Loddon Utd 5 - 1 Brandon Town Sat 26th Oct 2024 2.00pm ko
Scorers: Marcus D-M 2 (1 pen), Harvey, Max 2
Assists: Chrissy 2, Marcus, Shorty,
Loddon: Daniel Loades; Tom Sergeant, Tom Blythe-Bartram, Josh Knights,
Elliott Hannant (capt.); Liam Pye, Jacob Short; Chris Husband; Harvey Johnson,
Shane Smith, Marcus Dunthorne-McInerney.
Subs: Matthew Webb, Robbie Oldham, Max Ayre
Manager: Jake Sharpe Asst.

This score had been coming for a while. Some top quality football, some great finishing and Dan’s confident ‘keeping and kicking all came together to produce our best result for a while. Skipper El had the hardest task of the day putting up with the constant instruction from the centre back next to him. He only just managed to keep his cool….well, he is Mr Cool afterall!
After missing the first couple of minutes as I had to find a match ball that somehow had gone walkabout, I returned with new balls (I wish) to find out that Marcus had won and converted a pen to put us ahead. 1 – 0
Brandon responded with a free kick headed straight to Dan. But their next attack down their left saw us allow a weak cross (not sure how it came about, I was still catching up) a forward close in turned his back, the ball hit his backside and looped over Dan into the net. 1 - 1 after 5 minutes.
I think it was at this point that a certain nameless centre half started on his skipper…
“get higher, get back, tuck in, push out” etc. etc. I wonder where he was when that goal went in…
Town had another shot straight to Dan and a free kick wasted as we tried to sort ourselves out. A clever dummy by Liam in the centre allowed Chrissy to almost latch on but he couldn’t capitalise. Sarg saw yellow for a late challenge and Liam got a talking to before he was part of a move where Marcus almost put Shane through.
12 minutes in Chrissy found Marcus who neatly cut inside onto his right, shot, and saw the keeper make a mess of his attempted save and we went ahead. 2 – 1
Town headed well wide of the far post from a corner. Shorty and Shane got stuck into a couple of strong tackles which helped raise the tempo. Knightsy was calm (what?) at the back and played some good balls out to the wings although a comment of ‘don’t overplay’ was heard from the sideline after prolonged possession in and around our own box! Marcus took a late whack (in the box) which went ‘unnoticed’. Nurse Sharpey had to run over to tend to some blood which was perhaps a clue that there was contact. Marcus soon returned to action and we started to control the game and Town were left to clear long. Liam saw yellow (he had been warned), then Chrissy talked himself into the book and the game seemed peppered with free kicks. Knightsy shepherded the free kick calmly out for a goal kick. Sarg collided with the away keeper after neat play between Marcus and Chrissy; unconvincing appeals for a pen were waved away. Chrissy then fired over from the edge of the area and Town sent Milo off to search for the ball in the sale ground, the new fence doing it’s job…not!
A great block by Knightsy and clearance by Tom B-B followed. Liam fed Chrissy to win a corner from which Knightsy glanced his header wide, Marcus fired a daisy cutter to the keeper, and Chrissy set up Shane to fire his shot across the face of the goal. We went in for tea dominant but only one ahead. HT
Webbo came on for Liam who was walking a tightrope with the Ref. and already on a yellow. Liam was disappointed of course, but it may have saved him a few quid. Town kept everyone waiting ages before the restart. Maybe they had to reset their cameras. Our first chance fell to Harv after a nice chip forward from Tom B-B, but Harv’s shot lacked control and sent Milo scampering away again. Town had a little more about them as Webbo covered Sarg, and Shorty tackled to clear when a threat loomed. Marcus picked up a clearance 25 yards out, turned, but shot wide. Webbo was prominent in midfield and as he is only about 12½, went about it almost unnoticed (he couldn’t possibly foul anyone could he?). El won back possession from Town’s no7 and found Marcus who made ground and squared right to Harv. This time Harv kept his eye on the ball, controlled his shot and found the net with a neat finish to extend our lead. 3 – 1
Good defending by Sarg, Shorty and Webbo kept Town at bay. Sarg even dared a shot from inside his own half (trying to emulate Baylis no doubt). Chrissy, always involved, fed Shorty who, with a lovely touch, found Harv. His low drive won a corner which came to nowt, but we were now well on top and Town’s frustrations were starting to show. Tom B-B with a couple of good bits of defending was growing into the game after his couple of weeks away. Marcus tried a fancy backheel which failed but he worked back hard to regain the ball.
Town found our net on 65 minutes from a free kick but we had all, thankfully including the Ref, seen the player handle the ball into the net. Dan made a great stop after Webbo had been pushed over, and super play by Knightsy, Chrissy, and Sarg set up Harv whose delightful near post cross was begging to find a non existent runner. Harv was involved again but this time a poor cross prompted ‘legs gone’ excuses and a smile! Dan fired long, Sarg latched onto the clearance and found Harv whose shot was finger-tipped away (legs better?) Town were unable to make any clear chances as our defence and midfield put in a solid shift. With ten minutes of normal time left two ‘old timers’ Max and Robbie O (no warm up?) came on for Harv and Shane and what a treat they served up; Robbie, in deep midfield, immediately picked the pocket of a Town player as he superbly read a situation on the edge of our area. We played some delightful football and were in complete control. Marcus squared to Shorty, he put Max through who stretched and got his toe to the ball before the onrushing keeper and poked the ball home from just inside the 6 yard box. 4 – 1
Marcus, carrying a knock, was replaced by Liam for the last few minutes of added time. Tom B-B headed a Town clearance neatly down to Sarg. He found Chrissy who put Max through to fire home a terrific second and our fifth. 5 – 1
A brilliant team performance, especially the second half and a result that will raise a few eyebrows. Superb 15 minute cameos from Max and Robbie, great second half from Webbo, and Chrissy was omnipresent; but Musker McIntyre MOM has to go to Marcus, who, with a brace and an assist, was a constant threat.

Thanks to Carlos and the Pitcher Family (sounds like a 70’s folk band) for kindly sponsoring the game. Always appreciate your support.

Thanks too to Simon at Chedgrave White Horse who, with Jay having to close the Jub early, stepped up to put on some post match refreshments, and to the Brandon Posse, who are always sociable after games - last to leave usually - regardless of the result.

Blofield at home next week

“It’s a Long Way to the Top”…but we are on our way…Up the Dons JC