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.