Take Off For Brecklanders In FA Vase - Thetford Town vs. Downham Town

Stand at The Thetford Recreation Ground

For the last game in my run of cup matches I headed out to Norfolk for a county derby of sorts between Thetford Town and Downham Town. Both sides play in The Eastern Counties League with Thetford in The Premier Division and Downham in Division One. I'd seen Thetford once before at Felixstowe and Walton in a league match when they drew an entertaining game 2-2. I'd visited Downham Market's Memorial Field also for a league game and in that match they won 3-1 against AFC Sudbury Reserves. In their respective divisions, Thetford had made a very good start, sitting in second place, a couple of points behind Mildenhall while Downham were seventh in Division 1.In the previous round, Thetford saw another Division 1 side, Framlington and this win contributed to a four game winning streak. 

It was a three sided ground for the second week in a row

Thetford waste no time in putting the Downham keeper under pressure as they launch a angled free kick into the area which he punches away under pressure. The home side continue to pepper the Downham goal and a curling shot from the edge of the area goes just over the bar. Thetford come close to a fortuitous opening goal when an innocuous looking long ball forward is caught by the wind and ends up bouncing off the top of the cross bar. Downham are then able to break out after a Thetford attack and the eventual ball from the byline finds the man in plenty of space but his shot goes straight at the goalie. The Downham keeper then makes two great saves to ensure the scores are level at half time. Firstly he does brilliantly to put a powerful header from a free kick over the bar and then he makes a low save to keep out an effort from the resulting corner.

The Thetford winger attacks the car park end

Thetford take an early lead in the second half as the Downham keeper can't fully gather a rasping shot from the edge of the box and the Thetford forward is on hand to put the ball in the net to make it one nil. Thetford are dominating possession and they have another effort on goal when the winger is played in with a chipped pass but his shot flashes across the face of the Downham goal. They come close again as the ball is flicked on and the shot on the volley is put just over the bar. The Downham keeper spills the ball for a second time after a Thetford attack but this time the ball goes just wide. Downham then have a perfect chance to get an equaliser as a fantastic cross finds the man in plenty of space but the free header is put wide of the target. They are made to rue that miss as Thetford get the second goal - or it sounded like they did from the cheers I heard from the toilet.

Dugout side of the ground

To get to Thetford you have to take a train from Kings Cross to either Cambridge or Ely and change there for a train to Thetford with the trip taking just under two hours. Thetford is famous for being the filming location of Dad's Army and there are plenty of reminders around the pleasant town centre. A short walk from the town centre is The Black Horse which has the sports channels as well as a few ales on hand pull. If you don't fancy walking too far from the town centre then The Green Dragon right on the market place does the job for the early kick off. To get back to the ground from the town, you have to go back past the station and next door is The Railway Tavern which had an atmosphere fairly on in the afternoon and also had the sports channels. The clubhouse at the ground under the stand was extremely welcoming and I can also recommend the burgers from the tea bar. 

Watching on from the stand in the second half