Sussex by the sea - double

 Saturday 30 December 2023,  Sussex Double

Bognor Regis Town 1 Canvey Island 1

Isthmian League

Nyewood Lane

Attendance: 743

Game, kicked off early as the clubhouse was hosting a wedding later, gave me a chance of a cheeky double. Arrived early to get a good space to park to get away to next game on time.

Good crowd in attendance with a few from Canvey and a ground that will please most hoppers, with the variety of stands on offer.

Game wise, Canvey were a bit more football savvy whilst Bognor had plenty of skill on show but with plenty of young players on show, struggled at times with the final ball. Canvey took the lead on 57 minutes but Bognor got a deserved equaliser on 84 minutes, we then had a bit of diving/cheating by Canvey as they attempted to get players booked/sent off. 

A quick get away and arrived at the next game just as the whistle started proceedings:

Pagham 3 Horsham YMCA 1

Southern Combination, Premier Division

Nyetimber Lane

Attendance: 154

A bumper crowd boosted by a number coming from Bognor, with a number of Bognor scarfs on show in the clubhouse, club would have also done well in bar takings and food sold out!

Liked the ground, a bit ramshackle, but a club house with windows within feet of the touchline, an old seated stand which was great, once you found a way to get in it, many ended up in the changing rooms by mistake. look over the back fence and you had the total opposite to the football ground, with the local cricket club having a very modern and looked expensive pavilion.

Pagham deserved the win, first of their goals was on own goal in the first half then they added a second early in the second half. Horsham then got a penalty which also saw a Pagham player sent to the sin bin, however during his absence from the pitch, Pagham broke down the right wing, a good cross and the best goal of the game, Pagham then had most of the ball but failed to add to the score.

Pagham will be pleased, 3 points, bumper gate and plenty of cash taken in the bar, Sussex FA will also be happy with numerous bookings of both players and coaches, only surprise was no red cards, in particular the Pagham keeper seemed to live a charmed life as he seemed to be involved in every argument that took place and spent most of the game abusing the match officials, not a great advert for the club!

Not a great night but a great Year

 Friday 29 December 2023, Ipswich Town 0 QPR 0 - Championship, Portman Road

It has been a fantastic 2023, scored in ever home game, promoted, sitting in top two of the Championship - just a pity the last game of 2023, was so poor.

Deserved point

Tuesday 26 December 2023, Ipswich Town 1 Leicester City 1 - Championship, Portman Road

Great atmosphere, great second half display and a well deserved point against the league leaders.

No Derby feeling

Saturday 23 December 2023, Ipswich Wanderers 1 Felixstowe and Walton United 2 - Isthmian League, North, Humber Doucy Lane

A Derby match, bigger crowd than normal for Wanderers but a disappointing game, Felixstowe won and keep their promotion hopes alive, whilst Wanderers matched them for most of the game, but the match lacked the Derby feel, a few bookings but hardly a bad tackle and for the players (and fans) it just seemed like a normal game - disappointing. 

No home comforts

Tuesday 19 December 2023, Cambridge City 0 Harborough Town 7 - NPL, Midland Division, Westwood Road, St Ives.

Cambridge have lived a nomadic life for a number of years, however they are now close to getting their own home ground open, trouble is ow it mat come at the same time as relegation!

Wait continues

Saturday 16 December 2023, Ipswich Town 2 Norwich City 2 - Championship, Portman Road

Dominated the game but for one it was finishing that let us down. the wait for a Derby win continues.

Back on the G3

Tuesday 12 December 2023, Ipswich Town Under 18s 5 Kinetic Academy 3 - Friendly, Playford Road, G3 Pitch

After waiting years to 'tick' the G3 pitch off, I have now seen 2 games in 2 weeks!

Should have been on grass but heavy rain this morning, saw the agme moved to the G3. Kinetic academy are a post 16 football academy from London, who have had quite a bit of success helping younf players into the pro game, with a number going on to play League Football. Ipswich are one club who have benefited from close ties to Kinetic.

Ipswich went ahead after 5 minutes but 4 minutes later, Kinetic were back on terms. Ipswich then dominated the rest of the half, going in at the break 5-1 up.

Second half was quite scrappy as Ipswich made a number of substitutions, the Town added a 5th goal in the 52nd minute but it was Kinetic who finished on top, getting two goals back in the last quarter of an hour.

Not a football ground, but still a great football game

Saturday 9 December 2023, Coventry United 2 Leicester Nirvana - UCL Premier South, Butts Park Arena

This game was not even i my thoughts at 10am, but the 3 games I had in my plan- all in Surrey/West London area were washed out- so it was a drive north for the plastic pitch option.

When I arrived, thought I had made a mistake, not a great welcome at the turnstile, over priced admission, a programme not worth the £2 and car park at £5 and the bar and limited food offering obviously run by the stadium owners not the club.

However, in the end I was glad I had made the effort,  I saved the £5 by parking in the small road next door and then, stand large and empty but at least it good view and then the real reason it was worth coming- the football. Leicester were bottom with Coventry not much higher up the league but both teams served up a great game. Coventry started on top but it was Nirvana who went in the break two up, a goalmouth scramble in 17th minute then a cracking shot from distance in the 44th minute.

Nirvana should have secured the win in the 52nd minute when awarded a penalty but the keeper saved that and then the rest of the half was mostly Coventry pushing forward and on the 70th minute they got one back, the Nirvana keeper made a great save but a United forward was first to the rebound.##It still looked like Leicester would hold on, Coventry did hit the posts in the last minute and then they got the equaliser they probably deserved with a header from a tight angle in the 91st minute.

No cup run this year

Tuesday 5 December 2023, Ipswich Town Under 18s 1 Swansea City Under 18s 2 - FA Youth Cup 3rd Round, Portman Road

Great first half of football, dominated by Ipswich, however they found themselves two down as Swansea scored twice from fast breaks, Ipswich got one back just before the break from the penalty spot.

Second half was much more scrappier and City held on for the win.

Can't keep a clean sheet

Saturday 2 December 2023, Ipswich Town 2 Coventry City 1 - Championship, Portman Road

Did not play well second half, but still won - and Burns may have won goal of the season with his first half goal.

Poor afternoon, great evening.

Wednesday 29 November 2023, Arsenal Under 18s 0 EC Lens Under 19s 2 - UEFA Youth League, Borehamwood, then:

Ipswich Town 3 Millwall 1 - Championship, Portman Road

As poor as Arsenal were in the first game, Ipswich were as good in the second. Have a feeling more of those playing for Ipswich may play at least one game (or play again, in the case of some) than the young players at the Arsenal Academy.

The futbology App made me go!

 Tuesday 28 November 2023, Ipswich Town under 17s 1 Millwall Under 17s 1 - PDL Under 17 Cup, Playford Road G3 Pitch

Cold night, but joined 49 others watching a game on the astro at the Training ground- most there as parents but joined by a few 'hoppers' all there to tick the G3, as someone had put it on the App!!

Goal frenzy

Monday 27 November 2023, Colchester United Under 21s 3 QPR Under 21s 6 - Professional Development League, Park Drive, Maldon

For 28 minutes it looked like an easy game for Colchester, two up and cruising but then it all clicked for Rangers and the goals poured in, for a great away win.

Favourites win

 Sunday 26 November 2023

Another double day!

1030am - Holbrook Swan 0 Borussia Martlesham 3 - Ipswich Sunday Football League, Premier Division, Reade Field

Reade Field is in the Holbrook village, a village playing field with a children's playground, plus an old pavilion/large shed /wooden changing room block. The field feels enclosed , as houses one side and the back of the shops the other, field not visible from the road. The Holbrook Swan team take their name from the local pub, which does back onto the field. The field is owned by the Royal Hospital School and lease to the village for one Reed a year ( not sure what value that is with current currency exchanges!!!)

Chose this ground, as had not been before and also thought football may be of good standard as the visitors had a good run in the national FA Sunday Cup last season. i seemed to have chosen well as both teams attempted to play a passing game, and with the help of a good ref, we did not have the niggle/dirty games you can get on a Sunday. Goalless at half time as both teams missed good chances, but in the second half Borussia dominated and their first two goals were almost identical, coming from powerful headers from corners. In the end it was an easy win, from what was an enjoyable game to watch. End of the game, just a 20 minute drive to Felixstowe for the next game.

1pm

Ipswich Town Women 8 Sutton Coldfield Town Women 0

Women's FA Cup, 2nd Round

At Felixstowe and Walton United

Higher placed Ipswich gave their midland opponents a football lesson, could easily have been double figures on what was very cold afternoon on the coast. stand out player was Lenna Gunning-Williams, who bagged a hat trick ( she is on a season long loan from Spurs)

Felixstowe doing well financially from having Ipswich sue their ground as the food counter queue never seemed to go down from kick off to the finish.

Good to see the 'Spanner; bench in place.

Cold but sunny

Saturday 25 November 2023, Double game day in Surrey:

1230 - Spelthorne Sports 2 Camberley Town 2 - Combine Counties, Premier Division, South, Spelthorne Sports Club - then:

3pm - Chertsey Town 2 Southall 1, Isthmian League, South Central Division, Alwyns Lane

Like a number of hoppers used the early kick off at Spelthorne Sports to get two games in:

1230pm

Spelthorne Sports 2 Camberley Town 2

Camberley started well and got on top and took the lead on 16 minutes, with the home team struggling to put a few passes together, however in the 25th minute they got back on level terms. 10 minutes later, direct from a free kick, Camberley were back in front again but Spelthorne only took 3 minutes this time to get back on term.

In the second half, a surprise to me, it was Spelthorne who were the team on top, but the game kept being interrupted as both teams committed a number of petty fouls. The home saved their best chances to the end and in the last 5 minutes they had two great chances to win the game.

The ground is very basic, next to a busy road, two small seated stands and a small standing cover, clubhouse is outside the ground, but a tea bar was open next to the changing rooms. A quick exit afterwards for the 15 minute drive to Chertsey.

Chertsey Town 2 Southall 1

Big game in the division, second v first. Even arriving with just 10 minutes to spare, still managed to fin a street car park space quite near.

Entered a ground where the bar and food stalls were doing good business, surprised to see so few Southall fans in attendance. Clubhouse is decorated in tribute to the Chertsey team who won the FA Vase.

Great start for Chertsey as they were in front after just 1 minute, and they continued to dominate with their main striker having numerous chances, Southall were disappointing and played little football and were happy to just lump it up front. However on 29 minutes they were back level after scoring from long range. 

Second half, saw Southall down to 10 men after 51 minutes - defender sent off as he looked like he was the last man when fouling, Chertsey scored from the following free kick after Southall failed to clear the initial kick.

Southall then decided to play football and even with 10 men got on top, over 6 minutes of injury time and for every attacking set piece the visiting keeper went up front, made for great entertainment but they could not find the equaliser and Chertsey could not add a third goal, even with no keeper between the posts.

I had seen Cherstey away earlier in the season, and noticed their away support included some pensioners, all dressed like they had just left a Madness gig, the OAP Scooter club! Today there were even more of them, American Flying jackets DM boots and even one pork pie hat and all looked 65 plus!

Football disco

Friday 24 November 2023, May & Baker 2 Southend Manor 2 - Eastern Counties League, Division 1, South, Parkside Aveley.

A very cold night close to the M25, even first 15 minutes then the home team dominated the rest of the half but somehow failed to score- Southend struggled to deal with every corner that May & Baker had.

Second half, was bit scrappier but in the 71st minute the home team took the lead from a well struck shot and added a second from the penalty spot 7 minutes later, that seemed game over as Southend had not offered much going forward, then in the 86th minute a goalmouth scramble saw the visitors get a goal back and then totally against the run of play they drew level in the last minute. The Ref found about 11 minutes injury time but no further goals.

Not many more games left for May & Baker here, as they prepare to move to their new ground, they had the small bar open tonight as the main bar had a birthday party on, so the game was played out to the sound of loud 80's disco music!.

Ipswich have the last laugh

Thursday 23 November 2023, Brantham Athletic Under 18s 0 Ipswich Town under 16s 0 ( 2-4 on penalty kicks) - Brantham Leisure Centre, Suffolk FA Under 18 Midweek Cup

A disappointing game with very few goal scoring chances, Brantham were on top for most of the first half but let Ipswich off with some poor finishing, and Ipswich themselves missed one good chance when their forward blasted over when he should have hit the target.

Second half saw Ipswich start to dominate possession without threatening the goal, so no surprise that it went to penalty kicks. The second half saw Brantham attempt to intimidate their younger opponents however it was Ipswich who had the last laugh.

Good to see 2 Ipswich 1st players turn up to watch the game.