FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round: Thetford Town 1-1 Yaxley

7th August 2026

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

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

19:45 KO

£9 entry

Attendance - 250

Half-time score: Thetford Town 1-0 Yaxley

Goals:

Thetford Town: Diggens - 30'

Yaxley: Johnson - 64'

Final Score: Thetford Town 1-1 Yaxley

The off-season has seen lots of changes at TTFC, with the Batch brothers (Jeorgy & Billy), Ryan Haylett, Adam Laker, Jake Mann and Elliot Pride all departing for pastures new, and club legend Elliot Smith having to drop to a part-time commitment, the latter of which is actually brilliant news as it did look like he would be gone for good. Additionally, striker Antwan Ebanks-Blake has left the club after a eye-catching pre-season, his brace helping us beat Mildenhall Town for the first time since I can remember, his presence will be sorely missed. However, we have had some exciting new arrivals who have joined The Brecklanders in pacey right-back Kyran Cooper, Rhion Davison who played in a variety of positions in pre-season, Salvador de Noronha a skilful right sided attacker, the prolific Dylan Kirk who plied his trade in Step 4 last season and goalkeepers Ben Mills and Oli Sutton, who both made some phenomenal stops in pre-season. We also have a hungry pack of talented youngsters ready to step up, such as Kushinga Benyu, Theo Piggott, Ronnie Ward and Amouree Wellington, so we have an exciting squad building.

Thetford Town started the season with a solid away victory at Wisbech Town, 2nd half goals from Buttle and club captain Sam Bond securing the 3-points, with Ben Mills and his back-line keeping a clean sheet. Today sees Thetford Town host United Counties Premier South side Yaxley in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup. Yaxley were in Step 4 in the not too distant past, but were on the edge of relegation last season and have started this season with two straight defeats, so a struggling team. But, with some new recent signings and scoring 3 goals last game despite losing, Thetford Town would need to put in a professional performance to make it through to the next round.

Despite the record dry weather the pitch was looking immaculate, and it was a pleasant cool evening with a gentle breeze. The excitement in the crowd was palpable, and before long both teams were lining up, with Thetford Town in their claret and blue and Yaxley in what I presume to be their away strip of bright orange.

KEY MOMENTS

TT = Thetford Town

YX = Yaxley

30' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - A fairly even opening 30mins, with Yaxley edging a play and both teams only able to craft a few half-chances. Thetford attack down the left flank, the ball is shuffled into Diggens, he takes a touch and unleashes a thunderbolt of a strike from 20yrds out, it crashes into the underside of the bar, over the line and back into the roof of the net to confirm the goal, and put the hosts in front, stunning strike from Diggo!

39' - YX - The Yaxley No.9, Waumsley, turns the Thetford captain on the left and is through on goal, he powers in a strike but it crashes onto the outside of the near-post and wide.

43' - YX - Yaxley find Hibbins out on the right all on his own, with the goal at his mercy he takes a touch and powers in an effort, but out of nowhere Cooper, who plays on the opposite flank, comes screeching in and is able to make a superb block!

56' - YX - Thetford are unable to fully clear their box, the ball is picked up by Kyereme who hits a piledriver of an effort, which is blocked by the Thetford defence.

64' - YX - GOAL (1-1) - Substitute Marvelous Johnson leaves his mark on the game, from a delayed throw-in caused by a lack of ready match balls with several having been punted out over the Mundford Road, a long throw-in is sent into the box, Jessop wins it and lays it back to Johnson, he takes a touch to set-up the strike from just outside the box, his low curling effort bending around Sutton and into the net, a great finish that puts the visitors level.

71' - TT - Buttle wins the ball deep in the Yaxley half on the left-flank, he finds Diggens and from just outside the box he tries to curl the ball into the far-corner, but his effort fizzes narrowly over.

82' - TT - From a Thetford set-piece, substitute Elliot Smith wins the ball and the deftest of chips across the crowd of players sets Kirk up beautifully on the right side of the box, but the powerful effort is pulled wide of the far-post.

87' - TT - A sublime through ball from Olpin sets Grove free down the left, he takes the ball forwards and squares it across the box, Diggens is there but his close range side footed effort skims just wide of the post, and the chance to retake the lead goes begging.

94' - TT - Grove causing havoc down the left flank again, he crosses into Kirk coming in from the right, but his headed effort flies just over the bar, so close!

An entertaining and competitive contest saw both teams create plenty of opportunities but each were left to rue missed chances as the finishing was not quite there, although the two goals were both excellent strikes. As the game progressed, Thetford Town began to dominate and had 3 guilt-edged chances to put the game to bed and avoid a midweek trip to Yaxley, but it was not to be. At least they gave it their all and were rightfully clapped off the field by the faithful Thetford fans. If Thetford are able to carry on the play they finished with, they should create enough chances to win the replay, which I presume to be next Tuesday evening. The stand out performances for me were Grove who had a lot of luck down the left flank and had got the better of the right-back in the end, Wells bossing things at centre-back snuffing out most attacks before they got going and Cooper who seemed to be everywhere! I'm looking forward to the trip to Yaxley, who appear to have an interesting fan-based ownership/leadership group, but hopefully Thetford Town can secure their passage into the next round, see you there, UP THE TOWN!!!

Line-Ups:

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: Elliot Smith, Rhion Davison, Theo Piggott, Amouree Wellington, Ben Mills.

YAXLEY: George Anthony, Alieu Jallow, Ben Roberts, Jay Chilvers (C), Jordan Venters, Jacob Goodley, Brandon Jessop, Isaac Kyereme, Scott Waumsley, Spencer Haskins, Kyle Hibbins. SUB: Micael Goncalves, Marvelous Johnson, Alvin Nkusi, Luke Gilbert, Ben Skellett.