Sunday 6 March 2022

Ground #361 - Mundford Road

Date: 29th January 2022
Location: Thetford, Norfolk
Ground: Mundford Road

My first new ground of 2022 was on Saturday 29th January at Mundford Road in Thetford, Norfolk. The game was Thetford Town vs. Fakenham Town in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division.

Mundford Road forms part of a community and sports hub for the town. The ground is bordered on the east by a leisure centre and a pharmacy with additional grass pitches to the west and north with an additional full-size cage pitch on this latter side. The southern side runs along the A1066 with allotments and the town's railway station beyond. 


All of the ground's facilities are on the southern side. This includes the entrance in the south-east corner and the main building featuring a well-sized clubhouse as well as a food outlet facing out towards the pitch. The sole stand at the venue is by the half-way line and consists of four rows of wooden benching. 


The remainder of Mundford Road is uncovered standing. The northern flank has the two dugouts with a raised gantry in the middle which could be used for filming. Spectator-wise it is merely a narrow concrete walkway with the fence close up separating from the additional pitches to the north. The western and eastern sides are similarly slim acting more as walkways than viewing areas for many fans.


The game saw two sides at the wrong end of the table - Thetford arrived in 15th place, just two points above the dropzone, with their opponents one place better off in 14th. The quality of the game was always going to be dictated by a very windy day which didn't encourage a good spectacle. The best action of a poor first half was two efforts by the hosts within a two minute window. The first in the 17th minute saw Daniel Gilchrist's 25 yard drive sting the keeper's hands while the next opportunity came about when a ball into the box took a deflection before coming back off the crossbar. The only goal of the afternoon came three minutes after the restart when a Fakenham corner was headed into his own net by one of the Thetford defenders. The home side tried to equalise and did come close in the 58th minute when Artur Visocanskis curled the ball to the back post for Adam Laker who headed over from a couple of yards out. The hosts offered little after this though and if anything it looked more likely that Fakenham would grab another - they continued to press and in stoppage time one of their midfielders went on a good run through the Thetford defence before shooting over. An important three points for Fakenham to pull them further from the relegation scrap which Thetford remained well and truly in. 



Result: Thetford Town 0-1 Fakenham Town
Division: Eastern Counties League Premier Division
Attendance: 96

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