LUFFS 0 CADBURY 1 (21/8/04) THE LUFFS didn't seem to have learnt too much since last seasons disastrous campaign while Cadbury showed the maturity that deserved a narrow away victory continuing their impressive end of season form. Having survived in division one of the Midland Combination by diplomacy and previous good record Loughborough's one remaining independent senior football club is going to have to do better than this. Manager Geoff Green has rung the changes in the pre seasons games and several new faces appeared in The Luss white shirts and they began with confidence and impressed for the first quarter of an hour but it was not clear where a goal was going to come from. Dan Leivers, making his league debut was brought down on the edge of the area, but The Luffs record with set pieces continues not to impress and Neil Grant making his league debut whacked the ball into the Cadbury wall. Craig Donnelly scooped one wide for Cadbury and Froyland Litherland, making his league debut for the Luffs impressed down the right flank but there was no one there to connect with his cross. this was the best period of play for Loughborough and Neil Grant saw a shot blocked but Cadbury were beginning to settle and Adam Ainge curled a shot just wide. The only goal of the game came after twenty minutes as James Hill ghosted past two defenders as if they weren't there and hit a low shot into the bottom corner, it was a good goal to decide a game albeit at this stage somewhat against the run of play. Having said that from then on Cadbury took control of the game with possession football and Loughborough struggled to get the ball at all. Dan Leivers limped off and was replaced by Steve Rudge who proceeded to waste a couple of half chances but as the half came to a close Neil Grant had one cleared off the line. Andrew Harding, another product of the Luffs youth system had his work cut out at full back but he was covered well by the now experienced Matt Watkiss and it looked as if The Luffs could contain this Cadbury side but all too often the ball was won and then possession too easily given away. Cadbury's free kick was deflected for a corner and Watkiss deflected the resulting shot wide, while Sean Hogan, enjoying his last game for The Luffs before returning to Ireland, cleared under pressure. Martin Kearns, yet another débutante, had a glorious chance to level the scores but headed just over and for a short period Cadbury looked in disarray with keeper Kenny Sanders wandering all over the place outside his area but The Luffs took just a bit too long to shoot and Froyland Litherlands shot went just over the empty net. Steve Rudge seemed to be in a world of his own and got himself sent off for something said to the linesman and The Luffs seemed to play much better with just ten men. Adam Barrigan had a good low shot but keeper Kenny Sanders hung onto it safely. Cadbury grazed the bar and the Loughborough keeper Phil Godfrey made a couple of good saves but the single goal decided it, Cadbury did a job on the Loughborough side and they did it well. The Luffs travel to Tipton on Wednesday evening knowing they have a lot more to do than this to make an impression on the Midland Combination Division One but on the positive side there were a lot of new faces and they may just gell in the fullness of time. Home again on Saturday to Knowle (kick off 2.45) and then home again on Bank Holiday Monday (kick off 5.45 PM) "The Drome" pitch is looking an absolute picture after the wet summer but it would look a lot better for a victory or two. TEAM:  Phil GODFREY, Andy HARDING, Sean HOGAN, Matt WATKISS, Martin KEARNS, Adam BARRIGAN, Matt KEARNS, Froyland LITHERLAND, Lee GRANT, Danny LIEVERS, Dave PITCHFORD   SUBS:  Edmir LIKAJ, Steven RUDGE, Johnny PIRERRA SCORERS:   ATT: N/A HT: 0-1