Thetford Town vs Long Melford

Report

Thetford returned to the bottom of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division table after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Long Melford on Saturday.

Both teams have had slow starts to the season. Coming into the game, Long Melford had taken just one point from their opening six games, while Thetford were just two places – and two points – better off.

Long Melford looked sharper from the off with Jamie Griffiths firing over from a Jose Santa De La Paz pullback and Kieran Michaels heading just over from a corner.

It was no surprise when they took the lead on 13 minutes. Both teams had slowed expecting a flag from the assistant referee that never came. Santa De La Paz collected the ball on the left-hand side and broke into the penalty area, and his low cross was turned in at the near post by Tait.

Long Melford dominated the first 20 minutes, with Thetford struggling to cope with the pace and movement of lone-striker Santa De La Paz, who was linking well with his midfield.

Bruno Felguieras fired well over and then wide as Thetford had their first efforts of the afternoon, but the visitors looked more dangerous and it took a good save by Frank Gammon, Thetford’s goalkeeper, to beat away Kieran Michael’s well-struck effort from 20 yards.

As the half progressed and against the run of play, Thetford twice came close to levelling. Sam Bond and Joao Varela linked well on the right, but Harry French could not connect cleanly with Bond’s low cross and Long Melford cleared off the line. In the final minute of the half a fine ball from Bond found Felguieras’s run behind the visiting defence, but the young Portuguese midfielder could not find a finish after rounding goalkeeper Matt Walker.

After a lively first half the game was scrappy after the restart with neither side carving out a chance of note until the 68th minute when substitute Ally scored Long Melford’s second with a simple close range finish from Griffith’s low cross.

Thetford huffed and puffed but failed to create a serious opportunity to bring themselves back into the game.

A disappointing afternoon for The Brecklanders, and in stark contrast with their last home game against Norwich United where, despite defeat, they produced a much better performance.

Report from Thetford Town website