Saturday 15 November: Ridgeons League Div One

 

Thetford Town

 2 - 1

Saffron Walden Town

 Devlin, Brewer (Pen)

Green (Pen)

 

Walden lost for only the sixth time in this seasons campaign with Thetford's Greg Devlin scoring a spectacular 60 yard goal from inside his own half.

In the first five minutes Mitchell Das was first to test the home keeper with a darting run through the home defence to lob into the goal but this was adjudged to be offside. Kevin Vallis pounced onto a pass from Spike Bell and his looping shot was saved by Ross Bilman in the Thettord goal.

Simon Mann responded for the home side with a fierce strike from the edge of the area and then on the 20 minute mark a free kick taken by Devlin caught Walden keeper Anthony Choat back pedalling, but unable to stop the ball going in under the bar, 1-0 (20 mins).

Thetford pushed forward and Choat was on hand to deny strikes from Ben Gowing while Devlin's lob was safely gathered by the Walden keeper.

From the restart Bell came close to equalising with a shot on the turn that saw Devlin get his hand to deny an equaliser.  The referee then amazed both sets of players when he blew for a penalty against a Walden defender on the stroke of half time.  Lee Brewer blasted the ball into the net to increase Thetford’s lead, 2-0(43 minutes).

The start of the second half saw the referee make amends by awarding Walden a penalty and Brad Green stepped forward to fire into the goal to reduce the defecit 2-1 (50mins).

Haynes replied with a shot for Thetford that Choat could only parry and Simon Mann could only fire the loose ball over the bar from close range.

Brad Green dribbled through the home defence to set up Bell with a shot that Bilman pushed wide for a corner. Steve Leys shrugged off his marker and split the defence with a pass to Das who fired into the arms of Bilman.

Walden went looking for an equaliser and Vallis tried a long range strike that Bilman tipped over the bar while substitute Joseph Anderson was disappointed to see his lob just skim the crossbar in the closing minutes.

TEAM

A.CHOAT, T, RICHARDSON (J MURPHY 30) T.RYAN, A.RICHES. P.FLACK, T.BUTCHART (Capt), S.BELL, S LEYS (J.ANDERSON  80), B.GREEN, K VALLIS.

 

Barry's Match Stats

 

Walden

Thetford

Shots on Target

9 8

Corners

9 2

Fouls Conceded

16 19

Offside

3 3

Throw Ins

30 21