Thurlow Nunn Premier: Thetford Town 4-0 Heacham

29th November 2025

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

Thurlow Nunn Premier (Step 5)

15:00 KO

£8 entry

Attendance - 185

Half-time score: Thetford Town 2-0 Heacham

Goals:

Thetford Town: Buttle - 22'

Thetford Town: Olpin - 27'

Thetford Town: H.Lott - 57', 66'

Final Score: Thetford Town 4-0 Heacham

Another wet weekend, 3rd in a row, but thanks to all the hard work of the grounds team at Thetford Town the game went ahead without a hitch, the pitch looked in great condition. Today saw Thetford Town host Heacham, as they tried to make it two wins on the bounce having picked up a hard fought victory away at Hadleigh United last week, with Billy Batch netting his first goal for The Brecklanders. A big opportunity it was too with Heacham 2nd from bottom, however with a new manager for the visitors and a wet pitch, a win was anything but guaranteed. It was announced earlier in the week that Thetford Town's impressive young midfielder Marley Reynolds had moved to Fakenham Town, a move that will certainly frustrate Thetford fans as he had gone to league rivals and had impressed with his tenacious and battling midfield performances this season, I was gutted to hear the news. It was also the debut for a new keeper signing for Thetford Town in Elliot Pride, previously at Mulbarton Wanderers and Harleston Town, which saw Harry Sutton on the bench at the start of this game, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Despite all of this, all that mattered was putting 3 points on the board this afternoon to stay in contention for the play-off places.

Today's programme had left full-back Adam Laker on the front-cover, one of the best performers for the club over the past few seasons, solid in defence, dangerous getting forwards and known to hit some spectacular strikes.

It was a drizzly start to the game but dried out as the afternoon progressed. Thetford Town lined up in their classic claret and blue kits, with Heacham in an orange away top with black shorts, one of the nicer away kits I've seen this season.

KEY MOMENTS

TT = Thetford Town

HE = Heacham

14' - TT - Captain Elliot Smith with a diagonal ball lofted across the box, Jake Mann gets on the end of it, his looping header looks like it it is heading in and has Congreve backpedalling, but it nestles onto the roof of the net, real shame.

22' - TT - GOAL (1-0) - Thetford Town win the opener and wow what an opener, Thetford are patiently building up an attack against the low block, and out of nowhere Buttle powers in a barnstormer of a strike from 20yrds, the left-footed effort flying into the top-right corner giving the keeper no chance, what a goal!

27' - TT - GOAL (2-0) - A cross in from Laker off the left-flank is cleared, but Olpin is onto it like a flash and with his first time effort blasts the ball into the top-right corner from 25yrds out, another excellent strike for Thetford Town, 2 goal of the season contenders in 5 minutes!

36' - TT - Having seen Buttle and Olpin's long-range efforts fly in, Laker sees the space open up in front of him so he has a go, Congreve is scrabbling across, but his 25yrd effort is just wide.

45'+1' - TT - Thetford are awarded a free-kick near the by-line, and from the narrow angle it looked set-up for a ball into the far-post for a header, so King does the opposite and has a go on goal at the near-post, the effort is struck cleanly but Congreve is able to get an outstretched glove on the ball to just tip it over the bar, almost a 3rd for the hosts just before the break.

54' - TT - Buttle drives through the heart of the Heacham defence and slides the ball into Mann inside the box, he shoots at goal but his effort is batted away by Congreve.

57' - TT - GOAL (3-0) - Wells starts a neat attack by finding Laker on the left, he links up with Olpin who gets the ball to the byline before squaring the ball back to Harvey Lott, who from the the back of the box calmly slots the ball into the bottom corner, fine left-footed finish from the young forward.

66' - TT - GOAL (4-0) - Another flowing attack from the hosts, King into Mann in the middle and a superb touch from him sets Laker off through the middle, he finds Harvey Lott off his right and slides him inside and into the box, where Harvey sweeps the ball into the net for his second of the game, great move and goal from TTFC!

67' - HE - Heacham with their first real chance of the game, they win the ball deep in the Thetford half and it breaks for Howe, from just the edge of the box he powers in a low strike that swerves just wide of the post, close

71' - HE - In a sustained attack from the visitors a semi-cleared ball drops to Hunt and from just outside the box he drills in a powerful effort that whistles narrowly over the bar.

73' - TT - Ball into Billy Batch on the edge of the box, he flicks it up and volleys in, it is heading into the top-right corner but a fine diving save tips the ball over the bar to deny him his second goal in as many games.

74' - TT - The resulting corner taken by Jake Mann finds captain Elliot Smith at the far-post, he nods the ball down for Billy Batch who blasts in at the near-post, but Congreve again denies him the goal with a good reaction save.

89' - TT - Thetford Town are awarded a free-kick 30yrds out in a central position, substitute Ebanks-Blake steps up and with a short run-up he curls in a brilliant effort, up and over the wall, but Congreve is able to get across to make the diving save, turning it around the post for a corner.

90' - TT - From the resulting corner, Olpin finds Wells at the far-post, his bullet header looks in, but squeaks just wide of the post, unlucky.

91' - TT - Substitute Rayner with an accurate ball to release Olpin, who having beaten the offside trap is through on goal 1-on-1, but he cannot get the ball round Congreve who makes another fine save this 2nd half to keep the score down.

A fine and comfortable win for Thetford Town who make it two wins on the bounce, and two clean-sheets, which is brilliant to see as defensive frailties have been costing TTFC of late. Heacham played a very low block in the first-half and Thetford were patient with their attacking play breaking the deadlock with two fine long range strikes, it is great to see the lads having a go from outside the box, the quality is clearly there. They then turned the screw in the second-half and got to a commanding 4-0 lead before Heacham came out and started to play some football, looking quite dangerous in spells it has to be said. The 5th and 6th goals were begging but Congreve made some fine saves to keep the score down. A thoroughly professional and cohesive performance from the team, with everyone putting in a great shift. Next up is a stern test against an in-form Woodbridge Town, I am hoping Thetford can keep the levels up to make it 3-on-the-spin, UP THE TOWN!!!

Line-Ups:

THETFORD TOWN: Elliot Pride, Adam Laker, Elliot Smith (C), Josh Wells, Callum Olpin, Jeorgy Batch, Jake Mann, Cameron King, Harvey Lott, Jordan Buttle, Billy Batch. SUBS: Jaydyn Lott, Antwan Ebanks-Blake, Daniel Rayner, Matt Morton, Harry Sutton.

HEACHAM: Charlie Congreve, George Hutton, Jack Prentice, Callum Robinson, Jack Parker, Callum Howe, Tom Harwood, Tommy Hunt, Harvey Easton, Conall Forde, Jack Poore. SUBS: Will Hawes, Harvey Pightling, Sam Smith, Andy Willmott, Jaden Poore.