Thetford aim to bounce back

Thetford Town first team aims to bounce back from the March defeat by winning at Downham, who are one place below them in Ridgeons Division One (ko 3pm), on Saturday.

Town boss Mark Scott said: “Hopefully we will get a win and get back on track. Some hard work is needed this week to regroup. We're still very upbeat and are looking forward to Saturday.

“On paper, we would be looking to get these three points up for grabs - it depends on personel,” he said, pointing out that key players had been missing through illness and injury against March. “It was a very bad day for us. If we had our full squad we would have got something from the game. It was a disappointing result as we had lost to them earlier in the season and wanted to win.

March Tn Utd 3, Thetford Tn 1

MARCH had the early pressure and came close to scoring with a shot across goal which was cleared, writes Bob Richards.

Play was held for a long period when Walsh sustained a bad head injury and after treatment continued. Thetford had a good chance but Dixon's cross was headed into the keeper's arms by Mann.

Then good work by Clayton and turn by Dixon saw his effort just over the bar. March took the lead when Bowden was adjudged to have fouled Brand, Pepper converting.

Mann was looking dangerous cutting in, and from one of his runs his shot was saved and Nita, on the follow-up, was fouled with Matt Dixon converting the penalty.

Thetford could have taken the lead when good work from Joseph and Nita let in Dixon whose shot was just wide. Early in the second half Thetford conceded a goal when the ball was not cleared from defence only for Brand to pounce and shoot past Bowden.

Walsh was then replaced by Osborne. The game went from end to end with a Mann effort saved and Bowden saved well before March got a third when a Brand cross ended up in the top stanchion. Thetford rallied and a Joseph effort was saved and a good run by Dixon should have seen him get his second. Two good saves from Bowden denied March.