FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round - Replay: Yaxley 2-0 Thetford Town

11th August 2026

Yaxley vs Thetford Town @ APG Park - Yaxley

FA Cup 26/27: Extra Preliminary Round - Replay (both teams Step 5)

19:45 KO

£8 entry

Attendance - 142

Half-time score: Yaxley 2-0 Thetford Town

Goals:

Yaxley: Waumsley - 17'

Yaxley: Venters - 34'

Final Score: Yaxley 2-0 Thetford Town

Following Friday nights draw, in these early stages of the FA Cup replays are thankfully still a thing, so this meant that Thetford Town had to travel up to Yaxley, just outside of Peterborough, for a Tuesday night replay. This was a new ground for me, and could well be TTFC's first trip here, although I am not 100% sure on that. Working in the Cambridge area, it made most sense to just work a bit later then travel straight up the A1(M), although it was still a decent 50min journey. With Yaxley playing on an artificial 3G surface, the advantage was surely with the hosts on this one?

The ground was nestled in the outskirts of Yaxley in amongst some very flat fields, with the smoke cloud from the nearby forest fires in Holme Fens clearly visible and almost alarmingly close, I wish the fire crews all my best in their battle to quench the blaze.

The ground itself had a great bar area complete with a balcony for the committees, as well as a burger van further down the side. On the gate I was able to pick-up a nice full colour matchday programme for £2 and a pin badge for £5 to add to the ever-growing collection. All-in-all, a decent set-up, although I am a grass purist and always will be.

It was a sunny and cool evening setting up perfect conditions for this big game. In front of the expectant crowd, Yaxley took to the field in their blue kits, welcomed onto the field by their mascots, with Thetford Town in their away mint green kits.

KEY MOMENTS

YX = Yaxley

TT = Thetford Town

7' - TT - A ball across the box finds Buttle on the left hand side, he settles the ball and blasts in a strike with his left boot, it is heading into the top-left corner, but keeper Anthony is across well to push the ball round the woodwork for a corner.

17' - YX - GOAL (1-0) - A mis-hit goalkick drops to Haskins, he controls it and slides in Waumsley who fires in a strike from just outside the box and it loops into the bottom right corner. Impressive finish as Thetford looked like they had scrambled men back quickly enough to cover the threat.

20' - YX - Ball crossed in from the right, Haskins nods it down towards Waumsley and his glancing header whistles just over the bar.

34' - YX - GOAL (2-0) - Disaster for Thetford Town, a long Waumsley throw-in is not dealt with, it drops to Venters on the penalty spot who fires home from close range. Long way back now for the visitors.

40' - YX - Haskins with a speculative effort over his shoulder with his back to goal, but the ball is dropping in under the bar forcing Sutton to tip it over with his finger tips for a corner.

44' - YX - Haskins with the ball on the left hand edge of the box, he jinks left and right before powering in a cross goal strike, it is heading into the bottom right corner but Sutton gets down and dives across to make a fine stop.

59' - YX - A free-kick in the Yaxley half is quickly taken, it is punted forward and Hibbins is on the end of it, he is through 1-on-1 but Sutton stands his ground and makes an initial stop, the ball ricochets back into the path of Hibbins and his second effort crashes into the upright and out, before Thetford finally clear their lines.

61' - YX - Waumsley beats the offside trap and is through 1-on-1, Sutton again showing great ability, he stands his ground, and manages to make yet another superb save to deny Waumsley his second.

63' - TT - A couple of marauding runs from Wells, one to take it up the field and the second across the edge of the box, he finds Grove open on the left flank, he takes a few strides towards goal and opens up his body to fire in a cross goal shot, but it fizzes just wide of the far-post, so close!

83' - YX - Johnson is played through but before he can shoot Cooper with a phenomenal sliding challenge to deny the chance.

87' - TT - A period of sustained pressure on the Yaxley box, a stabbed effort comes in but it is headed over the bar.

92' - TT - The pressure is building, Buttle on the left drills in an effort, he finally beats keeper Anthony but the effort is headed off the line, effectively sealing the win for the hosts.

Despite a good opening 10 minutes and a better closing 10 minutes, the rest of the game was Yaxley's and they were good value for their win, in what was a disappointing game for The Brecklanders. The opening goal came from a goalkeeping error, although it was a fine finish, but a string of incredible saves more than made up for this and kept the score low enough where it felt like a Thetford goal could set-up a frantic finale, however, the Yaxley backline were impenetrable this evening and stood firm to the pressure. The reward for them is to host the next round of the FA Cup, hosting Wisbech Town who defeated Saffron Walden Town in their replay, and I want to wish them all the best. For me, the Yaxley No.90, Haskins, was the stand out player and a constant threat, along with the captain Chilvers who expertly marshalled his defence. Another big away trip awaits Thetford Town this Saturday as they travel in the opposite direction to face Kirkley & Pakefield on the coast, so a quick turnaround and a chance to make amends for tonight's defeat, here's to an improved performance, UP THE TOWN!!!

Line-Ups:

YAXLEY: George Anthony, Luke Gilbert, Ben Roberts, Jay Chilvers (C), Jordan Venters, Jacob Goodley, Brandon Jessop, Isaac Kyereme, Scott Waumsley, Spencer Haskins, Kyle Hibbins. SUBS: Micael Gonclaves, Marvelous Johnson, Alvin Nkusi, Leon Rist, Ben Skellett, Archie Ellington, Ashton Haslam.

THETFORD TOWN: Ollie Sutton, Kyran Cooper, Dylan Grove, Josh Wells, Sam Bond (C), Ronnie Ward, Callum Olpin, Harvey Lott, Dylan Kirk, Jordan Buttle, George Diggens. SUBS: Theo Piggott, Rhion Davison, Amouree Wellington, Salvador de Noronha, Kushinga Benyu.