Brian Major Memorial Trophy: Diss Town 1-0 Thetford Town

22nd July 2025

Diss Town vs Thetford Town @ Brewers Green Lane - Diss

Brian Major Memorial Trophy/Pre-season Friendly (Step 6 vs Step 5)

19:45 KO

£3 entry

Attendance > 150

Half-time score: Diss Town 0-0 Thetford Town

Goal:

Diss Town: No.16 (Trialist) - 87'

Final Score: Diss Town 1-0 Thetford Town

This evening's game marked Thetford's final pre-season friendly before the season begins on Saturday, a pre-season that has seen Thetford take on a host of higher level teams in Downham Town, Gorleston, Wroxham and Bury Town. These games have seen some good play from Thetford Town, although worryingly a whole host of injuries with Dickerson, Laker and King all suffering injuries mid-game, the former of which looks a long-term issue. With Thetford Town making no new official signings at the time of writing, with Haylett still out for a few months and with two key players leaving to higher level teams in Dan Gilchrist and last years player of the season, Kieran Money, the squad was looking thin. This has made the opportunity for a host of the U23's getting a chance to stake a claim for 1st team football and it has to be said that a fair few have applied themselves well, which is brilliant to see.

Tonight's game saw our annual match against Diss Town for the Brian Major Memorial Trophy. Whilst Thetford Town are the current holders, Diss Town are quietly building a strong squad and have impressively defeated higher level opponents Heacham and the much fancied Haverhill Rovers, whilst also pushing Harleston Town and Mulbarton Wanderers close, so this was shaping up to be a big battle for the trophy.

It was a cooler evening with rain forecast, and it did appear midway through the 2nd half. The pitch looked on the bobbly side, probably awaiting its final cut before the season begins. Out onto the pitch, the two teams lined up, with the two captains holding the Brian Major Memorial Trophy for pre-match photos, Callum Olpin doing the honours for Thetford Town. Thetford Town were in claret and blue with Diss Town in their famous bright orange kits.

KEY MOMENTS

DT = Diss Town

TT = Thetford Town

11' - TT - Diggens looks to reach a testing ball before the keeper, but as he tries to lift it over the keeper the ball hits a bobble, Diggens is unable to connect and the chance goes begging.

28' - TT - A brilliant diagonal ball from Davies into Diggens on the left side of the box, he controls the ball well and finishes superbly to beat the Diss keeper at his near-post, but the goal is chalked off by the linesman for offside. I was directly in-line with this play and Diggens was at least 2yrds on-side a poor decision for me, unlucky as it was a well worked goal.

31' - TT - A long ball releases Grove down the right, he cuts into the box, drops his shoulder and shoots, but his effort is narrowly wide of the near-post.

48' - TT - Early into the 2nd half, Olpin has the ball on the right-side of the box and unleashes a stinging shot across goal, that skips just wide of the far-post.

56' - DT - A Diss free-kick in a dangerous position out on the left-flank, the No.3 whips the ball in, it is right into the danger zone but evades three Diss attackers and the chance goes begging.

61' - TT - A blistering run from Grove down the left, he gets to the byline and cuts across, drilling a low ball in towards the near-post, the keeper dives and gets a limb on the ball and it ricochets into Carkeek, but somehow spins over the bar, so unlucky!

77' - DT - From a Diss corner the clearance loops up and on its way down substitute Alex McIntosh hooks the ball and it flies just wide of the top left corner of the goal, almost a spectacular goal to break the deadlock.

79' - TT - Carkeek wins the ball on the right and in acres of space he drives into the box and powers in a strike, the keeper gets down to make a scrambled save but there are no Thetford players close by to pounce on the loose ball and Diss are able to gather it.

87' - DT - GOAL (1-0) - Diss ride through two challenges in the middle just outside the box, the ball travels through the No.16 whose first time strike under pressure arrows into the bottom right corner to break the deadlock with only minutes to go. It looked like the trophy was heading over to Diss for the 25/26 season baring a miracle. Looking at social media the scorer was a trialist, based on comments looks to have been Jake Conway.

Despite Thetford Town having to make do with a depleted side, they started the game well and should have taken the lead through Diggens on the 28th minute, but the linesman had other ideas. A good first half continued into the 2nd with Grove and Carkeek having some luck down either wing, but Diss grew into the game, the substitutions having a noticeable impact (amongst which were Malachi Wright and Alex McIntosh) and as the rain started lashing down they got stronger before scoring the inevitable goal, it felt like it was coming. Diss Town look a well organised and well drilled side and I wish them all the best for the 25/26 season, and congratulations on tonight to win back the trophy after a few years of it residing at Mundford Road, this is a pre-season friendly to look forward to and long may it continue in honour of Brian Major. Looking at Thetford Town, there are a lot of players to return from injury or holiday, and hopefully 1 or 2 new signings to come, but the season starts this Saturday, away at Woodbridge Town, a stern test indeed! Lets hope it all clicks into place just in time for what I hope is a successful 25/26 season, UP THE TOWN!!!

Line-Ups:

DISS TOWN: TBA

THETFORD TOWN: Trialist, Adam Laker, Josh Wells, Jaydyn Lott, Marley Reynolds, Dylan Grove, Santi Davies, Callum Olpin (C), Harvey Lott, George Diggens, Calan Carkeek. SUBS: Mix of trialists and U-23's.