Loddon Utd 3 – 0 Yelverton Sat 17th Jan 2026 2.00pm ko
Scorers: Marco x3 (x2 pens)
Assists: Rob
Loddon: Jack Trowbridge; Jamie Whiteman, Bailey Hill, Jack Tipple,
Tom Green: Alex Kounnas, Elliott Hannant (c), Jacob Short, Robin Andersen;
Marcus Dunthorne-McInerney, Dexter Lee.
Subs: Harvey Johnson, Matt Ayre,
Manager: Jake Sharpe Assts: Paul Reader, Andrew Zagdan

Well, this was better. After a short delay of the kickoff (details later*) the boys put in a quality filled performance to avenge defeat away at our local rivals Yelverton earlier this season. The three points send us above our opponents in the league table into a lofty 10th! A new look, but experienced midfield, rolled back the years and shone for 90 minutes. Shorty even had the energy to sweep out the changing room after the rest had retired to the bar. That’s class!
Yelverton started quite well and knocked the ball around. They found a spare man in our box, but Jack came to the rescue and smothered. Marco responded by chasing a long ball but was just beaten to it by the visiting keeper. Jack had to smother another as Yelverton again threatened. But it was us who went closest after 10 minutes when Shorty, Rob and Kounnas combined allowing Rob to let fly from distance and see his effort go inches wide. We got more into the game and started to dominate in midfield and pick up more loose balls. Rob picked out Dex who cut inside but lost possession. Yelverton broke and a cross was volleyed wide. Dex then got on the end of a lovely Kounnas cross to the far post. Dex headed down but the keeper was able to gather.
Tipps was clattered and left holding his chest, but he still got up and fired a shot from Jamie’s corner which the keeper just got to. Greeno, Rob and Dex worked well down our left ending when Marco fired his shot high over the bar.
On 22 minutes Dex, Shorty and Kounnas worked together. Kounnas went outside his defender and found Shorty who forced the ball over the goalline before it was cleared. The ‘Crossway Terrace End’ supporters said it was at least a foot over the line but the technology obviously failed and the goal not given. Jamie fired in a couple of crosses before Yelverton broke away on the right where they were introduced to the timely tackling of young Greeno. Our next attack failed to produce and Jamie had to put in a great interception to thwart the visitor’s response. Kounnas found Marco who beat the keeper but not the covering defender who gave us a corner, which came to nowt.
Yelverton enjoyed a decent spell picking up second balls, often in our half. But on 32 minutes, Marco carried the ball into the away area. He protected the ball brilliantly as a tackle came in and won a penalty. The Yelverton keeper decided not to allow Rob to get the ball out of the net and Rob got a talking to by the Ref. It was not enough to put our ace pen taker off as Marco Klopp stepped up and bulged the net sending the young keeper the wrong way. 1 – 0
Yelverton responded well but found Tipps and Bailey mostly impenetrable and Jack behind them was in good form. A couple of corners were cleared by Shorty and Rob, and Jack collected a long shot with relative ease. His kicking was good too, getting decent length to turn around the Yelverton defence. Rob was giving us a masterclass in midfield play and having to be disciplined with the constant niggley attentions of his Yelverton counterpart. Shorty was fouled but El’s free kick eluded everyone. HT
We started the second half with some tidy possession but little penetration into enemy territory. When Yelverton’s no 9 made progress down their right Greeno talked, came out with the ball and played in his U18’s mate Dexter with ease. Unfortunately Dex lost possession but he got back really well to prevent the cross. Bailey then defended well and saw a tame shot sliced well wide. They had another long shot go way over and Jamie made a great block as we had to focus on defending. Rob tried his luck from nearly 30 yards. Greeno did well to avoid Tipps piling into a tackle. Jack claimed the free kick but was then penalised for not clearing quickly enough! Fortunately the awarded corner was knocked wide of the far post.
On the hour mark we gave ourselves breathing space with a wonderful team goal. Bailey at the back passed forward to Shorty and he out to Jamie. Kounnas moved right to receive from Jamie, played a 1:2 with Shorty and chipped a square ball to Rob. He headed onto Marco who was already on the move into the centre of Yelverton’s area and his finish was sublime and sent the dugout posse wild. 2 – 0
Yelverton upped their game but then so did our back line, Bailey’s pace over a few yards being a real asset. We weathered a few minutes of pressure with Shorty and his midfield particularly dominant. On 68 mins a poor Yelverton clearance fell to Rob. He slotted a ball through their back line, Marco latched on but was ‘sandwiched’ by two defenders and tripped just as he was about to shoot. He stepped up and sent the young keeper the wrong way again. 3 – 0
Harvey replaced Dexter and was soon into the game down our right with Kounnas going left. Harv closed well and pushed Yelverton back before almost reaching a Rob through ball. The three goal cushion enabled us to relax a little and Max replaced Marco with 10 minutes to go. (Were we going to see a cameo from the Zagster we wondered….no!) Max headed a nice ball down to Harv but he could only find the sale ground so off trotted ‘deputy ball hunter’ Titch. A good spell of controlled Loddon possession pleased the fans but it ended when Shorty fired over. Rob (kept his cool) and Yelverton’s no11 continued their spat in midfield. Yelverton’s no 7 (their best player) scraped the bar with a deflected shot and Jack saved the corner on the line. Harv had a great chance but looked shattered (been ill during week and didn’t want to let Sharpey down by calling off…class), Max did some nice hold up stuff and Shorty ran another 6 miles, all in the last ten minutes….and against our usual expectations we maintained a clean sheet (two on the bounce).
Top, top performances all over the field… anyone could have been nominated. Shorty and Rob were immense, Greeno looks more like the Robster every time he plays… tough in the tackle yet sweet with his left foot down the line; Tipps was a man mountain and a clean sheet for Jack. But, with three goals and his sheer calmness up top….and going all the way to Turkey to get ‘match fit’, the Starkings & Watson’s MoM has to go to Marco Klopp with a free pint at the Jub Social.

Many thanks as always to Match Sponsor… ‘JC and the First Lady’ and to the match ball sponsor… Midas Displays

Home again for next three weeks so get down to the Jub Social and support the lads…and the bar. First up is Wells 2pm ko on 24th Jan….

Thanks to all who have paid their subs for the ’Tony Coe monthly draw’ but a reminder to those who haven’t…can you please do so asap. Ta.

The * delay was for dogs- -t clearance….yet again!!!

JC