Match 5. Thetford Town v Godmanchester Rovers

Saturday 15^th September 2012 @3pm

FA Vase 2^nd Qualifying Round

THETFORD TOWN 0-3 GODMANCHESTER ROVERS

Mundford Road Recreation Ground, Thetford

Admission: £5

Programme: 50p (A5, 28pp)

Attendance: 60 (from the gateman)

FOOD: Steak Pie with Gravy £1

DRINK: Can of Guinness £2

 

I dropped the family at Lakeside Thurrock at 1230, thinking I’d easily get an hour to look around Thetford.  Firstly, it took nearly ½ hour to get Diesel before setting off.  About 10 miles from Mundford Road, an accident closed the A11 and I ventured around Thetford Forest trying to find alternative entry to Thetford.  I did manage to put into the car park at 2.58pm, find a space and get in before kick off.

All the facilities are to the left of the gate, except a small standing shelter immediately to the right.  A delightful wooden stand is still in use with bench seating.  The tea bar just before the stand has the team line ups and a good selection of hot food, welcomed by a smiling helpful lady.  The club bar is the other side of the stand with the main bar being under the stand with an extension built on the end of it.  A good dozen or so regular home support didn’t venture further than in front of the clubhouse with plastic in hand throughout.  I hadn’t realised North east London had spread into Norfolk as well!!

This was a game that Thetford should have won clearly although this wasn’t a particularly good game.  The trouble was they had no-one who could shoot straight.  They would be challenging for local honours if they can find a striker.  They had two thirds of the play in the first half with only one shot on target.  And then ten minutes into the second half, a scramble in the Thetford goalmouth allowed the left back to swivel with the ball and shot with the left foot into the corner.  With a quarter of the game left, Godmanchester doubled their lead as probably the best player on the pitch, No7 took advantage of a defensive lapse in concentration and ran through on his own to slot past the goalkeeper.  The final nail in the coffin was administered from “Bassey” as the no10 received the ball from no7 as he drew out both central defenders to go unchallenged and add the third 3 mins from the end.