Brightlingsea 0 Thetford 1

Thetford 1 Team Bury 0

Thetford Town are celebrating after a pair of 1-0 wins over the Easter weekend clinched promotion to the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League.

Division One leading scorer Matt Dixon scored the decider in both Saturday’s success in Essex and Easter Monday’s home derby with Team Bury to take his tally of league goals for the season to 30.

Now the Brecklanders can turn their attention to their two remaining goals to complete a landmark season.

They need three more wins to be certain of pipping Godmanchester Rovers to the title. And then they can concentrate on their Norfolk Senior Cup date with Gorleston at Carrow Road on Monday, May 14.

Immediately after Monday’s game, however, manager Mark Scott allowed himself to savour the first major milestone to be ticked off.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “It is nice to make a bit of history. I came here with a three-year plan and it is all well and good talking about it, but you have got to do it – and today we have done it.

“We have achieved what I came here to do. I have got a great bunch of lads around me. There are a lot of people here behind the scenes who work very, very hard. We are a club on a very limited budget, like most nowadays, but we have got great ambition and hopefully we can carry that forward and hopefully somebody nice and rich might come and put some money in the club and help us out a little next season. I want to keep hold of these players because I think there is a lot here.

“There is a lot of prospect and we can go a little but further, but we have got to keep them all together.”

Looking back on Monday’s game, Scott added: “For 45 minutes I didn’t think it was going to happen, but we weathered the storm, worked hard and came out in the second half a completely different side.”

Thetford produced a workmanlike effort to beat Brightlingsea, Dixon scoring the only goal from the spot after 35 minutes.

Brightlingsea had the better of the chances in the second half but keeper Ian Fancett and his defence dealt with any potential problems and Brightlingsea hopes were hit when they were reduced to 10 men by a red card.

This Saturday, Thetford entertain March Town United (3pm). The Reserves, who lost 1-0 to Needham Market, do not have a game.

The Under-18s play their last game of the season when they entertain Leiston on Monday(7.45pm).

To book a place on the coach to the Noroflk Cup Final contact Bob on 01842 764282.