Loddon Utd 5 - 3 Bradenham & Mattishall Sat 16th Nov 2024 2.00pm ko
Scorers: Wigga, Chrissy x3, Sarg
Assists: Alex K x2, Wigga, Shorty
Loddon: Daniel Loades; Tom Sergeant, Jack Tipple, Josh Knights, Robin Andersen;
Elliott Hannant (capt.), Matthew Webster; Alex Kounnas; Harvey Johnson,
Chris Husband, Darrell Wigger.
Subs: Jacob Short, Bailey Hill, Max Ayre,
Manager: Elliott Hannant Asst: Max and AC

Another cracking game at George Lane to keep the locals happy; end to end and full of goals. Again we conceded a couple of silly ones but fortunately we can score, even without Marcus. Sharpey was a late call off, El, Max and AC took over.
Bradenham managed an early corner following a good block by Webbo. Rob, Tipps and Knightsy cleared the danger. Wigga won a throw on the left, El found Rob who fed Alex K. He in turn put Wigga away who made ground, fired in a low goalbound cross to the near post and the ball found the net off the keeper on 3 mins.. 1 – 0
A minute later Chrissy could have put us 2 up but fired over the bar after good work from Rob and Alex K. The game swung back and forth with Webbo breaking up opposition play… as he does. Sarg was caught out but a tight angle shot only found the side netting. Wigga and Chrissy set up Rob with a chipped cross which had to be tipped over the bar; the corner was fruitless. Alex, Harv and Chrissy all had shots blocked; the latter having another effort wide and a missed volley from Wigga’s spot on cross. Another great cross from Wigga was millimetres away from Chrissy’s head. Although Bradenham had their moments, Dan was not really tested….until the 21st minute. Rob played the ball to Wigga coming back, he then touched back to Knightsy who took his eye off the ball, it crept under his foot, he missed his attepted tackle and the away forward slotted neatly passed Dan for a gift equaliser. 1 – 1
Unlucky for Knightsy who’d done nothing wrong to that moment… but at least our match sponsor, always with a soft spot for Bradenham, was pleased!!
A patient build up through five players followed. Finally Rob crossed, Chrissy killed the ball dead, but Alex’s shot was blocked…shame. Some nice touches by Knightsy showed he was unaffected by his error and Rob made a great but fruitless run forward. Harv played a sloppy pass which led to a curling cross from Bradenham’s left which clipped the top of the bar. Harv’s hand was raised apologetically. Tipps picked out Wigga on the left, he cut back, his shot hit a defender and dropped nicely for Chrissy to finish close in on 35 mins. 2 – 1
More good possession by us ended with Sarg trying one of those Ronaldoesque crosses with the wrong foot…you can guess what happened. Bradenham responded with a shot which was easy for Dan to gather. Alex crossed into the box, the visitors cleared but Webbo (how far forward?) was left in a heap clutching a bloody knee. The stretcher was sent over but Max carried Webbo over his shoulder to escape from the front line. He took no further part and was replaced by Shorty. Wigga looked like he’d won a pen and squared up to the offender but nothing doing. Tipps was done for pace but the angled shot was well off target. Bradenham’s next foray was calmly headed back to Dan by Tipps. Harv headed on well for Chrissy but a great tackle thwarted his efforts. Dan came for a high ball, punched well but was also left in a heap. Fortunately he was ok, as was the chap he clattered. Added time was shorter than expected and we went for tea. HT

Harv found a good early cross which went to the keeper. I promised not to mention El’s classic treading on ball skills which had us all in stitches… so I won’t.
Dan hit a superb long ball which found Rob high up. He squared but the ball was cleared and Wigga tracked back to cover well. We started to allow Bradenham more of the ball and the game became a bit of a stalemate. Wigga and Rob combined but Rob’s pullback looking for Shorty was intercepted. The next similar pass from Rob, on 57 mins., this time found Shorty who neatly touched through for Chrissy to control and finish calmly. 3 – 1
Bradenham responded when a forward beat the on-rushing Dan but only found the side netting. The next ball forward was claimed by Dan. On the hour, Tipps, El, Knightsy and Wigga were all involved in getting the ball forward. The visiting back line and keeper made a complete hash of their defending, the ball was spilled to Chrissy 25 yards out, and with the keeper way out of position Chrissy just had to keep his shot on target…which he did to complete his hattrick. 4 – 1
This cushion triggered the appearance of Bailey who came on for Harv. Alex played a lovely volleyed pass through to Sarg but the cross didn’t reach Wigga. Bailey put Sarg away but his shot was saved before the flag was raised. Knightsy covered brilliantly when Bradenham tried to exploit the space behind Bailey. On
68 minutes after more neat Knightsy defending, Bradenham played the ball back over our defence, Dan came but couldn’t claim, and the visitors reduced their arrears. 4 – 2
Sarg fouled trying to regain possession; the free kick hit our wall. Following that Dan had to tip a cross over the bar, the corner was headed over as Bradenham pushed for another goal. Although Tipps stood firm and headed crosses away Bradenham kept coming back. One cross to the far post was chested down by Rob looking for Dan, but Bradenham read it, nipped in, thank you very much, easy peasy, lemon squeezy. 4 – 3
So, with 15 mins or so remaining we had to dig deep to stay ahead. We had a spell of good possession without an end product and Bailey did well to defend a Bradenham break. Shorty was now involved in everything front and back as we raised the tempo. Sarg got to the bye line, came back and we held possession across the field for 12 or more passes. Rob layed off to El whose curling effort came off the bar. Alex recovered the ball, touched to Sarg, who finished for his first of the season. 5 – 3
Wigga was replaced by Harv, and Max came on for a rather disgruntled Alex.
Max soon made himself known trying to stretch for a Sarg cross and colliding with an opponent. Tipps got on the end of everything Bradenham threw forward, Bailey was a calm head on young shoulders and the boys worked hard to keep the points safe.

Not a totally dominant performance as Bradenham were no pushover who gave us a few scares. Wigga had his best game so far, Tipps and Shorty were immense in second half and another good one from Knightsy (apart from his first half hiccup). But with his ability to glide over the grass (should he apply for Strictly?) and three goals the Musker McIntyre MOM has to go Chrissy H …and no, you can’t keep the ball!!!

Thanks, yet again, to match sponsor ‘Harry B Cardies’. I’m sure you enjoyed the game…

Another place up the table and a 6 pointer to come this week away at Holt. I wonder if Stella Cann will be around?......Up the Dons….JC