Norfolk Junior Cup - 2nd Round: Feltwell United 1-2 Thetford Town U23s

18th October 2025

Feltwell United vs Thetford Town U23s @ Paynes Lane - Feltwell

Norfolk Junior Cup Second Round (Step 10 vs Step 5 - U23 side)

14:30 KO

Free entry

Attendance - approx. 50

Half-time score: Feltwell United 1-2 Thetford Town U23s

Goals:

Feltwell United: Slater - 23'

Thetford Town U23s: Gibson - 26', 45'+2'

Final Score: Feltwell United 1-2 Thetford Town U23s

With the excitement of last night still fresh in the mind, I decided to make the short trip up to Feltwell United to support our U23 side in the Norfolk Junior Cup. This season has seen many of our U23s step up to the first team, especially at the start of the season, and there were many extremely promising performances, so I was looking forward to see them take on an in-form Feltwell United who are currently 5-points clear at the top of the Anglian Combination Division 3 North table, with striker Jack Slater bagging an impressive 9 goals in 8 games.

It was another plain grey afternoon, not too chilly but not warm. Obviously at this level the pitch was not the best playing surface, but overall a great village set-up for the community, with the nice view of the impressive church when looking downhill, and an interesting radar dome poking out of the trees when looking uphill. Before long the teams were lining up, Feltwell United in green and black with Thetford Town U23s in claret & blue.

KEY MOMENTS

FW = Feltwell United

TT23 = Thetford Town U23s

10' - FW - A long ball down the left flank releases Edwards, he squares the ball into Slater in the middle and he shoots, but the effort is well and heading into the bottim right, but it is well stopped by Smith.

20' - TT23 - Benyu steals the ball on the left-flank and crosses it into the box, Moyo is in the middle and attempts an acrobatic volley, the connection is clean but the ball slams into the crossbar and out, almost a spectacular opener from the U23s!

23' - FW - GOAL (1-0) - Feltwell hit first, Edwards with a neat flick over the head of the Thetford defender, he then finds the No.6 (Bogle?) who squares the ball into the danger zone and goal poacher Slater is on it like a flash, beating Smith to the ball and sliding the ball in from close range.

26' - TT23 - GOAL (1-1) - Thetford are awarded a free-kick, Kian Whyte with a superb delivery to the far-post and Gibson nods in from close range, quick equaliser from the U23s.

35' - TT23 - Another excellent free-kick delivery from Whyte, Moyo leaps up in the air and heads the ball down towards the right-side of goal, it looks in but keeper Vincent gets down well to make a fine stop.

41' - FW - A nice 1-2 between Slater and the No.6 sees Slater through down the right, he crosses the ball into Edwards but his looping effort is caught by Smith.

45'+2' - TT23 - GOAL (1-2) - Thetford take the lead just before the break, Allen with a long diagonal ball into the box off the left-flank, Moyo competes for it and it deflects into the path of Gibson, the ball bobbles up and it is isn't the cleanest hit but nevertheless Gibson is able to guide the ball into the net for his second goal of the afternoon.

62' - TT23 - A brilliant curling cross whipped in from Whyte from the left wing, substitute Palmer with the diving header, but unfortunately the effort is wide.

74' - TT23 - A bit of head tennis deep in the Feltwell half, the ball drops for Palmer who powers in a beautifully struck volley from 20yrds, hit with plenty of power but just over.

81' - FW - A corner ball whipped into the far post by the No.6 to find substitute No.16, he hits the ball from close range but Smith was out like a flash and made himself big to make the point-blank range stop.

88' - TT23 - Allen with the cross in from the right to find Palmer in the middle but the headed effort is over.

98' - TT23 - RED CARD - Dembicki given his marching orders after his second yellow card, this one for a small fray that saw multiple players carded, but I felt sorry for him as I was close to his first yellow and it wasn't a yellow for me. With the game deep into stoppage time, surely not long to play out with 10.

101' - FW - Wow, in the final moment the ball drops to the Feltwell 7 (Murkin?), he hits a 25yrd volley as cleanly as any you would ever see, the effort has keeper Smith rooted to the ground but the ball crashes into the left post and out across the box, and with the whistle blown immediately afterwards this special effort nearly took us to penalties. Late drama down at Feltwell indeed, but Thetford Town U23s were through to the 3rd round.

A decent competitive game at Feltwell this afternoon, the first-half was very equal but Gibson's decisive finishing coupled with Whyte's excellent deliveries were the difference between the two side. Shooting downhill in the 2nd half, Thetford town U23s dominated most of this half, with the bobbles in the pitch thwarting them from getting the killer chances to see of the game more times than once. Feltwell had a couple of good chances towards the end, particularly that volley on the death, but on balance Thetford Town U23s were good for their win. There were some good battling and physical performances from the lads, Ronnie Ward exemplifying this, and pace out wide through Allen, Wellington and Moyo, and I was super impressed with Kian Whyte's set-piece deliveries and crosses throughout the game. A great win for the U23s, I hope they get a good draw for the next round. Looking at Feltwell, I have seen Slater a few times in his Brandon Town days and he has not lost that goal scoring instinct and I thought he linked up well with the No.10 Edwards who was a threat all game. The two midfielders, the 6 & 7 (Bogle and Murkin?) looked a good midfield unit too with some neat passes and through balls throughout. I wish Feltwell United all the best and being a local team I hope they stay at the top of their league and get promoted to Division 2 for next season, and for Thetford Town U23s, I hope they go deeper still into the Norfolk Junior Cup, UP THE TOWN!!!

Line-Ups:

FELTWELL UNITED: Ryan Vincent, Williams, Morley, Williams, Waites, Spike Murkin, Jacob Bogle, Charlie Power, Edwards, Aaron Keaney, Jack Slater. SUBS: TBA

THETFORD TOWN U23s: Gabriel Smith, Max Nash (C), Jaquan Allen, Lewis Coleman, Eric Dembicki, Kian Whyte, Godfrey Moyo, Ronnie Ward, Elliot Gibson, Kushinga Benyu, Amouree Wellington. SUBS: Oliver Ford, Laquan Ward, Harley Bryan, Jeckson Rosa, Chris Palmer.