Always entertains

Wednesday 29 March 2023, Needingworth United 2 Over Sports Reserves 2 - Millfields, Cambridgeshire County League, 1B

A league I like after watching a few games during COVID, not great grounds but standard of football always seemed quite high. The game today again did not disappoint.

Also great to see a game in the 'silly season' that kicked off at 7.45pm - not sure many games held under the lights here. Large sports field on the edge of the village, numerous football pitches and a cricket green. Small brick changing rooms, with a small room with table and chairs and a kettle was on at half time. The main pitch has 6 sets of floodlights, railed on two sides and brick dug outs.

Football wise, Over Sports started on top however it was the home team who went in front with two cracking goals on 25 and 28 minutes. the second one may have been a cross come shot!. Over Sports got one back with a finish through the keepers legs on 37 minutes.

Second half was even however on 71 minutes, Needingworth had a penalty to secure the points - but it was saved and 5 minutes later their keeper had a howler attempting to stop a header and Over Sports were back level. a draw seemed a fair result.

Goals and cards

Saturday 25 March 2023, Northwood 2 Westfield 1 - Isthmian League, South Central Division, Northwood Park

Traffic on A12 and not great when getting off M25, meant we made the game with a minute to spare- but glad, we persevered with our trip as we got a game where both teams showed skill and were very competitive. Northwood dominated the first half, however Westfield probably had as many clear cut chances. Northwood took the lead on 37 minutes.

Second half, saw Westfield on top, they got back on terms from the spot on 60 minutes and looked like they would get a winner, but against the run of play the home team scored again on 74 minutes. Still time left for both teams to lose a player each, as the ref sent two off for some WWF Wrestling

Nice ground, plenty of cover and a good atmosphere and a good competitive game

Back to Maldon

Friday 24 March 2023, Colchester United Under 21s 1 Watford Under 21s 2- Professional Development League, Park Drive, Maldon

My third visit to Maldon to see Colchester Under 21s play, and all 3 games have been ruined by niggly moments. This time we we saw the Colchester centre forward get his second yellow card and his marching orders in the last minute of the game.

At least it was warmer than my last visit and glad it was at Maldon, not Florence Park when we had second half, heavy showers.

At least it did not rain!

Tuesday 21 March 2023, Colchester United Under 18s 1 Charlton Athletic Under 18s 2 - Professional Development League, Florence Park

Game played on bottom pitch, fully railed. Pitch quite heavy and that with a strong wind meant not a great first half of football. Second half improved, with Charlton dominating  and scoring in the 47th and 57th minute. Colchester got one back on 77, which meant we had quite a hectic last 10 minutes.

Clean sheet kings

Saturday 18 March 2023, Ipswich Town Shrewsbury Town - Portman Road, League One

6 wins on the trot and seven clean sheets - Club record! 

South Essex Derby day

 Wednesday 15 March 2023, Romford Under 19s 'Blue' 2 Barking Under 18s 'Blues' 3 - National Alliance League, Division 'A', Noak Hill Sports Complex

G4 Cage in a rural setting on the edge of Romford, a bit chilly but a decent game, with a few good players on show.

Back to winning ways

Tuesday 14 March 2023, Ipswich Town Under 21s 4 Cardiff City Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

For once we saw the Under 21 team win and win well - poor officiating meant the game finished on a sour note as both teams wanted to fight each other rather than play football. 

By the Range

Saturday 11 March 2023, Hythe Town 1 Chichester City 0 - Isthmian League, South East Division, Reachfields Stadium

100th game of the season and probably the worst! Chichester were the better football team but once they got to the penalty area, seemed to have rune out of ideas, Hythe had no midfield and bit more direct and managed to get the points with a scrappy goal.

Strange to hear no sound of gunfire, the ground sitting next to the Army Hythe range complex, where I spent much of my first year in the army.

Quirky ground, friendly crowd but poor football, not helped by such a poor pitch.

Easy win but Plymouth also keep winning

Tuesday 7 March 2023, Ipswich Town 3 Accrington Stanley 0 - League One, Portman Road

A good win, now on a good run- but will it be too little, too late?

Still third

Saturday 4 March 2023, Ipswich Town 4 Burton Albion 0

First 20 minutes were nervous then we broke the deadlock and game ended up as an easy win

Competitive game

Friday 3 March 2023, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Charlton Athletic Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane, Training Ground

Good competitive game, played at a fast pace that Ipswich will feel they had done enough to win. Ipswich went ahead on 8 minutes for Charlton to equalise just a minute later. Both teams had further chances in the half.

Second half, Ipswich had a great opening spell to the half with Charlton relying on good goalkeeping and a clearance off the line, also fortunate not to concede a penalty. Ipswich created further chances in the half but Charlton were always in the game, with their own best chance coming in the last minute

Norwich beaten by a team in Blue!

Wednesday 1 March 2023, Norwich City RDP Impington VC U19 0 Averley U19 7 - National Alliance U19, Division 'A', Cambourne Utd, Back Lane

Very one side game, the City keeper had a nightmare so was subbed at half time - he went home and did not watch the rest of the game!