Monday 28 January 2019

Still top of the league ( Reserve league)

Monday 28 January 2019, Ipswich Town Under 23s 5 Millwall Under 23s 0 - Playford Rd Training Ground, Professional Development League

5 great goals and a Bishop hat trick

Saturday 26 January 2019

Your ground is too neat for you

Saturday 26 January 2019, Edgware Town 1 Biggleswade United 0 - Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division, Silver Jubilee Park



Not a bad game, with both trying to play football but what I liked about Edgware was the ground, not spectacular, nothing special, not run down but friendly and most of all neat - cut hedges, neat stands, clean lines - just the way you would want your own garden!















Wednesday 23 January 2019

How to build a new ground - and keep it in the town centre

Tuesday 22 January 2019, Dorking wanderers 1 Enfield Town 0 - Isthmian Premier League, Meadowbank



Many new grounds in the country many are 3G or 4G however many have no character - of course a facility to play football on is the most important factor but we are also in the entertainment business.




Meadowbank has a great G4 pitch, a good grandstand, a good if small social club, shared facilities with Surrey FA and another big plus - a town centre site.




Tonight we had snow, sleet but the game was never in doubt, it stayed cold but Dorking and Enfield put on a cracking game, Dorking stay in second place however Enfield will feel they should have at least gained done point if not all three.






Saturday 19 January 2019

Where is VAR when you need it?

Saturday19 January 2019, Lordswood 3 Erith Town 1 - Southern Counties East, Premier Division, Martyn Grove



Quite an even first half but both teams did seem to like a moan. Second half started with a bang as the home team number 11 found a good cross and Lordswood found themselves one up. A few minutes later, same player had another cross and we then had a goalmouth scramble - the ball may have even crossed the line twice, however the linesman and Ref decided to give the goal.


from where I stood, it did look like the ball had crossed the line, however the Erith players were not so sure and one decided to tell the ref, in no uncertain terms. A red card was quickly shown and we were fortunate that people stepped in to stop the sent off player continuing his argument with the home fans.



Number 11 again was involved in the third goal but after that the game did clam down and Erith even got a goal back - just think how boring the game would have been if we had VAR at this level?







Saturday 12 January 2019

Won, survived, but will we still be fighting In May?

Saturday 12 January 2019, Ipswich Town 1 Rotherham United 0 - Championship, Portman Road

We survived, not sure how at times, but a win is a win and we are still in their fighting ... but will we still be in May?

Survived crossing into Kent

Friday 11 January 2019, Gillingham Under 18s 1 Ipswich Town Under 18s 2 - FA Youth Cup, 4th Round, Priestfield Stadium

 
A nightmare of a journey down the A12, but made the game with 10 minutes to spare - an even first half however Town went ahead just before the break with our star player, Dobra getting the goal.
 
 
 
 
The youth team probably thought that their journey into the next round would now go smoothly but like our trip South, they hot a few hurdles and in the end, the Youth team scraped through with a few minutes to spare.

Thursday 10 January 2019

And the Jam played ...

Wednesday 9 January 2019, Woking 2 Welling Utd 0 - National League (South), Kingfield



Home of the great Paul Weller, so no surprise to hear the Jam being played over the PA just before kick off, but the fans were more interested to know if the team would suffer after their brave FA Cup battle over the weekend with Watford.


The score seems to say no, and Woking did dominate the first half but only getting the one goal. Second half did see the ;'Cards' tire but a sign of a good team, even with Welling dominating the second half, it was Woking who added a second gaol, securing all 3 points.





Monday 7 January 2019

First team keep losing and Reserve team keep winning

Monday 7 January 2019, Ipswich Town Under 23s 4 Bristol City Under 23s 2 - Professional Development League, Playford Road Training Ground

City treated the cup with respect

Sunday 6 January 2019, Manchester City 7 Rotherham United 0 - FA Cup 3rd round, Etihad Stadium



Pep picked a strong team, players gave it all and even if Rotherham lost heavily, I am sure their players and fans are glad that City treated the game as they would if they were playing Liverpool or Barcelona.



The stadium, pre match build up, the Academy ground, the athletics stadium - Sport City is impressive, modern and a pleasure to visit. The history of the club is also remembered.



Plus across the road was the Maine Road chippie- Pies with chips and the a choice of gravy, English Curry and Chinese Curry, with a football sticker stuck on the doorframe, modern ground but the chippie had you thinking of the old ground and Moss Side.