East Anglian Double

1pm
Colchester United Under 18 2 Charlton athletic Under 18 4
Professional Development League
Florence Park (Col Utd Training Ground)

Played on pitch furthest from office block- so a boggy walk to pitch, pitch fully railed and portable dug outs on far side. Plenty of chances in first 5 minutes for both sides so expected plenty of goals but we only got one in the first half with the hosts going in front after 34 minutes.

Second half did see plenty of goals with Charlton getting back on terms after 48 minutes then going in front after 64, only to be pegged back to 2-2 after 77 minutes. However Charlton were now dominating and went back in front after 82 minutes and added a 4th in injury time.

7.45pm
Ipswich Wanderers 2 Lowestoft Town 1
Isthmian League, North Division
Humber Doucy Lane

Big crowd for the Suffolk derby match - Lowestoft were sitting at the top of the division, whilst Wanderers have struggled in their first season at this level. First half was a close contest without either team looking close to scoring, with the visitors having most of the ball. Not sure anyone was expecting what happened in the second half.

Within a minute of kick off Wanderers had taken the lead and then added a second 3 minutes later- no need for the Trawlermen to panic, with 40 minutes left to get back in the game. Wanderers left Blake up front but everyone else was now back and Lowestoft laid siege to the Wanderers goal. But the home team held on and it was not till the 79th minute did they get a goal back, but they could not get the second, so a shock win for Wanderers and one that would have pleased their closest rivals, Felixstowe, who sit second in the Division. Ipswich Town now have a policy of loaning out as many of their U18 and U21 players as possible to local teams, and the very young Ipswich Town keeper, Danny Cullum was man of the match for the Wanderers.

Windy Essex

Monday 26 February 2024, Colchester United U21 2 Cardiff City U21 0 - Professional Development League, Park Drive (Maldon).

A game that was always going to be difficult for both sides due to the strong wind, neither keeper had to do much for the first 40 odd minutes with Cardiff looking slightly more dangerous. Then in the 43rd minute, Colchester were awarded a soft penalty that they scored from, this caused the Cardiff coach to send plenty of abuse towards both the  Ref and the lino, but 2 minutes later it was the Colchester fans he was arguing with after the hosts added a second with a great shot from distance. The Cardiff coach was quick to tell the Colchester fans that the Welsh side would still win.

He was wrong! Thought Colchester would struggle with the wind in their faces in the second half but in fact they came closer to scoring that Cardiff but the game ended up with a comfortable win for United. 

A short trip to Croatia to catch the Dinamo Zagreb - European Conference League Play-Off game but managed a bonus game.

Had spotted the National League U19 games were being played on the day I arrived, and with one kicking off at 2pm, a chance to see if I could make that game. Plane landed on time and a taxi fare of just 28 Euros made it a no brainer:

Wednesday 21 February 2024, 2pm

NK Seveste Under 19 1 NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 2
National U19 League
G3 Pitch- next to Stadion Sv, Josip Radnik

Attendance: 152 h/c (Official attendance on website of 50)

Arrived at the game with 45 minutes to spare and spotted the U17 game between the same teams, disappointingly it was on a G3 pitch behind one of the goals, the U19 game was also on the same pitch , a small open stand was on side of pitch, with a few benches behind one corner flag, however the game could also be watched from the left hand side of the main stand.

Lokomotiva dominated the game but were only one up at half time, they went 2-0 up after 65 minutes then it was all about penalty kicks, The home team missed one after 72 minutes, then they scored from teh spot after 75 minutes then Lokomotiva missed a penalty after 77 minutes. Good sized crowd for an entertaining game.

Then it was a mile walk to the train station and a short/cheap train ride to Zagreb city centre and short tram trip to my hostel.

A day spent sightseeing in Zagreb, recommend the 80s museum - even had some Yugoslav and Dinamo football magazines and sticker albums on show, also spotted a number of the Betis backroom staff walking round the old town and a few Betis fans.

As I went to catch my tram to the ground, it happened to be the same time as 300 Betis fans were being escorted to the tram to get to the ground, so jumped on the same tram.

Thursday 22 February 2024, Kick off, 6.45pm
Dinamo Zagreb 1 Real Betis 1
European Conference League, play-off
Stadion Makismir

Admission: 20 Euros, print at home

Ground - what can you say, Croatian FA have done well financially from FIFA and UEFA from runs in the World Cup, but other than the outside façade, nothing seems to have been spent on the ground. All stands in the open, concrete in poor condition and one stand still closed after an earthquake. However, still a great atmosphere and with a (rare) full house it was even better.

Zagreb had shocked many by winning at Betis and they were on top in the first half but it was the visitors who took the lead after 38 minutes.

Many thought that the Spanish team would now show their class, however Zagreb kept pressing and got back on terms after 59 minutes and saw the game out quite easy, they even had a penalty awarded but turned down after a VAR check.

Got to the tram stop quickly after the game, but a long wait still as the roads were closed till all fans had left the stadium.

Great city and two good games.

Dream still alive

Saturday 24 February 2024, Ipswich Town 3 Birmingham City 1 - Championship, Portman Road 

Ipswich leave it late , but another win and Southampton lose - the dream of promotion is still alive.

Plenty of goals

Tuesday 20 February 2024, Ipswich Town under 21 7 Swansea City Under 21 3 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Last week the Under 21 team lost 1-8 at Bent Lane and this week won 7-3, supporters of the Under 21 team, certainly get plenty of goals to watch.

Ipswich stronger than last week as they used a few players who are currently out on loan to Step 3 and 4 clubs - and after 10 minutes were 2 nil up but then Swansea got back into the game and it was 3-2 at half time.

Within 4 minutes of the second half starting, Swansea were back on level terms, but Ipswich this time were determined not to let this game slip away and and within 5 minutes were back in front and continued to press Swansea and added a further 3 more goals before the finish.

Then onto Portman Road:

Ipswich Town 4 Rotherham United 3 - Championship, Portman Road

We won - but not exactly sure how!!

All over in 7 minutes

Saturday 17 February 2024, Harefield United 2 Reading City 0 - Preston Park, Combine Counties, Premier Division, North

Reading started brightly but got caught on the break, Harefield winger taken down inside the box, winger gets up and takes the penalty, 1-0 after 5 minutes. Two minutes later Harefield get a second, tap in after a good cross.

And that was it for the scoring, both teams had further chances but either wasted the chances or the keeper made a good save. One of the Reading subs at half time looked very sharp and maybe he should have played the whole game. Harefield saw a young left winger come on as a sub in the second half and he managed to waste 3 further opportunities to add to the score.

Ground very basic but decent low seated stand on clubhouse side, with some cover for those standing on the far side between the dug outs. Good club house and the burger van pitch side also sold hot drinks, beer and spirits! Car park very small but street parking close by.

Not expecting that!

Tuesday 13 February 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Charlton Athletic Under 21s 8 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground.

First 10 minutes were quite even then chaos and to be honest Charlton could have scored more, not a great day at the office for Ipswich.

Time wasting

Saturday 10 February 2024, Ipswich Town 2 WBA 2 - Championship, Portman Road

WBA Came, they scored, they were in front twice - but they also cheated, time wasted and showed the side of the game that puts fans off- but Ipswich never gave up and got the point, that they deserved.

Lucky to get a goal!

Wednesday 7 February 2024, Asfordby 0 Dunkirk 1 - United Counties League, Division One, Hoby Road

A chance to see one of the newer teams in the league, very basic ground, but plenty of space to improve facilities and a decent clubhouse. But crowd only just over 50 and half of them were hoppers.

Football wise, a few good players on show but both teams lacked a real center forward- Dunkirk did improve in the second half when their young subs came on, and they then missed a penalty but did get a late winner from a looping header. 

Cup run over

Monday 5 February 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 0 Crystal Palace Under 21s 1 -  PFL Under 21 Cup, Bloomfields (Needham Market FC)

Disappointing game, not helped by the wind- did not take our chances when on top- just the Suffolk FA Premier Cup left now.