Loddon Utd 0 – 1 Brandon Town Sat 29th Nov 2025 1.30pm ko
Scorers:
Assists:
Loddon: Jack Trowbridge; Jamie Whiteman, Bailey Hill, Jack Tipple,
Robin Andersen; Harvey Johnson, Matthew Webster, Elliott Hannant (c), Ben Ashby; Marcus Dunthorne-McInerney, Matt Ayre
Subs: Dexter Lee, Beau Mullett, Daniel Hawkie
Manager: Jake Sharpe Assts: Paul Reader, Andrew Zagdan

After the previous win against Fakenham, our inconsistency again reared it’s ugly head as we capitulated to a lively Brandon who looked a better side than we faced in the first game of the season. Again, the inclement weather made life tricky…not just on the pitch which Milo had prepared beautifully with his new piece of kit!
Brandon frightened us in the first minute with an 18 yard bullet which Jack brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar. Webbo put Harv through and from just inside the area and he rattled the post in similar fashion. His next effort was rather weaker and easy for the visiting keeper. Ben then fired the ball in from the left. It looked like an easy tap in for Max or Marco but a defender managed to toe the ball away from close in. Tipps took a long throw, Max got a flick on but nobody anticipated or gambled and another easy chance went begging. Brandon responded and the woodwork saved us again. Webbo had a shot deflected for a corner from which Max tried to get a shot in but only won another corner. From this Max won his header but the ball was cleared off the line. Another header from El’s cross was off target. Marco was next to shoot unsuccessfully from Webbo’s pass. Tipps picked out Rob with a lovely chip left. Rob’s peach of a cross went begging again with lack of commitment in the box. Harv then made a terrific run through the left side of the Brandon area and, with his right foot, cleverly flicked El’s pass goalwards only to see the keeper get a hand to the ball. The pass, the movement and flick deserved a goal for Harv. Jamie W made a clever and vital interception. Had he missed the ball Brandon had two players clear. Ben then won a free kick, El floated the ball into the box, it was cleared to Webbo who sliced his shot… towards the corner flag! Webbo did well to cover a breakaway with Rob stranded up field. Tipps delayed clearing, allowing a block to be made and the follow up strike from the edge of our area beat Jack to put Brandon ahead on 32 mins. 0 – 1
Tipps’ hand was raised apologetically and we must let off our Mr Consistant!
We became frustrated and struggled to keep the ball for any length of time. Control was difficult in the conditions which of course were the same for both teams. Brandon won more physical battles, and created more openings. Marco could only find the side netting from a tight angle, and a driven cross from El from the right went through Brandon’s area without any movement or attempt from his teammates so we went for tea still one down. HT
The rains fell and Brandon started with a shot from distance which cleared the Crossway Terrace stand. Max challenged the visiting keeper at a corner and forced another without any result. 10 mins into the half Beau and Dexter replaced Max and Harv. Appeals by Brandon for a penalty against Webbo were waved away by the ref., Webbo doing well to track back and get a toe in. Jamie sent in a lovely cross to Marco but his header was blocked for a corner. From El’s kick Rob headed the ball down but it bounced up and over the bar. Ben made room for a shot but chose to go square and the chance was lost. Jack had to dive backwards acrobatically to tip over a Brandon cross, and Ben chipped into the box for Dexter who was just beaten to the ball. Tipps and Rob got in each others way on the end of another El free kick and Brandon responded forcing Jack into another good save. Jamie crossed, Webbo headed back the clearance and Beau tried an overhead kick, but off target. El hit the defensive wall from 25 yards, Hawkie replaced Ben and El shot over. Hawkie had a good effort tipped away and then had his header from the corner cleared off the line. Tipps had a great tackle (in my day bla bla) penalised, got his revenge with a strong headed challenge, but things seemed to go against us. But in the dying moments, Jack tipped a final Brandon shot over the bar to keep the score respectable.
We battled and had enough chances to win the game, but Brandon battled that little bit better than us and got the break with their decisive goal.
Jack Trowbridge made a number of cracking saves and blocks, so even in defeat he gets the Starkings & Watson’s MoM and a free pint at the Jub Social.

Many thanks as always to Match Sponsor… Carlos and the Pitchers and to the match ball sponsor… Midas Displays

Got bloody soaked again this week, new coat on order…p’raps I better find a sponsor!!... away next week …..see you there…….Des Ingham