Thurlow Nunn Premier: Thetford Town 0-0 Ipswich Wanderers

17th January 2026

Thetford Town vs Ipswich Wanderers @ The Lomax Spiral Systems Stadium – Thetford

Thurlow Nunn Premier (Step 5)

15:00 KO

£8 entry

Attendance – TBA

Half-time score: Thetford Town 0-0 Ipswich Wanderers

Final Score: Thetford Town 0-0 Ipswich Wanderers

Even though we are now into mid-January, this afternoon's game would be Thetford Town's first game of 2026, with a fixture gap last week and the Stowmarket Town away game being cancelled due to the frosty weather. We have to go back to 27th December for Thetford Town's last game where they confidently beat a struggling Lakenheath team 4-1. With the team fully rested, having had 3 weeks off, they face a stern test against rivals Ipswich Wanderers, a team who have not lived up to their billing this season so far, but with wholesale changes across the club they will be hoping that their fortunes change. They have brought in the chairman who got them promoted in the 22/23 season, and he has wasted no time in bringing back the old management team, captain and some key new signings. This set things up well for a competitive game at the Lomax Spiral Systems Stadium, but would it be enough to beat a steadily improving Thetford Town side?

Today's match day programme had Thetford's latest goalkeeper, Elliot Pride, on the front cover, he has made a great start here but out injured for a few weeks, with Jake Jessup providing the back-up today.

It was a mild afternoon, which was very much welcome after the recent cold snap. Before long both teams were lining up, Thetford Town in their claret and blue kits, with Ipswich Wanderers in their classic blue strips.

KEY MOMENTS

TT = Thetford Town

IW = Ipswich Wanderers

21’ - IW - A perfectly weighted through-ball from Ventura puts Rhys Henry in down the middle, and he neatly slots the ball past Jessup, but the offside flag is up, almost a great opener from the visitors.

25' - TT - Laker with a low driven strike just outside of the box, it is blocked and bounces back into his path, he shuffles the ball across to Buttle who powers in a strong effort, it is on target but down the throat of Lees for a relatively comfortable save.

56' - TT - Wells goes on one of his trademark galloping runs, picking up the ball in the Thetford half and charging down the left wing, he goes deep into the Ipswich territory and cuts inside, he is about to drill in a shot but is taken out just before he can pull the trigger, but wins a free-kick. King steps up to take it and tries to curl the ball over the wall and into the far-side of the goal, despite a well-struck effort it flies narrowly wide, so close that keeper Lees leapt dramatically across his goal.

69' - IW - A snap strike from Tate from the edge of the box forces Jessup to make a fine diving save, pushing the ball round the post for a corner.

83' - IW - Ipswich Wanderers midfielder Stannard lucky to not receive a second yellow card for his late challenge on Olpin, fortunate to still be on the pitch.

87' - IW - Corner ball swung into the near-post, a Wanderers player leaps the highest and gets his head on the ball, looks like it is heading in but flies just wide of the upright, Thetford lucky to have not conceded there!

93' - TT - Thetford pressurising the Wanderers goal in stoppage time, just before the final whistle, Olpin flicks the ball on to put King in space down the left side of the box, he tries to bend the ball round the keeper on the angle, but his effort flies wide, and on the restart the full-time whistle is blown, Thetford literally an inch or two from stealing a winner at the death!

A game where chances were few and far-between, but it was nonetheless a hard-fought battle between two well-matched teams. The pitch was on the heavy side which did not help things, but it was a game where both teams struggled to carve out opportunities largely thanks to strong defensive performances from each team. Whilst certainly disappointing to drop points at home, if you are unable to win a game the next best thing is not lose the game, and keeping a clean-sheet was also a plus. With Diggens going off injured half way through the first half, I am hoping that it is nothing serious. Thetford Town were missing a few players today, the Batch brothers, Bondy, Jaydyn etc. so hopefully they are back soon, ready for a couple of tough away games as the team travel to Harleston Town and Fakenham Town over the next two weekends, hopefully the lads can pick up a good haul of points, UP THE TOWN!!!

Line-Ups:

THETFORD TOWN: Jake Jessup, Ryan Haylett, Dylan Grove, Adam Laker, Josh Wells, Jordan Buttle, Cameron King, Elliot Smith (C), Antwan Ebanks-Blake, George Diggens, Callum Olpin. SUBS: Harvey Lott, Jake Mann, Theo Piggott, Daniel Rayner, Matt Morton.

IPSWICH WANDERERS: Ryan Lees, Mason Harvey, Ben Wyss, Alfie Smith, Owen Andrews, Kris Rose (C), Jacob Lay, Ben Stannard, Rhys Henry, Max Tate, Isaac Ventura. SUBS: Charlie Lindoe, Nikolay Shopov, Sam Cheetham, Jamie Eaton-Collins, Luke Spurling.