BRANDON LADS U9 have secured a South Norfolk League and Cup double.

Brandon won the League Cup beating an excellent Cringleford side 4-0 at Watton. Goals were scored by Hayden Edgecombe (2) Jack Slater (captain) and Jordan Paddy. An excellent team performance by all the boys and a great result for a really hard-working side. MoM: Jack Slater. Manager’s player was Lucas Kent for a superb goalkeeping performance.

BRANDON LASSES U13 played Lawshall and Cockfield in the Suffolk Girls’ League Cup final. It finished 1-1 and then Lawshall won 4-3 on penalties). Brandon got off to a bright start, coming close in the opening minutes, hitting the crossbar. Both teams competed well in a close game and Lawshall had a chance to take an advantage after being awarded a penalty but Meeson, in the Brandon goal, pulled off a good save. The Lasses had their chances and had the lion’s share of the first half but just did not seem to get the rub of the green. With the wind advantage, Lawshall took an upper hand in the second half and took the lead when a goal-kick carried in the wind and bounced on the hard pitch and despite the keeper getting a hand to it, the ball ended up in the net. Brandon had to pick up their game, started to pressure Lawshall and equalised with a well-taken goal by O’Malley. The Lasses then pushed hard but could not find the goal they needed. With the match going straight into penalties and things all square after the first five it went into sudden death with Lawshall scoring the winning goal. A harsh way to lose out but a terrific season, finishing league champions and cup runners-up.

MUNDFORD U12 rounded off their season by completing the double with a win over Thetford Town in the Trophy Cup final. Straight from the start Mundford passed the ball well and soon took the lead through Ryan Harvey, soon after John Pearce’s in-swinging corner was bundled home by Michael Corbyn for number two. Joe Zipfell and Sam Long were controlling the midfield and backed up by a strong defensive base of Ben Wells, Roberto Alves, Dean Scott, Todd Hutcherson and Joe Clark, Mundford generally were on top throughout. Just before the break Jack Pinner lobbed the keeper from 20 yards. Town battled hard in the second half and came into the game a little, although Corbyn did score again before they pulled one back. Harry Walker burst through to finish well and a good move down the left saw George Hammond nearly finish at the far post. Near the end Corbyn broke through to round the keeper for his hat-trick and Pinner completed the scoring with another finely-executed lob. Final score: Mundford 7, Thetford Town 1. MoM: Michael Corbyn.

BRANDON LASSES U11: The Suffolk Girls’ League Cup final had been an eagerly-awaited game with the top two U11 girls teams in Suffolk battling it out to become winners. Both sides started very cautiously, matching each other in all areas of the pitch, tackling well and going for every ball. A strong defence of Coleman, Whybrow and Wiseman-Lawlor held the Wasps at bay and looked comfortable in front of keeper Nolan. The attacking trio of Hayward, Bales and Richardson looked strong on the counter attack, putting the Wasps under pressure at the back with some strong runs at the defence. Strong marking from Coleman on the Witnesham striker frustrated the Wasps, restricting their chances on goal. With 11 minutes gone Bales picked the ball up on the left and with a fantastic solo run and superb finish put the Lasses 1-0 up. A shocked Wasps team picked themselves up and came straight back at the Lasses, putting the Brandon defence under real pressure. Fantastic tackling from Whybrow and Wiseman-Lawlor, and great chasing from Coleman frustrated the Wasps even more. Keeper Nolan needed to be on her toes with Witnesham shooting from all sorts of angles. The Wasps were unlucky not to have drawn level when a shot deflected off the back of a Brandon defender, cracked the crossbar and bounced down, but was judged not to have crossed the line. The Lasses started the second half with the same instructions – defend well and counter attack. Even though Brandon’s defence looked comfortable and in control a strong Witnesham attack piled on the pressure, pushing players forward to get the equaliser. This came with ten minutes gone in the second half from a well-struck free-kick, deflecting off a Brandon player into the Lasses net. Good end-to-end football from both sides continued as both Brandon and Witnesham looked for the winner. Both sides started to tire as they chased every ball and made every tackle. As Brandon pushed forward with ten minutes to go, they were dealt a real blow as ever-present and solid defender Whybrow pulled up with an injury. With Whybrow going off, this changed the Brandon formation and within five minutes Witnesham had scored two goals with the Brandon defence being pulled apart. Although a disappointing finish for the Lasses, a great game to watch and played in great spirit by both sides. Final score: Brandon Lasses U11 1, Witnesham Wasps 3. Special mention to Stewart and Neal, both playing their part throughout the game. An excellent game to finish off a fantastic first season for the Lasses, runners-up in both league and cup. PoM: Alexis Coleman.

BRANDON LASSES U10 played an outstanding game from the off in the Norfolk Girls’ Cup semi-final and were unlucky not to score in the first minute. All the girls played their most impressive game of the season, but unfortunately the game still had to be decided on penalties. The Brandon squad won with their perfectly-taken penalties. What an amazing performance for Jess, Amaris, Alexis, Melissa, Shannon, Louise K, Millie and penalty stopper Fraya. Final score: Brandon Lasses U10 3, Norwich City Girls 2 (after penalties). PoM: Amaris Tyynismaa.

THETFORD BULLDOGS U11 completed the season in great style with a 5-0 victory over Diss. A strong cross-wind made football difficult but it was Bradley Sandell who gave Bulldogs the lead, nodding the ball home from close range. Further strikes from Ben Manion and Alex Snow made it 3-0 at the break. Both sides continued to play attacking football with chances at either end before Oliver Lingard made it four with a long- range lob and Ryan Hinsley completed the scoring with a screamer into the top corner. Another good team performance from Adam Buzec, Oliver Mold, Jacob Chamberlain, Alex Vasey, Lewis Sayers, Alex Darton, Marcus Britnell, Nathan Willis, Lawrence McLaughlan.