan Hutchings, Daniel Conroy, Cameron Russell, Macaulay Holt. SUBS: George Barber, Connor Swan, Miguel Lopez.
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