Thetford Town suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of a rampant Wroxham team which demonstrated the gap in quality and resources of the teams likely to be in the promotion mix at the end of the season and the rest of the division.

It’s a tricky time for Town at the moment with key players from last season having left the club and a number of absentees leaving few options for boss Danny White to adjust his side.

In contrast Wroxham lined up with two former Norwich players in their line up.

Ask most Norwich fans to name their favourite player of the last 10 years and Grant Holt would be a common answer. The 37-year old striker, who scored 15 goals in the 2011/12 Premier League season, led the Wroxham attack while Simon Lappin, who appeared 109 times for the Canaries, controlled the game from the base of midfield.

The appearance of two former Norwich players led to a bumper Friday night crowd under the lights at Mundford Road and after a bright start from the visitors, it was Holt who put Wroxham ahead with a seventh minute penalty.

Against the run of play Thetford drew level in the 20th minute. Valter Rocha’s deep cross was controlled on his chest by Andrew Wood, who struck a fierce half volley into the bottom of the net.

Wroxham went back in front within two minutes. Holt broke down the right hand side before releasing right back Wyatt Hill who cut inside before a producing delightfully controlled finish from the edge of the area.

Wroxham added their third in the 38th minute. Their fullbacks were joining attacks with regularity and Mac Gee, advancing from left back, fired an unstoppable drive past Will Viner.

The game was beyond the home side within a couple of minutes of the restart. Town’s defence could not deal with a long ball and Natty Stewart struck past Viner from the edge of the area. The fifth goal arrived in the 58th minute with another convincing finish, Jordan Bond striking home from the edge of the area.

It looked ominous for Thetford with so much time left to play but a series of fine saves from Viner, Town’s best player on the evening, kept the score to five.

It was a tough night for Thetford, who sit 13th in the table but with two winnable home games coming up against Haverhill Rovers on Saturday followed by Whitton United the following Saturday (both 3pm). Two positive results and things will look a lot brighter at Mundford Road.

Team: Viner, Morton, Smith, Carver, Castro, Campbell, R Bailey, T Rocha (Wells), Priddle (Davies), V Rocha, Wood.