Loddon Utd 1 v 2 Caister FC Sat 8th Nov 2025 2.00pm ko
Scorers: Marco
Assists: Kounnas
Loddon: Jack Trowbridge; Ben Ashby, Jamie Broady, Jack Tipple, Bailey Hill;
Harvey Johnson, Elliott Hannant (c), Matthew Webster; Alex Kounnas;
Marcus Dunthorne-McInerney, Beau Mullet.
Subs: Dexter Lee, Matt Ayre, Jamie Whiteman (unused)
Manager: (Jake Sharpe – Away at interview for vacancy at Carrer Rood?).
Assts: Paul Reader, Andrew Zagdan

Within the first couple of minutes we had four corners from our right…all wasted. Then Ben takes a throw from which Tipps gets a flick and Harv volleys into the side netting. So, for the first ten minutes we held territorial advantage which concluded with a loose bit of Caister defending allowing Kounnas’ through ball to find Marco sneeking in, to round the keeper and put us one ahead. 1 – 0
Tipps found Harv on the edge of Caister’s area. After a smart turn his shot was blocked. El missed a header and Jamie B was beaten for pace but we escaped any threat when Webbo stepped in with a superb challenge. Beau then turned on the edge of Caister’s area but his left foot strike flew inches over the bar. He then just missed out on a 50:50 with the visiting keeper before Harv hit a driven cross too high for anyone to attack. The game was quite end to end as we failed to retain the early control we had. Good work again by Beau won us a free kick on halfway but El’s free kick was cleared. Webbo knocked the ball back into the box but a well timed tackle stopped Beau connecting in front of an empty net. Bailey’s pace initially got us out of potential trouble but Caister found the side netting after Jack was unable to hold a right wing cross. Beau headed the ball wide to Harv who forced the visiting keeper into a decent save. Marco then forced another good save low down to the keeper’s right. Again, corners from the left and then the right did not find a red shirt. Marco was clearly fouled in the centre circle and complained when a free kick was not given. He saw yellow (and sin bin) for his protestations and a second yellow for muttering something the Ref didn’t like on his walk back to the dugout. So, we were now up against it for the next 55 minutes with an uphill battle to hang onto our lead.
Somehow Tipps was awarded a free kick, and Beau was inches from connecting to El’s kick as the keeper claimed. Ben defended Caister’s response well at the other end. An interesting backheel by Tipps luckily found Bailey who cleared, Caister’s no7 hit a nice volley against a post (Max had the flag up anyway), Bailey made a great run down the left and clearly won a corner…that apparently wasn’t, and we survived a few minutes of pressure before the break. HT
We had a good early chance but Harvey decided to head Kounnas’ cross back across the 6 yard box rather than go for goal but the ball went behind Beau as he moved in. Jack then smothered a 25 yarder from Caister before Tipps dived to block another. The pressure of being a player down soon started to tell as we gave away possession too easily. On the hour Dexter came on for Harvey and could have scored with his first touch. He controlled a long ball from Jack but the keeper just got a toe to his neat half volley and a corner given. El’s corner almost curled into the far post but was cleared. Jack had to make another good save as Caister responded. Dexter set up El for a shot but it was tame and pushed wide by the keeper and from Kounnas’ corner Jamie B headed over the fence and into the sale ground….we should have been out of sight with all the chances we’d had. Bish, Caister’s ex Don, talked his way into the sin bin for one of the more entertaining episodes of the afternoon. With 15 mins left Max replaced Beau but 5 minutes later our central defence was caught on their heels and Caister slotted the ball passed Jack for a deserved equaliser. 1 – 1
The ball was soon in our net again but Jack had been fouled. Then, with just two minutes to go, the visitors again found our net when a forward slid in to connect with a low cross but luckily for us the flag was raised, much to Caister’s disapproval. However, they finally, and perhaps inevitably, got the winner 3 minutes into added time when we failed to clear. 1 – 2
Tipps and Max rose at the far post but between them headed a cross just wide before Ben had a dipping shot pushed away from the top corner by the keeper.
We only have ourselves to blame…missed chances, needless sending off….etc etc..

Both full backs did well and new boy Ben Ashby was perhaps the bright light of the afternoon and gets the Starkings & Watson MoM and a free pint for him from The Jub Social?

Many thanks to match sponsors Trevor & Sharyn Summons, and ball sponsor Midas Displays, your support is always appreciated.

At least Bungay lost….

With so many of our top stars away on international duty next week (15th) we have a week off, but Ressies are away at Thorpe Village if you fancy a trip out. JC

Oh yes, on Sunday….. The Ladies are away at Taverham (2pm ko)
………….and U18’s home v Norwich Utd u18’s 10.30ko…that should be a good ‘un!