Swifts beaten in Norfolk Junior Cup final

Castle Acre Swifts Norfolk Junior Cup dream was ended by ten-man Loddon United on Monday night.

Josh Knights opened to scoring for United in the first minute of the game at Carrow Road, before Daniel King equalised for Swifts half-an-hour later.

Robin Andersen received a red card just before the break and, despite having a man less, Tom Markham put United ahead on the counter.

Swifts failed find a second goal despite creating multiple chances and Loddon held on to lift the cup.

The opening goal came in the opening minute as Loddon worked a throw in well to allow Robin Andersen to reach the by-line and cut the ball back towards the edge of the Castle Acre box.

Josh Knights timed his run to perfection and connected sweetly with the ball to fire past the motionless Karl Gagen in the Swifts goal.

Aiden Howman almost equalised for Castle Acre in eighth minute after he was played through one on one against Jack Whatmough.

The forward attempted to lob the oncoming keeper however put too much on the effort and it sailed over the bar.

A mix up at the back for Loddon moments later gave the Swifts another chance to equalise, however Daniel King tried to place his shot only for it to fly straight into Whatmough’s hands.

As the game hit the 30-minuute mark, the West Norfolk side got the goal they were looking for, and again it was a chance that came from a mistake at the back.

United’s back line were caught in possession and a ricocheted tackle fell fortuitously to King who pounced on the loose ball and drove goalward.

As Whatmough rushed out, the number nine calmy slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to level the scores.

Castle Acre began to exert more pressure, and had another chance when King floated a ball into the Loddon box from the right side and Howman came in from the left only to slice his volley over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time a significant moment in the game went in favour of the away side, when Loddon’s left back, and creator of the opening goal, Robin Andersen saw red.

The late, high, and two-footed challenge on Ryan Scott gave Referee Ollie Sadd no choice but to send the United player for an early shower.

With an extra man advantage, Castle Acre dominated long periods of the second half.

Some neat build up play saw Howman receive the ball just inside the area and fire over in the first real chance of the half.

Moments later it was the ten men of Loddon that took the lead when a counter-attack saw Tom Markham run on to a lofted pass.

He waited for the ball to bounce across his body and delicately lobbed the on-rushing Karl Gagen to put United 2-1 up.

Castle Acre’s Ryan Scott got the ball caught under his feet and United’s defence were able to hack the ball away.

A minute later, King cut in onto his left foot an unleashed a strike that cannoned off the post and Scott was unable to find the right touch to send the rebound back into the goal.

King then saw his first-time strike excellently stopped by the sprawling Whatmough who was out quickly to make himself big.

Whatmough then produced an excellent double save to thwart King and the rebound from Howman.

Curtis Head’s corner was brilliantly punched away by Whatmough and Danny Manning’s first-time strike from range was well blocked by the defence.

In the following minute King was played through again, and this time rounded the keeper only to slide his shot agonisingly wide of the far post from a tight angle.

Substitute Alfie Cator looked dangerous down the left flank, but the Swifts could not find the opening they needed to equalise.

Castle Acre Swifts: Karl Gagen, Luis Gibbons, Curtis Head, Ash Hewitt, Ben Durrant, Josh Carlton, Dek Ramsden, Daniel King, Aiden Howman, Ben Carlton, Ryan Scott. Subs: Alfie Cator, Nathan Chase, Nathan Cross, Danny Manning, Andrew Hunter.

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