Conspiracy Theory in Thetford
Today I went to Thetford for the first time for a game in Division 1 between Thetford Town and Ipswich Wanderes. The journey was easy enough as the ground is only a few minutes walk from the train station, although luckily I bumped into a groundhopper who was making his way to the ground as obviously I went the wrong way out of the station.
The ground wasn't a bad ground. There was a clubhouse, as I saw people with beer, but I couldn't find. There is a stand on one side, but the other 3 sides are open and back on to a park and cricket pitch. Collecting stray balls seems to be a full time job there.
The game got off to a good start with Ipswich taking the lead on 10 minutes and Thetford equalising on 15 minutes. Ipswich, who are looking for promotion had two of the unfittest looking players I've ever seen, but they looked pretty effective. For the first half hour it was end to end stuff and both teams looked like they had plenty of goals in them. However, in the second part of the first half Ipswich looked the stronger side and they were probably disappointed not to go in 2-1 up at the break.
The second half started in the same way the the first half finished and Ipswich soon got the goal that they deserved. However, there was another twist as the floodlights went out and for a while it looked like the match was going to be called off, which had the officials from Ipswich suspecting foul play and it did seem as if they had been switched off. Nevertheless, after about 20 minutes the lights came back and the game changed dramatically. Thetford had been a lot more sensible about the whole thing by taking the players into the dressing room while the Ipswich players were stood outside in the cold messing around and smoking (I told you they seemed like an unhealthy bunch).It obviously had an effect as Thetford looked far stronger and got the equaliser and could have gone on to win. They faded again in the latter part of the game and Ipswich finished looking the stronger side.
A draw was probably a fair result and you can see why Ipswich are chasing promotion despite the fact that some of the players looked unfit and they didn't seem to have a substitute. Anyway, a good day out and fairly good value for money. I'm sure I'll be back to Thetford one day.
The ground wasn't a bad ground. There was a clubhouse, as I saw people with beer, but I couldn't find. There is a stand on one side, but the other 3 sides are open and back on to a park and cricket pitch. Collecting stray balls seems to be a full time job there.
The game got off to a good start with Ipswich taking the lead on 10 minutes and Thetford equalising on 15 minutes. Ipswich, who are looking for promotion had two of the unfittest looking players I've ever seen, but they looked pretty effective. For the first half hour it was end to end stuff and both teams looked like they had plenty of goals in them. However, in the second part of the first half Ipswich looked the stronger side and they were probably disappointed not to go in 2-1 up at the break.
The second half started in the same way the the first half finished and Ipswich soon got the goal that they deserved. However, there was another twist as the floodlights went out and for a while it looked like the match was going to be called off, which had the officials from Ipswich suspecting foul play and it did seem as if they had been switched off. Nevertheless, after about 20 minutes the lights came back and the game changed dramatically. Thetford had been a lot more sensible about the whole thing by taking the players into the dressing room while the Ipswich players were stood outside in the cold messing around and smoking (I told you they seemed like an unhealthy bunch).It obviously had an effect as Thetford looked far stronger and got the equaliser and could have gone on to win. They faded again in the latter part of the game and Ipswich finished looking the stronger side.
A draw was probably a fair result and you can see why Ipswich are chasing promotion despite the fact that some of the players looked unfit and they didn't seem to have a substitute. Anyway, a good day out and fairly good value for money. I'm sure I'll be back to Thetford one day.
Comments
Thanks for your comment on my blog. It was indeed me that you met at Thetford.
Coalville is my intended target for next Saturday, weather permitting.
Keep up the good work on your blog.
Chris