On another warm, sunny, Saturday afternoon in Norfolk, the ‘Robins’ landed in Thetford at 3pm. On a rather bumpy pitch, that sloped left and right and up and down, at 3pm and 21 seconds the team were shocked to find themselves one nil down. It appeared that a number of the team were still in the changing room, in mind if not in body, as Thetford mounted an attack straight from the kick off. A straightforward ball down the inside left channel saw the nippy Thetford number 9 collect the ball and fire across Lee Pacey into the net to send his team into the lead. Thetford were looking dangerous with two quick wide men but on two minutes it was their keeper in action. A long throw from ’Buba’ Ben Lawrence was headed goal wards by ‘Porky‘, Andrew Claydon, but the keeper saved it near the top of his right hand post. The Ely defence had to be alive to the nippy Thetford forwards but were coming to terms with it more, by now. On 8 minutes a good move down the Ely right saw ‘Tino’ Austin Diaper, get the ball into the centre of the field to Josh Bridgeman, who from the edge of the box hit a good fierce volley but unfortunately it was straight at the keeper. A minute later ‘Porky’ had an effort but it was too high. On 12 minutes it was Nick Impey’s turn but ‘Imps’ shot, on the half volley, was also straight at the keeper. Thetford were still going forward but were getting caught offside and the Ely back four were holding tight. On 20 minutes the Ely equaliser arrived. ‘Macca’ Lewis MacDonald won the ball in the right back spot and laid a good ball down the line to ‘Cus’ Josh Curry. He lifted the ball over a defender into ‘Porky’s’ path, who, from just inside the right hand angle of the penalty box, deftly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper into the left hand corner of the net, a really excellent finish, to level the score. This was ‘Porkey’s’ 6th league goal and 8th overall goal of the season from 12 appearances, not a bad return at all!!!. On 28 minutes from another long throw ‘Porky’ got the ball in the net again, from a header, but the Ref ruled this out for a push. Thetford were still pushing on and had a couple of corners that came to nothing, before, in the 33rd minute another dangerous through ball found their striker who took it on but put his shot just wide of the upright. On 41 minutes Josh Bridgeman saw yellow when he shouted the single word “Why” at the fairly inept Ref after he gave a free kick for a fairly innocuous obstruction or foul. (No one near me knew what it was for). The last few minutes of the half saw a corner at each end, both cleared easily, but with no other dramas the teams turned round all square .
The half opened with play in midfield until the 50th minute when Ely pushed forward,, Porky’ held the ball up well and got it in to ‘Chads’, \Richard Chadwick, but his effort hit the side netting then another effort from ‘Chads’ was straight at the keeper, ‘Imps’ then had an effort but that also was too central and saved easily by the keeper. Next it was ‘Tino’s’ shot but this time it was well over the bar. On the 58th minute, after good work by ‘Chads’ ‘Porky’ got off a good low shot but the keeper got down well diving to his right to save it. It was Thetford’s turn to attack, down their flanks again, but this came to nothing. On 63 minutes a change of personnel with ‘Cus’ making way for ‘Gammo’, Richard Gammon,, this was then followed immediately by a change of ball , the match ball had gone out of shape. Two minutes later an Ely free kick into the box saw ‘Musa’, Adam Murray, leap highest but his header went wide, ‘Imps then had a shot from 25 yards but this went wide also. ‘Tino’ was brought down and again from the resulting free kick ‘Musa’ won the header but again it was wide. Thetford had a good chance when they got away down their right and the forwards fierce shot was well saved by ‘Pace’ the rebound fell to the same boy but by then Sam Parkinson had got back and his tackle was able to get the ball away On 73 minutes ‘Tino‘ was replaced by Taz Chisango who immediately got on the end of a long throw but his header back across the far side of goal was cleared away off the line. The Ely defence then came under heavy pressure and twice in as many minutes the Thetford forwards got away and on both occasions they got off decent shots on goal, both of which went narrowly wide.. It all became rather open with attacks at both ends ‘Imps’ had a 25 yarder that went just wide, Thetford going forward but were caught narrowly offside a couple of times, a Sam Pakinson cross was headed wide by ‘Gammo’ Thetford attacked down their left and after some interplay got to the bye line but as the player moved to cross the ball it was snuffed out by ‘Pace’ in the goal. On 85 minutes ’Porky’ was replaced by Darren Coe. A move down the Ely right saw the ball reach Josh Bridgeman his mis-hit pass fell to Taz but his ’poke’ at goal was easily dealt with. Thetford attacked down the right and as the cross came in the forward put his header well wide when he should have at least worked the keeper. On the stroke of 90 minutes the ’Robins’ got the winner. They were awarded a free kick on the left just inside the Thetford half, Sam Parkinson took it very quickly, down the wing to Taz, he made ground to the bye line and got in a good deep cross to the back post. A very determined ’Chads’ out jumped all the defenders and powered a header goal wards, the ball hitting ’Gammo on the chest before crossing the line for the goal. In the few minutes of injury time Josh Bridgeman had the chance to really seal it when he got in close to the keeper in the 6 yard box but as he went to go round him the keeper got his toe to the ball before Josh could dink it over him. This being the last meaningful action of the game the Ref sounded the final whistle
This was a very hard worked three points but it WAS three points. Ely can play better a lot better but at least they did work tirelessly on a very warm afternoon. They gave the ball away too cheaply and communication was not good, more focus is needed but this was another victory and that should bring more confidence to the team to go on a good run, hopefully !!!!