All sports

Saturday 29 May 2021, Sungate 3 Buckhurst Hill 3 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, Ilford Wanderers Rugby Club

Turned up with a minute to spare and within 10 minutes, one team was 3 up - I thought it must have been the Champions, Buckhurst Hill but in fact it was Sungate and they could have scored more. Buckhurst Hill looked totally out of sports but they managed to pull one back with a smart header on 34 minutes.

Second half was much scrappier and that suited Buckhurst Hill who pulled a second back within a few minutes of the second half starting and had a good shout for a penalty a few minutes later. Sungate were tiring but still managed to create a few chances and they then had a good shout for a penalty themselves, unfortunately it was not given and Buckhurst Hill broke quickly and got the equaliser.

Sungate home support were now expecting to lose and were expecting the Buckhurst Hill, number 20 ( who was not very popular with the home support) to get the winner. But with just two minutes of the game left a long ball saw the said number 20 and the Sungate keeper run into each other, keeper got to his feet but the Buckhurst forward stayed down, so the ref blew for full time and an ambulance was called.

The set up was great for this level, pitch fully railed and the rugby clubhouse was selling hot food, teas and the bar was also open. Another football game was on the pitch next door and on the adjoining playing fields there were a number of cricket games in progress and further football games, all this made parking spaces hard to obtain

Wreh you go

Wednesday 26 May 2021, MK Gallacticos 4 New Bradwell St Peter 1 - SSM League, Division 2, Spring Cup - Manor Fields (MK Irish)

Good game, decent crowd and a first this year- paying to get in and a floodlight match!

The Gallacticos were on top in the first half scoring on 14 minutes then Chris Wreh (relative of George, I believe, son of Christopher?) scored an absolute stunner if first half injury time.

New Bradwell started the second half sharper, the Gallacticos best midfielder got sin binned and New Bradwell got a goal back and dominated for the next 10 minutes, however once Gallacticos were back to 11 men, they got back on top and Wreh got a further two goals from the penalty spot. He may be slightly 'large' but he is certainly a very skilful player.

Only one stand open for fans as other stand was for substitutes, quality seats (ex Hockey stadium) but stand low and a distance from pitch but everyone sat so no problem with view. NHS App booking in was working but it meant it was slow getting in ground so 50 plus spectators missed first 5-10 minutes.

Liked the ground and MK Irish have big plans, they have a couple of diggers on site and are in process of putting a third stand in behind the far goal and further work planned. The ground is part of a large sports complex with cricket training going on next door and the rugby club the other side of the car park.

Love of the Common people

 Saturday 22 May 2021, Stowupland Falcons Reserves 0 FC Whitehorse 2 - Suffolk FA Primary Cup, Quarter-final, Stowupland Common

Turned up at Stowupland Sports and Social Club, 30 minutes before kick off and no one around, then bumped into a late arriving Whitehorse player - who phoned his mates and found the game had been moved to other side of the village and was played on the pitch on the Common.

The pitch on the Common is just 10 metres from a main road with trees on the far side and a couple of cottages, pitch was not too bad, but not sure why the game was not played on main ground as there was no cricket being played and two football pitches were still in place at main club.

Stow had been knocked out by Clare Reserves, then pout back in again after Clare were thrown out, their opponents today were from the Lowestoft League.

Very even first half but not many chances, with Whitehorse coming the closest to scoring after a period of pressure and a number of corners.

Second half saw Whitehorse get on top and they scored in the 65th minute and added a second 5 minutes later and could have had a couple more late on.

The pitch on the Common is just 10 metres from a main road with trees on the far side and a couple of cottages, pitch was not too bad, but not sure why the game was not played on main ground as there was no cricket being played and two football pitches were still in place at main club.

TOWIE Football

Saturday 15 May, Springfield 1 Basildon Town 1 - Springfield Hall Park, Essex Olympian Premier League

                       

A trip down the A12, less than an hour from ipswich - but like entering a different world - at a football match but any minute expecting some of the cast of TOWIE to turn up! Chairs and tables out, fizzy lager and plenty of trendy caps!

Getting back to the football - witnessed a great game, Basildon were the better team in the first half even if fortunate to take the lead from a quickly taken free kick, however in the second half, the home team gave as good as they got - neither team at the end bothered with midfield and the only real surprise of that day is taht we saw just two goals. 

Suffolk come out on top in Cambridgeshire

Thursday 13 May 2021, Sawston Phoenix 2 Clare Town Reserves 2 ( 5-6 on penalties) - Kershaw 30 Years, Junior Cup, Quarter Final, Lynton Way Recreation Ground

Not sure what to expect, as one of the lowest level games I have seen for a while but there was no need to worry, what I ended up watching was a great game.

90 minutes of end to end football, a cracking goal, an own goal, a red card, a 'super sub' and to top it all off a fantastic penalty shoot out!

The bonus, a Suffolk team win and now go onto the semi-final.

Cup run to where?

 Saturday 8 May 2021, Carlton Colville Town 1 Sporting 87 4 - Corton Playing Fields, Suffolk FA Junior Cup Quarter Final

First of all Carlton Colville play the other side of Lowestoft rather than in carlton Colville itself, Corton Playing Fields are almost in Norfolk and only 150 metres from the North Sea coast. The game was important for both teams but this year they are not sure where the final will be held - so at the end of the game, the winner would be 90 minutes from ?? Hope the FA can work with Ipswich Town to get the finals at portman Road- it really is a  dream for these players to walk out at a proper league ground

Impressed to see brick dugouts on both pitches, plus the rain had stopped and the wind was not that bad - what we did see was a very competitive game, some strange goals, the home captain in the sin bin, some torpedo like throw ins and an away win! 

A great afternoons entertainment just disappointing so few were there to watch it .

Windy Bedfordshire

 Monday 3 May 2021, Real Haynes Reserves 4 Flitwick Town 'A' 1 - Haynes Village Hall, Bedfordshire Suplementy Cup 'D'

Small village playing field with 2 pitches behind a large village hall/changing rooms facility, good size car park and the location felt enclosed with a housing estate one side and large hedges behind one goal and to the side of the second pitch.

Pitch was roped on one side.

Very even first half, however Haynes had the (strong) wind with them and had most of the better chances but only scored right at the end of the first half.

I expected the visitors to dominate the second half and make Haynes pay for only getting one goal, however Flitwick seemed to have no idea how to play with the wind and it was the home team who quickly added a second goal. Flitwick got one back but Haynes were very dominant and added two more goals, one from the penalty spot.

The Bedfordshire Supplementary Cup seems a good idea, just disappointing that a number of clubs are pulling out of fixtures, very late in the day.