Fourth-placed Brandon deservedly beat Loddon in their Anglian Combination Premier Division clash, although the scoreline did flatter the visitors.Loddon will hope for better this weekend when they visit Acle, who are just two places below them in the table.

Fourth-placed Brandon deservedly beat Loddon in their Anglian Combination Premier Division clash, although the scoreline did flatter the visitors.

Loddon will hope for better this weekend when they visit Acle, who are just two places below them in the table.

Loddon Utd 0, Brandon Town 3

Inside the first minute, Baylis picked up a loose ball on the right and hit a sweet left-foot volley but watched as it frustratingly clattered the bar.

Brandon then crossed from the left, the ball evaded Young, Robin Andersen got in a challenge and the ball came off a post before Young scrambled it away.

Knights won a corner from which Durrant volleyed over.

Again Knights won the ball, and via Marjoribanks and Ricky Summons, Dan Andersen sliced a shot wide.

Robin Andersen and Hancock both had half-chances, but Brandon were looking the sharper outfit and endorsed that in the 25th minute when they regained possession, chipped into the box where their No 7 was on hand to finish a near-post touch-on to make it 1-0.

Baylis and Marjoribanks both challenged a corner but the visiting keeper claimed on the line.

Town then broke left and crossed, but the No 9 fluffed his shot.

Dan Andersen drove wide and Hancock went close for Loddon, Town volleyed over, and then a long-range Marjoribanks shot landed on top of the net.

After a good run by Dan Andersen, Gary Summons put Hancock through where he came off second best with the keeper.

Brandon again broke left and again saw their cross headed off-target.

Before the break, Loddon had some reasonable possession, but no end result.

Loddon started the second half much brighter. Sadler, on for Hancock, tried to volley a perfect Dan Andersen cross when a header may have been the better choice.

Andersen then beat two defenders to set up Knights for a great shot just over.

Robin Andersen fed Dan who just failed to chip the advancing keeper; Gary Summons, Knights then Marjoribanks had efforts go begging as Loddon dominated the first 15 minutes of the half.

Brandon's first real attack of the half saw Squire turned in the box and the No 9 squeezed a shot inside the near post from an acute angle for 2-0.

Loddon, despite the setback, continued to press, looking for the elusive lifeline.

Knights saw a close-in header saved, Sadler again twice went close at the far post, but this Loddon pressure left gaps at the back on which Brandon capitalised and with 15 minutes remaining they popped in their third to kill off any chance of a Loddon recovery.

Ben Bussens replaced Gary Summons and did so with spirit, working hard and getting a good cross in from the right which found Ricky Summons on the edge of the box. He picked his spot only to see the Town keeper make a terrific save to keep it out of the top corner.

Town hit the bar late on and Knights went on a sparkling run, but Brandon ran out worthy winners - though the scoreline was somewhat flattering.

A good 45 minutes by Sadler but the only real contender for Musker McIntyre MoM was Dan Andersen who did not give in for 90 minutes.

Loddon: Young; Baylis, Squire, Durrant, Andersen; Hancock, Summons G, Summons R, Andersen D; Marjoribanks, Knights. Subs: Sadler, Bussens, Creegan.

On Tuesday, Loddon travelled to a frosty Wroxham Reserves ground and slipped to a 2-1 defeat after opening the scoring with an opportunist goal from young Josh Knights (his first goal for the first team), who was named Musker McIntyre MoM.