Anglian Combination D1: Thetford Rovers 3-0 Caister

21st February 2026

Thetford Rovers vs Caister @ Euston Park, nr. Thetford

Anglian Combination Division One (Step 8)

14:15 KO

Free entry

Attendance - approx. 40

Half-time score: Thetford Rovers 2-0 Caister

Goals:

Thetford Rovers: Hutt - 3'(P)

Thetford Rovers: McDonald - 29'

Thetford Rovers: Conroy - 56'

Final Score: Thetford Rovers 3-0 Caister

Yet more torrid weather overnight was seeing games cancelled across East Anglia, but the Thetford Rovers game was still on, and with no Thetford Town games it was the obvious place to come for me. This was a big game, with 2nd place Thetford Rovers taking on 3rd place Caister, so a key game in Rovers bid for promotion.

It was a dry and mild afternoon, and the pitch looked ok, not overly wet or cutting up but certainly on the bobbly side. Before long the teams were out, Thetford Rovers in their red and black kits, with Caister in their away teal and grey kits.

KEY MOMENTS

TR = Thetford Rovers

CA = Caister

1' - CA - RED CARD - Game kicks off and the ball is quickly passed back to the Caister keeper, Rovers forward Hunter is on to him like a flash and steals the ball on the edge of the box, he is through on goal but keeper Allan decides to pull him back to deny the goal-scoring chance, rightfully receiving a red card. Easily the quickest I have ever seen, the incident occurring 20 seconds into the game. In addition, a penalty was awarded to Rovers, a mad moment from the keeper to ruin Caister's afternoon before it had even begun.

3' - TR - PENALTY & GOAL (1-0) - After a bit of time to allow one of the outfield players to don the keepers kit, Hutt steps up and blasts the ball into the left-side of the goal, to give the hosts the early lead.

5' - CA - Despite being down to 10-men, Caister react well, and create a chance shortly after the penalty. Sayer on the right fires a low ball across the danger area, it takes a deflection off a Rovers leg, but Humphrey reacts well to smother the ball.

12' - TR - Hutt with a back-heel to release Husak inside the box, he shoots at the near-post but the makeshift keeper makes a good stop to turn it around the post for a corner.

27' - TR - Hunter with a long ball to release Husak down the right-flank, he crosses the ball in, it is headed clear but only as far as captain McGeeney who hits a half-volley into the ground, it bounces up but is cleared off the line by a Caister head.

29' - TR - GOAL (2-0) - Ostrowski with a superb cross into the box from the right flank, it is whipped into the far-post to find McDonald who nods home from close range, the lack of an experienced keeper telling for this goal.

46' - TR - Hunter with a cross from the right to find Husak at the far-post, he hits a powerful header that skims over the bar and into the top of the netting, so close!

54' - TR - Husak with a neat low ball across the goalmouth, Conroy is in but is only able to direct his effort into the outside of the post and the chance goes begging.

56' - TR - GOAL (3-0) - Candu blitzes into the box from the left, shows great skill and strength to get to the by-line before dragging the ball back to Conroy, who is able to turn the ball into the net this time, and Rovers take an insurmountable 3-0 lead.

Throughout the rest of the half Rovers carve out plenty of chances for a 4th but they either blast it over or the effort is tame and down the keepers throat, and the game kind of peters out, but still a fine win for the home side.

This is was one of those games that was defined by that very early red card, but it is nobodies fault other than the keeper, as it was a clear red card and a daft/rash decision, he should have just let Hunter score the goal., but in the heat of the moment he made the wrong decision. It was a shame as Caister looked decent side despite being down to 10-men, and it looked like it would have been a close competitive game with two full strength sides, but ultimately Rovers were able to seal a comfortable victory, perhaps slightly disappointed that they did not bag more than 3. Either way, what could have been a tough afternoon saw Rovers secure a further 3 points and a 3rd clean sheet in a row, as their great run of form continues. I hope Thetford Rovers keep applying pressure to Holt United at the top of the table, things can change very quickly so it is certainly possible to catch them.

Line-Ups (will fully update once line-ups on FA Full-Time website):

THETFORD ROVERS: Jamie Humphrey, Grzegorz Ostrowski, Constantin Candu, Todd Hutcherson, James Sillet, Tom McDonald, Harvey McGeeney (C), Johnny Conroy, Harry Hutt, Yaroslav Husak, Robbie Hunter. SUBS: TBA

CAISTER: Freddie Allan, Harley Cornwell, Ashton Boast, Josh Whittington (C), Tom McGee, Mason Fruin, Lloyd Sayer, Yuri Soares, Declan Beales, Dino Tabakovic, Tyrese Melo. SUBS: Ollie Downes.