SIL Championship: Thurston 1-1 Capel Plough

6th May 2026

Thurston vs Capel Plough @ Cavendish Hall, Thurston

Suffolk & Ipswich League - Championship (Step 7)

18:30 KO

Free entry

Attendance – approx. 40

Half-time score: Thurston 1-1 Capel Plough

Goals:

Capel Plough: Thurston No.2 (OG) - 33'

Thurston: Carter-Wright - 43'

Final Score: Thurston 1-1 Capel Plough

With football still ongoing in some of the lower leagues, I headed down to watch another SIL Championship in nearby Thurston as they took on Capel Plough. Looking at the table, both teams have been struggling this season, so a late win would be desired by both teams to make their place in the table look that little bit better. I would assume a maximum of two teams going down, if this is the case, both Thurston and Capel Plough would be safe with the bottom two sides having already completed their fixtures, so nothing to play for other than pride.

The ground was raised above the car-park and the grass looked well cut, although once play began it was found to be very bobbly which did impact on the game. There was a neat looking changing rooms with a sheltered deck in front of it where the home fans congregated. All-in-all, a decent little set-up.

It was a mild evening and whilst it threatened rain, it never full materialised with only a light drizzle here and there. The teams lined up against each other, with Thurston in blue and Capel Plough in red, which I believe is their away kit.

KEY MOMENTS

TH = Thurston

CP = Capel Plough

6' - CP - Capel Plough attack down the right through the No.11, he squares the ball across the edge of the box, it evades everyone but coming off the left is the No.8 who runs onto it and bends in a powerful side-footed effort which crashes into the bar, down and out before being cleared, so close to an early opener for the visitors.

12' - TH - Powerful running by Sadler down the left, he gets in front of the defender and to the by-line before cutting back and firing in a low effort, the keeper saves but fumbles the ball, Jack Carter-Wright tries to stab it in, but the keeper regains it just in time.

14' - CP - The Capel Plough 11 found in space on the right side of goal, he drills in an effort and it is deflected narrowly wide for a corner.

21' - TH - The ball is pumped into the box, Sadler nods the ball down for Jack Carter-Wright, he hits it on the volley but cannot hit the target, his effort flying wide.

30' - CP - The ball is crossed in, it falls to the No.8 whose snap effort it arrowing into the bottom left corner, but Moore gets down well to make the diving save.

33' - CP - GOAL (0-1) - The ball is cleared up field by the Capel Plough No.2, it bounces and the Thurston No.2 tries to return it, but it slices off his boot and flies behind him and into his own net, a fluke goal to put the visitors into the lead.

36' - TH - Sadler with another marauding down the left, he cuts the ball back across the goal to find the 11 through on goal but from 10 yards out he blazes over the bar.

37' - CP - A long ball is pumped forwards and drops kindly for the No.9, from the edge of the box he immediately snaps in a strike that swerves wide.

42' - CP - The Capel Plough 9 pulls the ball back to the 10 whose strong effort is deflected over the bar for a corner.

43' - TH - GOAL (1-1) - Thurston with the equaliser, Jack Carter-Wright is found in the box, he spins and shoots, his effort collides with the right post and into the net, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.

53' - TH - The Thurston 11 fires in, the effort is deflected and looping in under the bar, but the Capel Plough keeper and captain is able to turn it over the bar for a corner.

64' - CP - The visitors attack down the left, the No.8 gets in a great position and tries to bend it around Moore, but at full stretch he is able to get a glove on it and push it wide of the target.

92' - TH - In the final moments, and in the dying light, a free-kick taken by the No.15 is pinged into the far-post, a Thurston player is on the end of it, but cannot steer his effort on target and the headed effort flies wide, almost a late winner for the hosts.

After an entertaining first half, the game became scrappy in the second-half, with neither team able to craft the chances needed to bag all three-points this afternoon, with the draw a fair result. Some of the attacking play fell foul of the pitch, the ball was bouncing in some unusual ways at times and this impeded many attacks, allowing the defenders to do the destructive work to break down the play. Both teams certainly went for the win at the end, but other than the Thurston header, nobody was able to break-through. It was clear that both these teams were nearer the bottom of the table having seen Cockfield United vs Witnesham Wasps on the weekend, but I hope both teams have an improved 26/27 season.

Line-Ups (will update on line-ups on FA Full-Time website):

THURSTON: Kieran Moore, Charlie McDowell, Bobby Carter-Wright, Andy Tobin, Will Harrison, Charlie Wills, Alfie Gamble, Ewan Smith, Seth Cameron, Jack Carter-Wright, Fraser Sadler. SUBS: Josh Allen, Harry Murray, Blake Huckett, Joe Douglas, Luke Reilly.

CAPEL PLOUGH: TBA. SUBS: TBA.