An even game

Saturday 28 January 2023, Ipswich Town 0 Burnley 0 - FA Cup 4th Round, Portman Road

Burnley sit top of the Championship and look certain to be heading back to the Premier, whilst we are third in League One - however we match Burnley all over the park and maybe should have gone on and win the game.

Back to winning ways

Friday 27 January 2023, Ipswich Town Under 21 4 Colchester United Under 21 2 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

And Frank Nouble saw Red at half time!

Blip over?

Tuesday 24 January 2023, Ipswich Town 4 Morecambe 0 - League One, Portman Road

 After a month of inconsistent results, let us hope this is the start of a run of wins. 

How many veterans??

Sunday 22 January 2023, Bourne Vale Casuals Veterans 3 Odiham Crocs Veterans Reserves- Farnham and District Sunday League, Weydon School, Pitch #2 3G

First visit to new daughters house in Farnham, shopping was mentioned so football was quickly a higher priority! Before the weekend had done some research and this was the closest ground, however was amazed to find that the Farnham Sunday league- all 9 divisions- were for veterans! With a number of the teams playing on Step 5 and 6 grounds. however with the cold spell continuing, it was the 3G card being played. The League seems to cover a lot of Surrey- Aldershot and Farnham area, and parts of East Hampshire.

Two pitches at the school, #1 is slightly higher up a slope, 3G cage, no spectator area,, but does have dug outs. The game on pitch 1 must have kicked off half an hour early.

My game was on Pitch 2, again a cage, dug outs within the cage, however there is a spectator area on this pitch as within the cage is 4 lane athletics sprint track, so game cam be watched from there with a waist high barrier between track and pitch. Both pitches also used by Saturday football teams,

Bourne Vale were on top, however Odiham scored with their first shot on target on 18 minutes, Bourne vale equalised on 33 and went ahead on 43 only for Odiham to get back on terms with the last kick of the half.

game had been played in a good spirit, however as players tired, tackles became later!! Leading to a few arguments. On 57 minutes, Bourne Vale went ahead , a great goal from a free kick, however Odiham made sure of a point with an equaliser, header from a corner in 74th minute. Enjoyable mornings entertainment, and expect to see a few more games from this leafue when visiting my daughter.

Plastic pays dividends!

 Saturday 21 January 2023, Alton 1 Farnham Town 1 - Combined Counties, Premier South, Anstey Park

Only two games survived the cold in this division and the other was in the Channel Islands! Only game on for miles saw a record crowd at the ground of over 500, unfortunately for Alton, did not make as much as they could have as no hot food as the grill was broken.

Pitch wise, Alton started slow but got on top and should have won, however with a penalty taken in the last minute of the game, as it seemed they had won the 3 points, however the Ref had spotted encroachment, but did not order the kick to be retaken - instead an indirect free kick - so Farnham escaped back to Surrey with a point.

Kids like the cold

Tuesday 17 January 2023, Ipswich Town 1Nottingham Forest 1 (Ipswich win 4-2 on penalties)  - FA Youth Cup 4th Round, Portman Road

May have been below freezing but the players did not seem to care and the crowd were warmed up by a great game - even with extra time and then the penalty shoot out. Good win for the young Town team, who now have a home tie v Liverpool to look forward to.

Can't hold a lead

Saturday 14 January 2023, Ipswich Town 1 Plymouth Argyll 1- League One, Portman Road

Winning against the leaders, but yet again, could not see the game out - Play offs may be our destiny.

Windy night in 'Dickens' country

Wednesday 11 January 2023, Lydd Town 2 Staplehurst Monarchs 4 - SCE Football League Cup, 3rd Round, Lindsey Field

Original match off due to rain but as had the night off and a mate was coming along, decided on the long

trip to Lydd, to complete this league.

Good communications via twitter told me the game was on, most of the journey down was in the dry, but as we approached Lydd and entered 'Dickens' country, the conditions did not look great, arrived to strong winds but luck was on our side and no rain fell till the trip home.

Visitors had the wind with them in the first half and used it to their advantage, in particular with their in-swinging corners and deserved to be two up after 35 minutes, did think they may need a third as Lydd would have the wind with them in the second half. The surprise was that after hardly having a touch for the first 40 minutes, Lydd went in at the break on level terms! Scoring in the 43rd and adding a second in injury time.

Think most present thought that with the wind advantage, Lydd would now press on in the second half and get the win - however within two minutes of the re-start, Staplehurst were back in front and that added with the fact that Lydd could not find a way to use the wind to help them, the second half saw the visitors keep control of both the ball and the game and the only surprise was it took till the 73rd minute for them to add a much deserved 4th goal.

Clubhouse was open and also a a great tea hunt with hot food on offer- very friendly welcome, much appreciated on such a windy night.

Shock - we are in the 4th Round!!

Saturday 7 January 2023, Ipswich Town Under 18s 1 Millwall Under 18s 7, Premier Academy League, Bent Lane, Training Ground

Ipswich scored within the first two minutes and hit the post after about 20, but other than that it was all Millwall, who also hit a post and missed a penalty, the Ipswich team seemed to comprise mainly of school kids.

Seems all U18 and U21 games will now be played on the Bent Lane site, the U16 game was played on the next pitch (another easy win for Millwall). Coffee van was missing today.

Then onto Portman Rd

Ipswich Town 4 Rotherham United 1, FA Cup, 3rd round, Portman Rd

Ipswich on to all game, great opening goal but slack defending let United back into game at start of second half but Ipswich got back on top and came away with an easy win and we are the 4th Round - for the first time in ages.

Great for the neutral

Monday 2 January 2023

1130am - Windsor 3 Hilltop 2 - Combined Counties, Premier Division, South, Stag Meadow

3pm - Uxbridge 2 Bedfont Sports 3 - Isthmian League, South Central, Honeycroft

Two entertaining games, 10 goals and the sun stayed out!

Windsor, scenic venue, rural feel, one great old stand and friendly welcome. Nor sure about the Windsor strip!! Hilltop are a team mainly of players from Somalian heritage and they try and play a passing game, Windsor slightly more physical, however a good game to watch with Windsor winning it in injury time.

The ground at Uxbridge does not have the charm of Windsor, even with a decent stand, however, what I did get was another entertaining game, The visitors probably had less of the ball in the first half than Uxbridge did, however Bedfont were more clinical in front of the goal and excellent on the fast break, so at half time they found themselves three up!

Uxbridge made a number of changes at the break and ended up getting a couple of goals back but could not find the elusive equaliser.