Thursday 29 December 2022, Braintree Town 1 Chippenham Town 1 - National League, South, Cressing Road
Braintree decided to take a risk and kick off in the afternoon on what for some was a working day- did it pay off? Not sure, but great to be able to be home by 6pm and the football was quite poor, so not sure that would have helped us keep warm if it had been an evening kick off!
The ground is still worth a visit, and the club programme shop is a bonus.
Tuesday 20 December 2022, GNG Oadby Town 4 Long Buckby 1 - UCL Premier Division, South, Riverside.
A end of year game that saw the 'Hopper' fraternity descend on Leicester, a club saved by the local Indian Community, and not a bad team!. Easy win for the home team on what is a basic ground, but plenty of room to expand.
Good to meet up with fellow hoppers, just before Christmas.
Saturday 17 December 2022, Catholic United 3 Larkspur Rovers 0 - Anagram Records Trophy, 3rd Round, Len Forge Centre
Saturday 3 December 2022, Coplestonians 2 Ransomes Sports 2 - Suffolk and Ipswich Senior Division, Humber Doucy Lane
Car issues, meant I could not make the most of an Ipswich Friday game by getting new ground tick in. As I live in IP4, thought I should attend the 'IP4' Derby- and even better a bracketed tick as Cop's play at our closest Step 5 ground.
Ransomes sit second in the league and have not lost a game all season, whilst Cop's sit mid table, An away win looked to be on the cards and within minutes of the kick off, Ransomes were awarded a penalty - however the Ransomes player (also an ex Cop's player), missed - putting the ball over the bar and out of the ground!
However it does not take long for Ransomes to take the lead, what is more surprising is that they then let Cop's back in the game with some poor defending and we finish the half with Coplestonians in front 2-1, but not before Ransomes are awarded another penalty, same player takes it and same result - over the bar and out the ball ends up out of the ground.
Second half is all Ransomes, even after they have a player sent off ( you guessed it- the ex Cop's player who missed both penalties, also decides to take an early bath!)
5 minutes before the end, Ransomes get the equaliser their play deserved, leaving Cop's to wonder why they could not hold onto a lead when the opponents only had 10 players.
Friday 2 December 2022, Ipswich Town 1 Fleetwood Town 1 - League One, Portman Road
Could have gone top, but we concede again in injury time!
Wednesday 30 November 2022, Rugby Borough 0 Moulton 3 - SSM League, Division One, Kilsby Lane
Argentina on in the club house, Messi has a penalty saved - but once the Ref's whistle goes, the clubhouse is empty! The World Cup and no Premier or Championship football seems to be drawing people to non- league football. Even with some of the best teams and best players in the world on show on TV, fans want their live football fix.
The 99 fans here certainly got their money's worth. Rugby sit in second place but it was mid table Moulton, the visitors who ended up running away with the game with their young Number 11 looking like a player who will not be playing at this level long.
