Bradenham 3, Loddon Reserves 0A CRAIG Foster hat-trick delivered the points for second-placed Bradenham in Anglian Combination Division Three.The Bulldogs got off to a flying start when, after five minutes, a Thurley cross deep into the box was headed skywards by a defender and Foster was first to react, sending a looping header over the keeper and into the empty net.

Bradenham 3, Loddon Reserves 0

A CRAIG Foster hat-trick delivered the points for second-placed Bradenham in Anglian Combination Division Three.

The Bulldogs got off to a flying start when, after five minutes, a Thurley cross deep into the box was headed skywards by a defender and Foster was first to react, sending a looping header over the keeper and into the empty net.

On 20 minutes Bradenham side extended their lead when Foster chased a Galer through ball and hit home a volley from the edge of the box.

The result was put beyond doubt within five minutes of the restart when Foster again took on the visiting defence and poked home his and the side's third goal. Loddon's heads never went down and they contributed well to an excellent game of football, enjoyed by the sizeable crowd.

Martham 1, Bradenham 5

Despite being without the services of Alison, Dickinson, Gibbons, Craig and King, the Bulldogs won impressively with Rick Forder claiming a hat-trick.

They welcomed back Culyer and Garrod and it gave a chance for Ashley Gilbert to make the step up after impressing in the reserves.

On an uneven surface and blustery conditions the Bulldogs knew they were in for a tough game. They settled quickest and were trying to play their normal flowing game, but they also had to contend with the home side's robust tackling and their tactics of getting the ball forward early.

Bradenham broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Chris Miller got to the by-line and sent in a low cross which a defender could only clear into the path of the in-rushing Craig Foster and his first time strike flew into the net.

They had to wait until the closing stages of the half to increase their lead when, from an excellent Galer through ball, Forder sped free of the home defence and struck a shot across the keeper into the bottom corner of the net.

Martham came out in the second half with nothing to lose and were soon putting high balls into the visitor's box, but with the excellent Findlay in goal and Boyce marshalling his defenders well they were kept at bay.

Martham quickly had a number of their players in the referee's notebook. They were given a lifeline with 15 minutes left and were awarded a goal after the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line by the referee.

This spurred Martham on and they were soon pushing more players forward. Bradenham kept their shape and they broke to send Forder away to round the keeper and slot home.

Within a couple of minutes the Bulldogs broke again and this time Foster got away and finished in a similar style.

With the clock running down a long punt up field was misjudged by a home defender which left Forder with a clear run on goal. Again he kept his cool and rounded the keeper to slide home for a well deserved hat-trick.

This week the Bulldogs are at home to Cromer Reserves, players to meet at the club at 1.30 for a 2.30pm kick off.