FA Cup - Extra Preliminary Round - Replay: Thetford Town 0-0 Histon (0-1 AET)

5th August 2025

Thetford Town vs Histon @ The Lomax Spiral Systems Stadium - Thetford

FA Cup 25/26: Extra Preliminary Round - Replay (both teams Step 5)

19:45 KO

£8 entry

Attendance - 290

Full-time score (after 90mins): Thetford Town 0-0 Histon

Goal:

Histon: Dickson - 110'

Final Score (AET): Thetford Town 0-1 Histon

Following Saturday's epic FA Cup at Histon which ended in a 2-2 draw, Thetford Town had the honour to host Histon at the Lomax Spiral Systems Stadium in the replay. This was a relative close away game for our visitors compared to some of the teams they have to play in their division this season, so I was hopeful for both a strong home and away turnout for this Tuesday evening match. The game on Saturday was very even, but having learnt a bit more about each other, will someone be able to figure out a plan to win within the 90 minutes, or would the game go into extra time/penalties? I for one was hoping for a Thetford win in regulation time of course, but no mean feat owing to the ongoing player availability issues Thetford Town were currently experiencing, a mixture of injuries and holidays doing the damage.

Despite a quick turnaround, Thetford Town were able to get a matchday programme ready and out, big shout out to Al. Jake Mann on the front cover of this one.

It was a mild and dry evening and the pitch looked immaculate. Confusingly Histon came out in their home red and black shirts which clashed with Thetford Town's claret and blue home kit. The referee let the game start despite the clear issue, but after 8 minutes protestations from the Thetford Town manager Matt Morton saw the game paused whilst Thetford Town put their away mint green tops on. Bizarre scenes, not sure why Histon did not bring away shirts with them, and if they did have them, why did they not change?

KEY MOMENTS

TT = Thetford Town

HI = Histon

2' - HI - A mix-up at the back allows a Histon player in, he shoots but Wells clears the ball off the line, nervy start for the home side.

16' - HI - Histon corner ball, Sutton flies out but cannot collect the ball, it drops to Greenslade-Cross and he drills in an effort that is blocked by Reynolds, looked to be heading in otherwise.

20' - TT - Thetford with a free-kick in a great position, Delgado with a sublime curling delivery, Jaydyn Lott looks to be on the end of it at the far-post, but agonisingly he cannot connect with the ball.

21' - TT - Thetford captain George Diggens breaks through the middle and feeds Ebanks-Blake down the left, 20yrds out he attempts a knuckleball, the strike is perfect and the ball swivels over the keeper and dips sharply, but it crashes into the bar and out, almost an incredible goal to open his account at Thetford Town!

43' - HI - Setchell with some space in the middle, he lines up a 20yrd strike, it is hit with power and is dipping, but not enough as it skims over the top of the bar.

44' - TT - Harvey Lott down the right, he squares the ball across, it is partially intercepted by the sliding defender but makes it way through to Diggens in the middle, he turns and shoots but West makes a great save to prevent the goal.

55' - TT - Reynolds plays a ball into Harvey Lott, he spins the defender and is through, with the space around him being sharply closed down he finds captain Diggens out on the left, he goes for goal and the strike is crisply struck, but West gets his fingertips on the ball to tip it over. Somehow none of the officials see this incredible stop so a goal-kick is awarded.......

65' - TT - Harvey Lott threads Diggens through inside the box, he takes it forwards but West is out fast, with no space to shoot he tries to round the keeper, he looks to have done it, but West stretches out a mitt at the last moment and manages to push the ball out from his feet, amazing keeping and so unlucky for the Thetford captain.

71' - TT - Jake Mann on the right pulls the ball back to debutant Ronnie Ward just inside the box, he hits the ball well, but West is equal to the effort to deny Thetford again.

81' - TT - Palmer slides the ball out to Diggens on the right, who beats the offside trap with millimetres to spare, this sees him through on goal 1-on-1 with West, he takes the ball into the box and shoots, but West stretches out a leg to block the shot, yet more fine keeping, it looked certain that this was going to be the opening goal of the game.

90'+2' - HI - An almighty scramble in the box, Histon captain York tries a back-heeled effort, but thankfully Sutton is on hand to make the save.

95' - HI - From a Histon corner the ball drops to York, he fires in from close range, but Sutton is on hand to make the save with his legs.

99' - TT - Wells charges through the middle and plays the ball into Diggens, but seeing Wells continuing his run the captain returns the ball to him and he hits a piledriver of a shot that is deflected by a defender and out for a corner.

106' - TT - Palmer turns and finds Diggens, he sprints forward and from the right squares the ball in, it misses Ebanks-Blake but Harvey Lott picks it up on the left and dinks in a cute effort, but a deflection of a defender sees it spin wide for a corner, looked like it was dropping in from where I was sat, gutting!

108' - TT - Diggens and Ebanks-Blake link up down the right, with the latter running on to the a bouncing ball played through, he hits the ball on the half-volley but it flies into the wrong side of the side-netting.

110' - HI - GOAL (0-1) - Despite Thetford Town having the better chances, inevitably it is the visitors who break the deadlock. It is courtesy of a breakaway goal, Thetford have chances to clear but are unable to do so and the diminutive substitute Dickson ghosts in and slots the ball pass Sutton, heartbreaking moment for the home fans.

118' - TT - Reynolds plays the ball into Wells in the middle, he drives forwards and in a fashion similar to his opening goal in the first game he powers in an effort from 20yrds out, it is well struck and heading into the left-side of the goal, but West is able to deny the centre-back this time.

119' - TT - Histon counter through pacey substitute Abood, on the right he shows excellent skill and cracks of a strike that smashes into the post and out.

120' - HI - Thetford with a free-kick and everyone goes up, including Sutton. West collects the ball and punts it forwards, Abood is in and it looks a certain goal, but Wellington comes out of nowhere to make a fantastic sliding challenge, what heart even at the death, epitomises everything great about this Thetford Town performance despite the scoreline.

Despite the result an absolutely incredible performance from Thetford Town who done everything today but score. Let's not forget that this is a team with a lot of first team players out, with a lot of the U23's being called upon, but what they lacked in experience they more than made up for it with a tenacity, passion and fight not seen for a while at Mundford Road. Let's also not forget that Histon are a strong side, but debutant Ronnie Ward looked right at home, and Amouree Wellington when he came on also fit right in, that last ditch tackle at the end was breathtaking. Wells and Reynolds were monsters again today, as were Jaydyn Lott, Jeorgy Batch, Marley Delgado and Jake Mann, so many attacks were snuffed out before they even got going. Also Diggens ran his socks off all evening, causing havoc down the right, along with Harvey Lott, they ran the full-backs ragged and on another day they would have scored four between them, but it was not their day and Histon keeper Jake West was simply outstanding. Ebanks-Blake also had chances and had another solid performance, Sutton was dependable again between the sticks and Palmer had another great game, some of his passes were sublime. This is a Thetford Town side brewing up nicely, of concern was Jaydyn Lott and Marley Delgado both going off with knocks, hopefully nothing too serious, but if they bring this intensity to the next two games I think Ipswich Wanderers and Dereham Town will be feeling very uncomfortable indeed. Congratulations to Histon on the win, last ditch defending and some fine goalkeeping kept them in this game, long enough for a breakaway to at last come good, but I'm sure even their most ardent fans would concede that they got away with one here. Nevertheless, they done the most important thing, which is to put the ball in the back of the net, and I wish them all the best in the next round as they host Woodbridge Town. Despite the loss, so much to be excited about for this young and hungry Thetford Town side, bring on Ipswich Wanderers, many peoples tip for the top, UP THE TOWN!!!

Line-Ups:

THETFORD TOWN: Harry Sutton, Josh Wells, Jaydyn Lott, Jeorgy Batch, Marley Reynolds, Marley Delgado, Jake Mann, Ronnie Ward, Antwan Ebanks-Blake, Harvey Lott, George Diggens (C). SUBS: Chris Palmer, Jeckson Rosa, Erik Dembicki, Amouree Wellington, Jaquan Allen, Matt Morton.

HISTON: Jake West, Jake Kerins, Charlie Black, Luke Crisp, Max York (C), Karl Saffery, Joe Greenslade-Cross, Danny Setchell, Dawid Siek, Tom Binder, Daniel Baulk. SUBS: Adden Tokley, George Whitehall, Cassius Abood, Jacob Dickson, Mar-Lee Fisher, Jake Holman, Guy Motley.