24th August 2024
Woodbridge Town vs Thetford Town @ Notcutts Park - Woodbridge
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5)
15:00 KO
£8 entry
Attendance - 98
Half-time score: Woodbridge Town 1-0 Thetford Town
Goal:
Woodbridge Town: Crowe - 21'
Final Score: Woodbridge Town 1-0 Thetford Town
Following Thetford Town's big away win at Long Melford last weekend, it was going to be important to follow this up with another win in Suffolk as Thetford play yet another away game, this time against Woodbridge Town. Woodbridge have had a fairly decent start to the season, sitting in 7th place with 7 points before kick-off, and are a strong team being unbeaten at home so far. However, the last result saw them lose away at Heacham, which must be one the largest distances to travel in the league, so there was a chance for Thetford to bag some points this afternoon.
Due to the poor weather, I didn't bother leaving early to explore Woodbridge, which was a shame having made the 65 minute journey down, but this was my first time at this ground. Initial impressions were that this is a proper non-league set-up with all the key things I look for, nice clubhouse within the ground, hot food options, decent stand, printed programmes and a good pitch. They even had a woodpecker mascot, will definitely try and come back one day with the kids.
The printed programme was excellent, cost £2 but full colour, glossy and the same thickness as the ones typically seen in the EFL. It even came with a complimentary metal coffee cup, I've been needing one for work!
It was a miserable old day, the rain having lashed down at a decent rate for hours, but the pitch was fine, with the recent dry weather it soaked it all up and then some. Into the downpour, Woodbridge Town lined up in their classic black and white stripes, with Thetford Town in an all new mint green away kit, with gold numbering and white shorts, very smart.
KEY MOMENTS
WT = Woodbridge Town
TT = Thetford Town
2' - TT - Early chance for Thetford, Jake Mann takes a quick corner to King, he drives into the box and chips the ball over to the far post, Haylett leaps up high and gets a good connection with his head, but it skims just over the bar.
21' - WT - GOAL (1-0) - Against the run of play Woodbridge secure the opener. A diagonal ball finds Ablitt on the right wing, he takes the ball forwards then squares into the middle, just outside the box, striker Crowe makes a brilliant run to beat the defender and the offside trap, he takes a touch and from the edge of the box smashes it into the top left corner, with some swerve on the ball, fine finish. Embarrassingly, in the celebration, Crowe injures himself and has to be substituted.
28' - TT - Haylett decides to have a crack from, 30yrds out, the effort is well struck but scoots just over the bar, unlucky.
39' - TT - King does well to bring a long ball under control on the edge of the box, he lays it off to Diggens coming in from the right, he strides in and under pressure gets his strike off at the near-post, the effort travelling with some pace to worry the keeper, but just wide.
40' - TT - Diggens chases a ball into the box, he is second to it but snapping at the defenders heels, as the ball looks to pop loose he is dragged down by his shirt, but the referee is unperturbed by this. In the build up, Haylett goes down and has to be carried off, some kind of leg/knee injury, hopefully is not as bad as it seemed
45'+4' - WT - Mix up at the back sees Keeble gifted the ball just outside the box, he immediately shoots, the ball is again swerving into the top left corner, but Dickerson makes a brilliant save at full stretch, getting his fingertips on the ball and turning it around the post for a corner.
45'+6' - TT - King corner swings into the middle of the box, Jaydyn Lott gets a touch on the ball guiding it towards the goal, but the scrambling Stronge bats it off the line, the ball falling luckily to a Woodbridge player.
49' - WT - Ablitt down the right, he cuts inside and shoots with his left-foot from 20yrds, the effort is struck sweetly and curls beyond Dickerson but crashes into the crossbar and out, Thetford living dangerously.
59' - TT - Laker attacks down the left and gets deep into Woodbridge territory, he crosses to the far post, Harvey Lott's headed effort is blocked, the ball drops perfectly for the incoming Jake Mann who blasts his effort low at the near-post, keeper Stronge making a great save with his legs to concede a corner.
60' - TT - King goes on a jinking run through the Woodbridge box, in a central position he turns and shoots, but his effort is down the throat of Stronge for a fairly comfortable save.
76' - WT - PENALTY - Kussan dribbled the ball into the box from the right, he invites the challenge from Jake Mann then goes down easily, the referee pointing straight to the spot, was almost as if he went looking for it. Either way, substitute Mallett steps up to take the spot-kick, his weak effort is saved by Dickerson, but the ball is recycled by Woodbridge and crossed back in to the far post, where Barker volleys from close range, but Dickerson makes himself large to block the pacey effort, what a moment from the Thetford keeper.
80' - WT - Woodbridge weathering pressure and relying on long balls to relieve their lines, one pays off, Kussan's run beats the Thetford back-line and on seeing the cover coming in he elects to strike the ball on the bounce from 25yrds, his effort looping just over the bar.
89' - TT - A ball crossed in from deep is knocked down at the far post by Olpin, it drops perfectly to Laker who snaps in a strike, it ricochets off the shoulder of keeper Stronge, into the crossbar and out for a corner, Thetford unable to catch a break it would seem.
92' - TT - Woodbridge keeper Stronge collides with his captain Rea, the game plays on, cross comes in from the right, Diggens attempts a side-footed volley, the net was begging for him but the effort goes painfully wide. Rea looks hurt but eventually recovers which was great to see, could have been nasty.
97' - TT - In the death, Olpin crosses to the far-post, substitute Wells gets his head on the end, but the effort is guided straight to Stronge, and the chance goes begging.
Despite Thetford trying everything they could to bag an equaliser, they ultimately came up short on the day. They had chances and were unlucky on occasion, however, Thetford were ultimately sloppy today, a lot of balls in were either cut out by the first man, or launched beyond the danger area, which was frustrating to see. It has to be said that once Woodbridge got their goal they defended admirably and had chances to put the game to bed, looking dangerous on the counter all afternoon. Ablitt in particular was a big threat down the right all game with the win today seeing the Woodpeckers climb to 2nd in the table. Looking at Thetford, there were some strong performances despite the result, Laker was phenomenal down the left in the 2nd half as he drove forwards, Dickerson made a host of fine saves to keep Thetford in the game and Olpin was the heartbeat of the side. With there only being a few days until the next game where Thetford Town host Harleston Town on Tuesday night, they need to put this one behind them and get ready for one hell of the a performance, as one will be needed to beat a very good Harleston side, fresh from a FA Vase victory against Wisbech Town. Thetford are frustratingly close to being at their best, they just need to work on their accuracy in the final third, if they click they are undoubtedly a force in this league, here's hoping it comes together soon, UP THE TOWN!!!
Line-Ups:
WOODBRIDGE TOWN: Alfie Stronge, Ryan Marsh, Ryan Keeble, Taylor Southgate, Ben Smith, Sean Rea (C), Liam Ablitt, Edward Barker, Andrew Crowe, Connor Field, Kubi Kussan. SUBS: Luke Mallett, Jamal Wiggins, Logan Bell, Billy Clark.
THETFORD TOWN: Ryan Dickerson, Ryan Haylett, Adam Laker, Kieran Money, Sam Bond (C), Jaydyn Lott, Cameron King, Jake Mann, Harvey Lott, George Diggens, Callum Olpin. SUBS: Tom Smith, Elliot Smith, Malachi Wright, Josh Wells, Dylan Grove.
Another detailed great report!