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Scorers: Chrissy, Marcus, Max
Assists: Sarg, Chrissy, Marcus
Loddon: Daniel Loades; Tom Sergeant, Jack Tipple, Josh Knights, Rob Andersen; Elliott Hannant (capt.), Matthew Webster; Alex Kounnas; Harvey Johnson, Chris Husband, Marcus Dunthorne-McInerney.
Subs: Bailey Hill, Max Ayre, Liam Pye (unused). Manager: Jake Sharpe

What a corker…I’m only just down from the ninth cloud. The lads put in a great performance, going forward at least, but we still gave away a couple of early Christmas gifts. As for Caister’s second goal…..
We started well. A good move ended when Rob picked out Marcus who turned well but shot tamely. Webbo then set up El for a stray 25 yarder before Tipps blocked a Caister shot at the other end. El did well to pick out Rob, his cross was cleared to Sarg who let rip from 25 yards but the keeper held. A long ball from Dan found Chrissy who was unceremoniously pulled back. Chrissy hit the free kick too long. So after a good start, and 7 mins on the clock, we lost possession on our right, Caister attacked space behind Sarg, crossed, and a simple header from their unmarked no.10 close in, put the home side unexpectedly in front. 1 – 0
Let’s just say Sharpey was not happy…but 2 minutes later, Sarg made amends. Harv won the ball back, played a return pass with Alex and fed Sarg. A great overlapping run and superb cross from Sarg was met by Chrissy who finished in style. 1 – 1
A couple of half chances for Chrissy and Alex came and went as did a chance for Caister which was sliced well wide. Alex conceded a silly free kick, Tipps cleared the free kick for a corner. A second corner was half-volleyed over. 20 minutes gone and then comes then the Moses moment. We have a goalkick, our full backs are both high, our centre backs are split into full back positions, we go short, then back and then square, then Caister intercept (where did they come from? And where is El or Webbo) and say ‘thank you very much’…..2 – 1 We never learn?
This gave the home side a lift (gift with a lift eh?). Sarg did well gaining 60 yards or so with the ball and winning a throw but it came to nowt. Alex saw yellow before he and Marcus worked an opportunity but Marcus’ shot lacked power. Having Tipps back in defence was a plus as he got on the end of several high balls knocked in by Caister. Webbo and El eagerly picked up many of the second balls.
After a period of dominance, sometimes losing possession but quickly regaining the ball, Sarg and Harv combined well, found Chrissy who pulled the ball back from the byeline to Marcus. His first shot was saved but, ever alert, he finished the rebound sharply from the edge of the 6 yard box to put us level again on 35 minutes. 2 – 2
Caister responded but Tipps, Knightsy and Webbo all defended well and Marcus drew a free kick from Caisters young full back, which earned him a yellow card and the threat he’d have to ‘wash the dishes’ later which caused a titter or two. The home response didn’t last long; we launched a free kick forward, it was defended but El recovered possession and through him, Marcus and then Alex, Chrissy got through to finish, only to see the flag raised, unconvincingly. From a throw, and poor defending Caister’s no 10 got through, Dan narrowed the angle and the shot hit a post. Caister came back again and after some panicky defending a low cross was inches from a sliding forward converting. They caused another problem but this time Max had the flag raised as they fired well over the bar…phew. HT
The first few minutes of the second half was fairly even; a half chance falling to Harv from Sarg’s cross as Knightsy, Tipps and Dan coped with any balls into our box, until Tipps missed one, Sarg covered but had to foul…and saw yellow. Following El’s cleared corner, Knightsy tried a shot from way out which was way off. A further couple of corners were fruitless as we kept Caister penned back for a spell. A precision pass from Tipps to Marcus was followed by a neat set up for Harv but his first time drive hit the keeper. We continued the pressure; twice Alex could only find the keeper with low crosses from the left. Caister managed a foray forward but Knightsy shepherded the ball for Dan. Good defending from Harv was surprisingly deemed a foul but Dan confidently caught the high free kick. Chrissy turned and shot when Rob was looking for a through ball and Dan got down well at his near post to push the ball away. Sarg was penalised for handball as he ‘carried’ the ball out of the box; fortunately the free kick was fired over. It had taken the home side 25 minutes to even threaten our goal in this second half. Dan started a nice move during which Marcus controlled Dan’s goal kick stone dead (class) and then won a corner. Webbo made a great tackle to stop a home break before Rob was fouled twice, and pushed over, and his offender booked….and Rob was cool throughout the incident!
On 75 minutes Sarg was replaced by young debutant Bailey Hill, and Max came on for Harv. From the free kick, Max won his header, Chrissy moved on to Marcus. He played the ball back into Chrissy who volleyed into the keepers arms from close in; a golden chance. Bailey was quickly into action confidently helping Tipps defend. We regained possession via Webbo, Alex pulled the ball back to Max; Marcus fired goalwards where Chrissy somehow failed to force the ball home and saw it slip wide. Maybe he thought he was offside or was going in anyway…strange.
Max put a toe in, Webbo found El and he moved nicely onto Alex; unfortunately Alex only found the side netting when a pull back was needed. Webbo conceded a throw which Bailey headed away. Then Dan almost carried the ball out of his area and the whole of Caister were appealing. The tempo from the home side was suddenly raised, but we held our ground and our nerve well. Caister played a good triangle and then a through ball but Dan read the situation well. Alex found Marcus in the right channel. He held up, and crossed low to pick out Maximus Scoreedus in the box and he slid to divert the ball past the keeper to put us ahead in the 86th minute. 2 – 3
The away posse, including several Oldhams, celebrated in true Loddon fashion.
Webbo put in another stonking tackle to break up Caister’s rhythm and Alex was penalised for what looked a 50/50 challenge. It became frantic. El got back to make a great interception and Max made a defensive header clearance to a free kick. We battled as if our lives depended on it. The ball was forced into our dugout and Liam and Sharpey made sure there was no easy recovery for Caister (may have cost a card or two). The Sharpster accepted full responsibility like the mature adult we all know and love. Chrissy gave away the ball cheaply and Webbo had to make a foul again. Tipps got to the free kick and a great call from Dan secured possession. Caister went long again but Dan was aware and sharp to thwart. Knightsy and Bailey defended the next ball Caister launched forward. Marcus was next to see yellow as he tried to prevent a quick throw which was then taken 20 yards further forward. But Caister’s efforts were in vain and the effort of our lads was rewarded with the final whistle well into injury time. …always love a pitch invasion….woo hoo!
Dan was excellent, but everyone played their part in a great squad performance. Skipper Elliott led his troops excellently and was involved in most of the action (except maybe Caisters 2nd goal) and just gets our nod for Musker McIntyre MoM

Up the league we go…..Up the Dons.……JC