14th September 2024
Thetford Town vs Cornard United @ Mundford Road - Thetford
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£5 entry (reduced price special)
Attendance - 150
Half-time score: Thetford Town 5-0 Cornard United
Goals:
Thetford Town: Smith - 15'
Thetford Town: Gilchrist - 18', 31'
Thetford Town: King - 42'
Thetford Town: Diggens - 45'
Thetford Town: Gilchrist - 48'
Cornard United: Hughes - 53'
Final Score: Thetford Town 6-1 Cornard United
This Saturday afternoon saw Thetford Town host the newly promoted Cornard United. Cornard having had a tricky start to the season, securing 7 points from 7 games so far, however they did beat high flying Fakenham Town 3-0 in the FA Cup, and Stowmarket Town 5-1 away from home, also in the FA Cup, therefore they can be a dangerous side when they turn it on. Thetford Town sat 3rd before kick-off, but having played more games than a lot of teams below them, this looks an artificial position for now, therefore 3-points were vital to keep the pressure on at the top.
Today's programme featured prolific forward Dan Gilchrist, in an omen of what was to come!
It was a cool yet sunny and still afternoon, once again perfect footballing weather, with the Mundford Road grass looking in great condition, one of the best in the league for sure. Before the game, chairman Nigel Armes thanked PES Consultancy who had kindly donated goal-keeping gloves to the club, followed by an introduction to a cohort of ex-Thetford Town players who were at the game today. In front of what was a decent sized crowd, Thetford Town lined up in their claret and blue, with Cornard United in a blue strip.
KEY MOMENTS
TT = Thetford Town
CU = Cornard United
8' - TT - Cornard keeper Kellett-Green travels out to collect ball on the far back left edge of the box, he fumbles under-pressure and Diggens pounces on the ball, from a narrow angle he flashes in a shot, a sliding block from a Cornard defender turns the ball out for a corner.
12' - TT - Quick break, Gilchrist slots Diggens through, coming in off the right, his shot from just outside the box is pulled, but deflects off a defender for a corner.
14' - TT - King sends Diggens down the right, he takes the ball to the byline and chips the ball over Kellet-Green and to the far-post, the oncoming Gilchrist volleys from point-blank range, but the effort is blocked off the line, excellent move from Thetford, winding up nicely into this game.
15' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Thetford finally get the deserved opening goal, an incisive pass from King splits the Cornard defence and sends Elliot Smith through on goal, and he makes no mistake to calmly slot the ball in, neat well worked goal from Thetford.
18' - TT - GOAL (2-0) - A quick-fire second from Thetford, amazing interplay between Gilchrist and Diggens inside the box, a 1-2 with first touch passes, and Gilchrist finishes the move, sliding the ball into the net, great skills on show for that one!
22' - TT - Another swift move, King shuffles the ball out to Diggens down the right, he takes the ball into the box and gets past the first defender, but finding himself surrounded he manages to square the ball into King who blasts wide from close range, everyone was expecting that one to go in!
29' - CU - Big chance for the visitors to peg one back, a throw-in goes to Louie Arnold on the byline, he manages to step past the defender and square the ball into the box, Berkane is open but fires his effort harmlessly over the bar, should have done better.
31' - TT - GOAL (3-0) - After the goal-scare, Thetford in clinical fashion fire in a 3rd to give them a bit of a cushion. In another fast attack, a slide rule pass from King puts Gilchrist through down the left, he takes the ball into the box and from a narrow angle he manages to steer is past Kellett-Green, brilliant finish.
36' - TT - Gilchrist, King and Diggens link up, spreading the ball across the box, Diggens shoots from the left, his effort beats the diving Kellett-Green but hits the post, and he cannot turn in the follow-up, Kellett-Green scrambling across to make the save.
42' - TT - GOAL (4-0) - Fantastic goal from King. He starts off the move, a short corner to Gilchrist, Gilchrist waits for the run of King and fending off the defender slots him through, King charges into the box and powers the ball full-force into the roof of the net, never gets old watching Cameron King score goals like that!
45' - TT - GOAL (5-0) - Thetford find the time to net an unbelievable 5th before the break. From the left, Laker whips a ball across goal, coming in from the right, Diggens hits a first time volley, the connection is sweet and the ball beats Kellett-Green at his near post, what a cross and what a hit, sublime.
45'+1' - TT - Just before the break, King plays Gilchrist through, but his effort is saved, no first half hattrick for the Thetford Town striker, but a corner secured.
48' - TT - GOAL (6-0) - Shortly after the break, Gilchrist finally gets his hattrick! A perfect ball over from Money picks out Gilchrist, the timing of the run is perfect and he strides through alone, rounding Kellett-Green and taping the ball into the open net, fine performance from Dan and well deserved.
53' - CU - GOAL (6-1) - Cornard peg one back, good corner from substitute Lindoe, who looked sharp when he came on, the ball swings into the far-post, Thetford fail to deal with it and Hughes smashes home from close range.
61' - CU - Louie Arnold hits a vicious shot from outside the box, Dickerson gets his fingertips to the ball, enough to push it onto the crossbar and out!
65' - TT - King shrugs off a late challenge and plays Gilchrist through, just as he shoots, Hughes gets across to make a fine block, the ball spinning out for a corner.
67' - CU - Deep cross from Cornard, Berkane is open in the middle but only manages to guide his header straight at Dickerson for a comfortable save.
90' - TT - Laker has a crack from 25yrds, it is hit well and dipping causing Kellett-Green to spill, it falls to Thetford captain Sam Bond on the left, he tries to beat the keeper at his near-post, but the side-footed effort is just the wrong side of the woodwork, such a shame, would have been great to see Bondy bag a goal!
That was not how I was expecting that one to go, an unreal first-half performance from Thetford Town saw them completely blow away their opposition with fast, skilful and accurate attacking play that they could simply not compete with. The range and quality of the goals was unbelievable, was a real joy to watch, absolute bargain for only £5 today! The second half was always going to be a different affair, with Thetford lowering the tempo and making 5 substitutions as they saw the game out. Cornard of course made more chances in the 2nd half, and fair play, they probably did enough to score at least another goal, but were unable to as Thetford cruised over the line to victory, putting them up to 2nd in the latest standings! Brilliant performances across the park from Thetford Town, the through balls and the running were sublime, but I have to mention Dan Gilchrist who bagged his hat-trick and got an assist which should be a big confidence booster, as well as our talisman Cameron King who scored one and had two assists to his name and our ever-present captain who defended valiantly and nearly got on the score sheet. The team has a nice shape and balance at the moment, long may it continue! Thetford Town have another weeks break until the next one, a much anticipated FA Vase home again Step 6 Swaffham Town, hopefully another strong performance and a win can kick-start an FA Vase run, we are long overdue one and would be a great experience for the players and fans, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Josh Wells, Jaydyn Lott, Adam Laker, Sam Bond (C), Cameron King, Elliot Smith, Dylan Grove, George Diggens, Kieran Money, Dan Gilchrist. SUBS: Malachi Wright, Marley Reynolds, Santi Davies, Callum Olpin, Harvey Lott.
CORNARD UNITED: Ollie Kellett-Green, Luis Berkane, Josh McFaull, Tyler Kemp, Lewis Soraf, Josh Hughes, Luke Spurling, Harry Shawyer, Louie Arnold, Scott Kemp (C), Jack Graham. SUBS: Shaye Willats, Charlie Lindoe, George Lane, Harry Poskitt.
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