Thorpe Rovers 0, Bradenham 5On Saturday, leaders Bradenham visited Anglian Combination Division Three bottom team Thorpe Rovers and if they thought they were in for an easy ride they were very much mistaken.

Thorpe Rovers 0, Bradenham 5

On Saturday, leaders Bradenham visited Anglian Combination Division Three bottom team Thorpe Rovers and if they thought they were in for an easy ride they were very much mistaken.

Bradenham kicked off with a new formation of three up front and caught their opponents cold with a goal in the first three minutes.

John Alison worked a space to get a shot in but the home keeper could only push the ball out, and Ricky Forder was first to react to open the scoring. Any thoughts of the floodgates opening were put to rest by the hard working Thorpe side whose early form belied their lowly league position.

It was increasingly evident that the new formation wasn't working on the narrow pitch so Forder switched to make a four-man midfield, this in turn saw the visitors' best spell but didn't bring any more rewards in the first half.

The Bulldogs scored within three minutes of the re-start when John Alison beat two defenders and fired the ball past the bewildered keeper.

Again Thorpe came back and created chances of the own but on 65 minutes Forder finished a move in fine style to put the game out of the home side's reach.

Changes were quickly made and Thorpe certainly didn't give up as Findlay brought off a fantastic save when a home forward found himself unmarked at the far post with the ball at his feet, but the young keeper dived across his line to block with his feet.

Thorpe had a strong penalty appeal turned away, and to rub salt into the wound the Bulldogs broke away on the next attack which saw Craig Foster finish with a far-post header on 75 minutes.

Bradenham were still not done as another fine move in the last couple of minutes saw the smallest player on the pitch, Chris Miller, rise at the far post to head in to give the Bulldogs a nap hand.

The scoreline looked comfortable but it certainly was far from an easy win and a number of teams will visit Thorpe and be in for a big shock.

This week Bradenham's first team are at home to Beccles Reserves, 2pm kick-off, players to meet at 1pm.

Mick Alcock