Thetford Town ended their league season with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Long Melford at Mundford Road on Saturday.

The previous weekend Town had secured their Premier Division status and with a Norfolk Senior Cup final on the horizon it was no surprise to see a much changed line-up with a more important game in mind.

The fixture held much greater significance for Long Melford who required a point to guarantee their own safety and they had the perfect start, taking a 12th minute lead when Steve Adams who, after Town had failed to deal with a long ball forward, lifted a delightful lop over Paul Snowden.

Of the starting 11 only Robbie Priddle and Jon Carver would be classed as first team regulars and with a mix of squad players, reserves and youngsters Town struggled to find develop rhythm to their play.

Thetford showed more invention and initiative in the first 12 minutes of the second half than they had in the entire first period and were rewarded when Harry Hutt fired them level.

Quevin Castro manoeuvred through two Long Melford defenders, who should have dealt with his low ball across the penalty area, but the ball ran through to Hutt who made no mistake from seven yards out.

The visitors were soon back in front through Hassan Ally who took advantage of Town’s failure to deal with another long ball by calmly lobbing Snowden from just outside the area.

Castro was Town’s most inventive player on the afternoon and he nearly brought parity to the scoreline. The teenager jinked in from the touchline and after a neat one-two set him free of the Long Melford defence it took a fine save from Michael Bett to deny him.

The visitors had the greater need for points and it showed and they secured the win in the last 10 minutes through Ross Waugh’s header, taking advantage of some more generous Town defending.

The result sees Town finish the season in 14th place, a below par league finish but with a host of talented youngsters breaking into the first team squad this campaign there is plenty to be positive about at the club.

Team: Snowden, Wells, Carver, Coomber-Willis, Kamberov, Hutt, Hunt, T Rocha (C Bond), Castro, Delaune (V Rocha), Priddle (Delgado).