Wednesday 30 March 2016

Red card!

Wednesday 30 March 2016, Ipswich Town Under 21s 4  Crewe Alexandra Under 21s 2  - U21 Development League, South Division -  ,Playford Road Training Ground

Good game, goals, good passing, plenty of action and then a crazy last few minutes as a Crewe player is sent off for dissent.


Tuesday 29 March 2016

Two teams passing the ball at Portman Road??

Tuesday 29 March 2016, Ipswich Town Under 15s 1 Tottenham Hotspur Under 15s 3 - Academy Showcase Game, Portman Road

Some of the best football seen at Portman Rd this season!



Monday 28 March 2016

Storm Katie 1 football 0

Easter Monday 28 March 2016, Debenham Leisure Centre 1 Woodbridge Town 1, Thurlow Nunn (Eastern Counties League) First Division, Friends (Maitlands) Meadow




With Storm Katie putting a halt to my plans to visit Hemel Hempstead and then a number of other back up games, I decided to stay closer to home and took the short trip North to Debenham, since my last visit a small stand had gone and entry was now through the Sports Centre bar.



Once out of the wind it was quite pleasant with the sun shining, a good flat pitch - and both teams attempting to play football - but that was  almost impossible thanks to last gusts of Storm Katie.




At half time, it seemed the one goal that Woodbridge scored with the wind on their backs would not be enough, but surprisingly Debenham never got to grips of playing with the wind on their side so in the end they only got back level with a Woodbridge own goal.






Saturday 26 March 2016

The Stones keep rolling (on)

Saturday 26 March 2016, Maidstone United 2 Hemel Hempstead Town 1 - National League South, Gallagher Stadium


New ground, plastic pitch but still plenty of non-league character. A ground that has been well planned with both food, drink and fan comfort all catered for.




Both teams could play football but game ruined by a strong wind and both teams being too keen to moan at the ref and attempt to get the other team booked - it did work for Maidstone as Hemel finished with 10 men.





Hemel should still believe they can make the play-offs as there was little between the two teams.




Thursday 24 March 2016

Cup time

Wednesday 23 March 2016 Codicote 1 Welwyn Garden City 3, Spartan Laegue, Challenge Trophy Semi-final - played at Herns Lane Welwyn


Great cup game with three of the 4 goals of top quality, Welwyn were the hosts but were in fact the away team - the teams are a division apart and it was the extra quality of the Welwyn finishing that was quite noticable. A good game, superb goals and a nice little ground with a busy clubhouse.










Monday 21 March 2016

Mac back

Tuesday 21 March 2016, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Nottingham Forest Under 21s 1 - U21 Development League, South Division, Portman Road

McGoldrick back and also an impressive return to competitive football by Kundai Benyu


Saturday 19 March 2016

What would the Dutchmen think?

Saturday 19 March 2016, Ipswich Town 0 Rotherham United 1 - Championship, Portman Road



Last night was annual ex-players reunion which saw the return to Ipswich of Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen - not sure they would recognise the evts this afternoon as football!


Tuesday 15 March 2016

Happy Birthday Murph!

Tuesday 15 March 2016, Ipswich Town 2 Blackburn Rovers 0, Championship - Portman Road

2 goals for Birthday boy Daryl Murphy.


Sunday 13 March 2016

Plenty to Crow about!

Saturday 12 March 2016, Royston Town 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds - Southern League, Division One Central - Garden Walk Stadium



With both teams pushing for a play off place I expected a close game - and I got one, with Rushden the best supported team in the Division I expected a big crowd and I got one but what was not expected (but very welcome) was the almost Summer like conditions that added to the big ground made this a very enjoyable afternoon.



Rushden supporters seemed to outnumber the home fans but from the start it seemed that the Rushden fans were not expecting much a recent dip in form and a number of new arrivals meant many expected a hard game. they got that and Royston deserved their win with a far better work commitment and some excellent displays in what was great all round team performance.



After the game, Rushden fans gave the match officials some stick but you could tell that even the Rushden fans knew they were clutching at short straws as they had in fact been second best all over the park today.




Both clubs could end up facing each other again the play-offs but Rushden need to start winning again or they might not even make the play-offs.









Wednesday 9 March 2016

Never a three goal defeat

Tuesday  8 March 2016, Barton Rovers 0 Aylesbury 3, Southern League, Division One Central - Sharpenhoe Rd




The home team were in this game from start to almost the finish and the three goal defeat disguises how close, this game was - not only competitive but good football played by both teams on a windy night and a pitch with a significant slope.




Not many here to watch the game in what is a nice neat ground, maybe built with money from previous FA Vase runs? Good seated stand plus some well built brick covered terraces on the other side.



Club house not bad but maybe more investment has gone into the VIP/Directors bar area at the rear of the main stand.




But mostly this was a cold windy night where the quality of the football helped warm the cockles!