Loddon United 2, Dersingham Rovers 0AFTER embarrassing their travelling supporters at Holt, Loddon turned in a much improved performance against a handy Dersingham side at George Lane.

Loddon United 2, Dersingham Rovers 0

AFTER embarrassing their travelling supporters at Holt, Loddon turned in a much improved performance against a handy Dersingham side at George Lane. They are third of three teams at the top of the Anglian Combination Premier on 16 points.

Managers Creegan and Matthews brought in Shipley and Gricks to provide more of a physical presence.

The game started end-to-end. Wright earned a corner for Loddon from which Way went close. Six minutes in, the ref held up play for about four minutes to enable repairs to a corner flag. Rovers then had two golden chances, one from a left wing cross with the header straight to Collins. The other when a Rovers' forward could not control his shot when free.

At the other end Oliver looked to be tripped in the box but Marjoribanks picked the loose ball and crossed for Hancock to head wide.

On 16 minutes Wright and Gricks set up Marjoribanks and his perfect cross was met by a glancing header from Hancock who this time made no mistake having cleverly nipped inside his marker: 1-0.

Set away by Andersen, Wright beat three on his next run and Summons' shot was straight to the keeper.

Loddon then rode their luck. A neat Rovers' move picked out a striker in the box but he mistimed his volley. They then cut through Loddon's static defence but again lacked a quality finish. Collins then produced a quality save from a deflected effort.

Rovers slipped through again, this time Baylis stretched to toe it away. Collins could only watch as another deflected shot slipped just wide of his right-hand post. Collins misjudged a long ball but managed to recover to claw the ball away from the forward. Loddon were lucky to survive this spellt.

Loddon then had their own period of domination. A long ball by Shipley was headed on by Oliver and Marjoribanks hit a glorious volley from a tight angle across the face of the goal.

The lively Wright then earned a throw and corner which he delivered with venom, Way and Hancock getting close. Marjoribanks played a one-two and a lovely ball into Oliver's path but he was penalised for shirt pulling. Just before the break Wright had a shot blocked and Hancock headed over.

Straight from the kick off Gricks played a good ball to Wright and his low cross was met at the near post by Marjoribanks. The keeper was equal to the neat flick.

Summons was working tirelessly in midfield to keep Loddon on their toes but a Dersingham dummy foxed Way and Baylis was at full stretch to deflect the shot.

Twenty minutes into the half Robin Andersen's neat control got him in front of his forward but the frustrated Rover tackled crudely from behind and earned himself a red card.

Oliver got himself a yellow. He then almost made amends with a neat low header from Shipley's cross. That was his last contribution and he was replaced by Brown.

Two minutes later Wright picked up a poor goal kick and crossed for Marjoribanks. A neat head down to Hancock and unselfish run by Brown was rewarded with a return cross to the far post where Marjoribanks beat the keeper to head home for 2-0.

At that point Summons got a well earned rest and was replaced by Dan Andersen.

Wright hit a superb corner at pace which beat everyone except Baylis at the far post but the pace gave him no time to control his header.

Musker McIntyre MoM goes to James Marjoribanks, one goal, one assist and good all-round performance.

Team: Collins; Shipley, Way, Baylis, Andersen R; Hancock, Gricks, Summons R, Wright; Marjoribanks, Oliver. Subs: Brown, Andersen D, Gunton.