Brandon Lads u15s travelled to Lowestoft to take on a very strong Kirkley & Pakefield A team. The Lads struggled to get a good passing game going, finding themselves two goals down within 20 mins. Callum Powell tried hard to keep Brandon in the game with two fine saves, yet Kirkley & Pakefield scored a third just before half time. Brandon played better 2nd half, matching the opposition for long periods, yet could not score. The Lads battled, yet never looked like pulling back three goals. Powell made a brilliant penalty save to keep the score down, yet as Brandon tired the opposition hit two late goals to kill the game off.

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Brandon started the sharper with early pressure, yet somehow failed to score. Eventually, after some frustrating misses and great saves from the CFC Bury keeper, Brandon took the lead with a fine strike from Lewis Ramage. The Lads then seemed to hold back, letting CFC come back into the game. CFC Bury A were unlucky not to equalise, when a great effort beat Powell in goal, coming back off the post. Matt Molyneux and Preston Sharpe combined well to set up Shaw for a strike, yet once again the CFC keeper turned it over. The back four of Bunten, Moment, Hewkin and T Molyneux were pretty confident in defence, yet as the game moved on Bury made more openings. CFC had a late penalty shout waved away, yet looked up for taking the game to extra time. Minutes later Callum Powell was forced into making a brilliant save, one on one. Brandon closed ranks, made some changes in midfield to sure up the lead, making sure of going through to the next round by the one important goal.

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A blustery afternoon made playing attractive football difficult for both teams, Brandon started with more conviction though, taking the lead with a great strike from Preston Sharpe that bulged the net. Callum Powell then struck a long goal kick, helped on by Jordan Hewitt for Jordan Shaw to fire home for 2 - 0. Shaw hit his 2nd shortly after, with a fine breakaway goal. Sharpe turned provider with an excellent header on for Shaw to wrap up his hat trick before half time. Bury struggled to get into the game 2nd half, Shaw netting his 4th goal with a lovely chip after good work from the Brandon midfield. Brandon could have scored three more within 5 mins, yet each move was spoilt by the linesman's flag. Shaw did finally hit his 5th goal with a cool slide past the Bury keeper. The back four of Luke King, Aaron Moment, Frazer Hewkin and Tom Molyneux were determined to keep another clean sheet, some fine defending helping confidence throughout the team. Lewis Ramage came back on after early injury and made it 7 - 0 by beating the offside trap, before hitting his 2nd and an 8th for Brandon in the last few minutes. A comfortable win from a Brandon team still to find best form.

Brandon Lads started very poorly, seeing most of the first 30 mins played in their own half. Somehow Brandon kept Whitton from scoring early goals with fine late tackles from Bunten, Moment, Hewkin and T. Molyneux at the back. The lads did break forward a few times, M. Molyneux looking sure to score, but firing just wide. Deacon-Davey and Sharpe came on to add strength and speed to the midfield, this improved Brandon, yet Whitton took the lead just before the break, before going 2 - 0 up just after. The Lads could have dropped their heads, as they looked second best, yet a great brace of goals from Ramage pulled them back. Both goals were superbly taken after sprinting round the keeper to slide home. Hewitt, Cunningham and Silverwood were running themselves ragged in midfield, trying to stem some well worked attacks from Whitton. At 2 - 2 the game was well balanced, yet Shaw hit a fabulous 3rd with a lovely chip for advantage Brandon. Shaw hit another for 4 - 2 up, after a tussle with the defender saw him win through, scoring with another fine strike. Brandon had some daylight and just had to play sensible, but a poor pass gifted Whitton space, their forward hitting a great strike that Allsop could only divert into his only net for 4 - 3. Powell had a great game in goal, at time keeping Brandon in the match, notably a fine double save from a one on one. Brandon Lads could have wobbled, yet Shaw ran through the defence again to fire home for his hat trick. The Lads looked a different team from first half and could have scored more, yet could also have thrown it all away when a poorly defended corner saw Whitton scoring a 4th late on from a fine header. Brandon finally won through 5 - 4, yet made it hard work at times along the way.

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Brandon looked lively from the start, yet with early chances going high and wide Falcons started to grow in confidence. The Lads did put the ball in the net, ruled offside. A fine corner from Frazer Hewkin helped break the deadlock though, Jake Silverwood heading home after a scramble for 1 - 0. Zak Allsop and Aaron Moment were having a good first half at the back. Josh Morter, Jordan Hewitt and Matt Molyneux working hard in midfield to feed the forwards, yet Brandon overplayed the ball in the final third. Brandon went in 1 - 0 up at the break, feeling they could have had 3 or 4 with better passing and finishing. Stow Falcons came out fighting, scoring after poor Brandon defending to level the score. Jordan Shaw looked like scoring a cracker with his right, another ruled out, foul throw. Freddie Cunningham and Tom Molyneux came on to offer fresh legs and improved fight, yet Stow took a deserved lead, a brilliant strike from distance. The Lads were rattled, paying the price for poor passing and a below par overall performance. With time running down Brandon won another corner, Preston Sharpe firing in from the far post to save a point.

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Sunday 21 Sept 2008
Brandon Lads 5 CFC Bury B 3

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Brandon started the sharper team, early chances created through good passing and movement, backed by stern defending. Jordan Shaw was played through twice, only the keeper to beat, yet he saw both his superb efforts come back off the bar. Tom Molyneux hit a nicely weighted ball over the top for Jordan Hewitt to run onto and fire home for 1 - 0. Brandon were unable to increase on this lead until after the break despite some dominating football. Confidence grew through the team, as Fraser Hewkin, Aaron Moment, Jake Bunten and Tom Molyneux were looking unbeatable in defence. Shaw was played through again, this time passing the ball into the net calmly for 2 - 0. Lewis Ramage was having a great game up front, creating chances and turning the Ipswich defence. Good work from Jake Silverwood, Matt Molyneux and Josh Morter in midfield eventually paid off, Ramage finishing off a lovely move with a fine strike. Callum Powell had little to do in goal, yet he was safe and alert all match. Shaw hit a fourth for Brandon, bursting through to finish from close range. Brandon were now on fire, Matt Molyneux weaving through players to feed Ramage, Lewis took on the last man and blasted past the Ipswich keeper from close range. Jordan Shaw later rounded up an impressive performance with his hat trick, sliding the ball past the keeper with great poise.

 

FIXTURES & RESULTS
2008
Sept 7
Sept 14  (H) Ipswich Exiles	W	6 - 0
Sept 21  (H) CFC Bury B	W	5 - 3
Sept 28 (H) Stowupland Falcons	D	2 - 2
Oct 5 (A) Woodland Colts	W	0 - 17
Oct 12  (A) Whitton Sports Centre Suffolk Minor Cup 1st Rnd	W	4 - 5
Oct 19 (H) Walsham Le Willows	W	5 - 0
Oct 26
Nov 2
Nov 9 (A) Bury Town A	W	0 - 8
Nov 16  (A) CFC Bury A K/O Cup Rnd 2	W	0 - 1
Nov 23 (H) Ipswich Warriors		P - P
Nov 30 (A) Kirkley & Pakefield ISYL Open Cup	L	5 - 0
Dec 7 (A) Cornard Dynamos Suffolk minor cup 2nd rnd
Dec 14 (H) Sicklesmere
Dec 21
Dec 28
2009
Jan 4
Jan 11 (A) Ipswich Exiles
Jan 18 (H) Bury Town A
Jan 25
Feb 1 (H) GW Wanderers
Feb 8 (A) Stowupland Falcons
Feb 15 (A) CFC Bury B
Feb 22
Mar 1 (H) Woodland Colts
Mar 8
Mar 15 (A) GW Wanderers
Mar 22
Mar 29
Apr 5 (A) Sicklesmere
Apr 12
Apr 19 (A) Ipswich Warriors