14th August 2021
Brandon Town vs Martham @ Brandon Remembrance Playing Fields - Brandon
Anglian Combination Division One (Step 8)
14:30 KO
Free entry
Attendance - approx. 70-80
Half-time score: Brandon Town 2-1 Martham
Goals:
Brandon Town: Pereira (possibly Billmen) - 25'
Martham: Bunker - 44'
Brandon Town: Buckmaster - 45'+1
Brandon Town: Bruce - 59'
Brandon Town: Farthing - 69'
Final Score: Brandon Town 4-1 Martham
Today, I made the short trip up to Brandon to watch Brandon Town play their second home league game of the season in the competitive Anglian Combination D1. Brandon Town were promoted last season, as were their opponents, Martham FC, so they were playing familiar opposition. Brandon Town had a good end to last season, making the semi-finals of the Suffolk Junior Cup, and putting on some good performances along the way, such as a 7-1 thrashing of Stanton that I was lucky to see, that included an Olly Farthing hattrick and a Jack Slater brace. Slater has since signed for Lakenheath in Step 5 and will be missed by Brandon Town for sure. Nevertheless, Brandon have a good squad, narrowly losing the opening game of the season against East Harling, arguably one of the better teams in D1. The weather was perfect for football and the pitch was looking great, particularly for this level.
Brandon Town began the game strong, and were able to carve out quick-fire chances in the 8th and 9th minutes, the first was a Corbyn through-ball that put R. Hunter goal-bound 1-on-1 with the keeper. Hunter tried to round the keeper, however, he got down well and was able to snatch the ball from Hunter's feet. For the second chance, Pereira ran into the box along the goal line and was able to square the ball to the wide open Buckmaster who was only able to blast over.
Brandon continued to press and created another chance in the 19th minute, a corner from Corbyn finding Taylor who's glancing header was blocked and out for another corner. Eventually, Brandon's relentless pressure paid off with a goal in the 25th minute. Brandon were awarded a free-kick on the left flank, 5 yards outside of the box. Pereira curled in a beautiful and inviting ball into the box that everyone missed, including the goalkeeper, and it sailed into the far side of the goal, although it did look like captain Billmen could have got the faintest of touches on the ball. Either way, the goal was perhaps slightly fortuitous but Brandon were certainly good for their lead.
Shortly after the goal, Martham had their first chance of note on the 27th minute, a cross from the number 7 that was headed just over. Brandon had a similar chance in the 41st minute, a free-kick from Buckmaster finding Farthing, but the header was saved.
In the 44th minute, some poor defending from Brandon gifted Martham's No. 7 the ball in a dangerous position, he was able to lay the ball off to Casey Bunker through on goal and he calmly slotted home, against the run of play. Brandon immediately made amends in the 46th minute, Buckmaster picked up the ball in the middle of the park, he began to drive forward and the Martham goal opened up for him so he had a crack at goal 35 yards out and it fizzed in. The goal came out of nowhere and surprised everyone in the crowd, it was an amazing sweetly struck goal indeed, a certain goal of the season contender!
In the second half, Brandon picked up where they left off and dominated the game in possession whilst cutting out the majority of Martham attacks before they got the chance to get going, the team working hard as a unit. The first good chance in the 2nd half came for Brandon in the 49th minute, a cross from Corbyn finding captain Billmen, his header crashing into the underside of the crossbar and bouncing down towards the goal line, but not over. It must have been close.
Martham had a rare chance in the 57th minute, a long ball from the keeper finding the No. 10 who crossed the ball into the No. 9, but he rather scuffed his shot wide, Brandon were certainly let off the hook. Shortly after this, in the 59th minute, Brandon left Martham ruing this chance by taking a two goal lead, Corbyn played a ball through to the fresh legs of Bruce, he ran the ball into the right hand of the box, took his time and neatly slotted the ball into the far side of the goal. The linesman had his flag up, but he was a Martham volunteer and the decision looked cynical and was, in my opinion, rightly overturned by the referee, meaning the goal withstood.
Martham's heads seemed to go down a bit after the 3rd goal, and in contrast, Brandon were ruthless in hunting for a 4th to put the result beyond doubt. They came close in the 64th minute, Taylor made a mazy run into the box, squared the ball off to Farthing who blazed over. Similarly, in the 67th minute, Bruce made a driving run, laid off to Corbyn who also made a direct run into the box, but his shot was also blazed over. In the 69th minute, it was third time lucky, a free-kick from Pereira bobbled around the box, and it fell to Farthing right in front of the goal and he made no mistake firing in Brandon's 4th goal of the afternoon, and seemingly securing the 3 points for Brandon.
After this Brandon went into cruise control, and Martham got increasingly desperate, bringing on their manager. In the 78th minute, Brandon almost made it 5, Taylor burst through, put in a ball for striker Farthing and the goalkeeper to chase, but the goalkeeper stood his ground so Farthing got their first, and what looked to be a sure fire 5th goal was mishit, and in the process Farthing appeared to injure his knee, but luckily for Brandon, it looks like no major damage was done.
With the game all but done, there was a final flurry of good chances in the last 3mins, the first falling to Martham, a corner taken by the No. 7 swinging in and hitting the far post. The second fell to Brandon, Corbyn ran across the edge of the box, turned in and fired off a shot that was saved. Finally, in the 48th minute, Martham put together their best move of the game, the No. 4 getting behind the Brandon defence down the left wing, crossing in a great ball to the No. 17 coming in from the right who shot millimetres wide of the far post. And with that, the game was done.
Brandon Town played really well today, overall they dominated the game, looked dangerous in attack, bossed the midfield, pressed Martham hard, were committed in the tackle and played an exciting brand of football. Brandon dominated the chances and could easily have scored more and the Martham chances were few and far between, testament to the way that they played today. If Brandon are able to play this way week-in week-out, they will definitely make their mark in this league. I enjoy going to see Brandon, it appears to be a well run family orientated club with a nice bar and facilities, I hope to be up again at some point this season. I wish Brandon all the best with their next fixtures and I will certainly be keeping an eye on their progress.
Line-Ups:
BRANDON TOWN: Daniel Corston, Charlie Power, Callum Horn, James Buckmaster, Ryan Billmen (C), Harry Taylor, Robbie Hunter, Michael Corbyn, Oliver Farthing, Marcio Pereira, Josh Green. SUBS: Kieran Bruce, Theo Barnard, Luke King
MARTHAM (not in number order): Casey Bunker, Johnny Howell, Jordan Huggins, Thomas Hunter, Lewes Lawes, Zach Le Picq, Sid Littlewood, Jacob Stronach, Harrison Tooley, Oliver Woodhouse, George Woodward. SUBS: Wayne Hunter
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