Senior Cup Banner 2019

DEREHAM DELIGHT AT CARROW ROAD

Cups & Competitions
Dereham Town beat Thetford Town 2-1 in extra time to win the 2019 Norfolk Senior Cup.

DEREHAM DELIGHT AT CARROW ROAD

The Norfolk Senior Cup took place at Carrow Road this evening with Dereham Town coming out on top after an entertaining night of football.

It was Thetford Town who found the net first, however Valter Rocha’s goal was adjudged to have been offside. Dereham Town then took the lead on 25 minutes through an innovative finish by Rhys Logan.

Thetford found the equaliser ten minutes later when Rocha turned provider, laying off to Robbie Priddle to finish at close range.

Despite both team’s best efforts, the second half was goalless and in extra time, Dereham’s fitness won out with Ryan Crisp finding the winner just after the restart.

Underdogs for the evening, Thetford Town started brightly with good play down the left through Quevin Castro and Valter Rocha, with Bradley Sandell joining in down the right. Rocha thought he’d scored to put Thetford ahead on 15 minutes when he received in to feet and brilliantly turned two Dereham defenders to slot past Elliot Pride. However celebrations with the fans were cut short when the Assistant Referee raised his flag to rule out the goal.

It was then Dereham who legitimately took the lead on 25 minutes after some good play down the left, a cross was whipped into the box and Rhys Logan reacted sharply to catch the ball on the way up from the bounce and guide it to the left of Will Viner in the Thetford Goal.

Thetford then had strong claims for a penalty shortly after, when a shot from Castro ball struck the arm of a Magpies defender, however the Referee adjudged that there was no intent and waved the appeals away.

On 36 minutes the away side for the evening got the equaliser they were searching for when once again the Dereham back line struggled to deal with Rocha. The powerful striker was able to get hold of the ball in the area, dummy and turn two defenders and then square across to Robbie Priddle who could slot home from the six yard box.

Thetford almost took the lead when a dangerous free kick was delivered into the box, and Nathan Clarke crouched to flick the ball goal wards with the deftest of touches. It took a fantastic save from an outstretched Pride to tip the ball out for a corner, only for the Assistant to raise his flag again.

The remaining five minutes of the half saw neither team create anything of note, with both sides going into the break on equal terms but Thetford edging the first period in performance.

Half Time: Dereham Town1 – 1 Thetford Town

Thetford started the second half in the same way as they played the first, pushing forward and pressing the Dereham defence. Two minutes in, a miss-kick from Pride saw Rocha gain possession 25 yards out, Pride then made amends by excellently saving Rocha’s bullet strike.

Only moments later, Castro was able to get in behind the Dereham back line but the winger struck the post with the shot. Dereham failed to clear and the ball fell to Rocha who blazed his shot over the bar.

Thetford began to dominate the game, hitting the post for the second time in a frantic five minute spell. This time it was Rocha who hit the woodwork, with his powerful shot rebounding straight back into him but the striker was unable to guide it back towards goal.

Dereham began to get a foothold in the game and nearly took the lead on 66 minutes when Daniel Beaumont whipped in a dangerous free kick that Dion Frary was only inches from guiding into the net.

Shortly after, good play from Adam Hipperson saw him finish a mazy run with a good delivery into the box for Captain David Hinton to strike first time, however the midfielder fired over from the penalty spot.

In the final ten minutes it was a scare for Thetford when Viner miss-kicked straight to the Dereham front line. The counter looked dangerous but Thetford defenders managed to get back in numbers and clear to safety.

With 5 minutes to go Thetford had another chance when Castro made a great run from the left, all the way across the 18 yard box and then struck a powerful shot back across the keeper, but unfortunately for the winger his effort was a yard wide.

With three minutes of stoppage time announced, a player from each team went down after a clash of heads, seeing further added time taken into account and in the final moments both sides had chances.

Hipperson was able to cross twice from the left side of the area, only for a shot to be blocked and then Jamie Forshaw firing over. With the final seconds of normal time, Thetford had a free kick in a dangerous area which was headed clear and then redelivered to the left, with a shot blazed over.

Full Time: Dereham Town 1 – 1 Thetford Town

The opening period of extra time saw scrappy play with neither team retaining possession for any period of time, and with tired legs creeping in Thetford began to play longer and shoot from further.

With the final kick of the first half, good play from the Thetford front line saw Harry Hutt cut inside and rifle a shot toward the top right corner. Unfortunately for the Town player, it was only rising and ended up flying just over.

Dereham, showing slightly better fitness than their opponents, gained advantage for the second time of the night shortly after the restart when Ryan Crisp gained possession in the box, took the ball wide of the goal and struck through Viner's legs to find the bottom left corner with the narrowest of finishes.

Thetford undeterred continued to push and only Pride stood in the way of a good shot from Rocha after the forward had chested down. Moments later he was causing a headache for the Dereham defence again when he pivoted round a defender, but fired his shot over.

With five minutes to go it was Rocha again who, after a foul on Castro, picked up the ball, danced past two players and unleashed a fierce strike that just cleared the bar.

Seames Kelleher did well to drive forward through the heart of a tired Thetford midfield and set up Adam Hipperson on the left side of the box. The winger tried to place into the opposite bottom corner however Viner was able to make the save.

Then a good combination from Karol Wengrzik and Kelleher down the left unlocked the Thetford back line but the cross from the former travelled through everyone in the box.

Thetford went long in the dying moments but with a forward adjudged to have come back from an offside position, Dereham were able to see out the final seconds to win the 2019 Norfolk Senior Cup.

Full time (AET): Dereham Town 2 – 1 Thetford Town

 

Line ups:

Dereham Town: Elliot Pride, Daniel Beaumont, Thomas McLeish, David Hinton ©, Adam Plumstead, Dion Frary, Rhys Logan, Adam Smith, Joe Gatting, Ryan Crisp & Adam Hipperson.

Subs: Jamie Forshaw, Karol Wengrzik, Seamus Kelleher, Owen Murphy.

Thetford Town: Will Viner, Sam Bond, Luke Bailey, Ross Bailey, Nathan Clarke, Bradley Sandell, Elliot Smith ©, Valter Rocha, Robbie Priddle, Quevin Castro & Matt Morton.

Subs: Jonathan Carver, Harry Hutt, Dane Coomber-Willis, Alex Steed, Aaron Piggott.

 

Referee: Ryan Head
Assistants: Martyn Holmes & David Hutton
Fourth Official: Richard Owen
Attendance: 968
Player of the Match: Valter Rocha (Thetford Town)