Silver lining

Tuesday 30 April 2024, Silver End United 4 Barnston 1- Essex and Suffolk Border League, Premier Division, Conker Park

Nice way to complete the league, a good little club house, just light rain and some good football, Barnston started on top and took the lead after 10 minutes but within 20 minutes the home team were on top and went in at the break 3-1 up, and only real surprise was that they only added one more goal in the second half.

Different levels

 Saturday 27 April 2024

A treble today and 3 very different levels of Football.

Game 1 - 1030am
Mosborough Yellows 5 Game Changer FC 1
Sheffield Fair Play League, Division 3
Mosborough Miners Welfare

Mosborough won the league during the week but found themselves one down after 6 minutes, and they struggled to control the first half but did get back on level terms after 19 minutes.

I the second half their superior quality and large amount of subs began to tell and they scored 4 further goals before being presented with the trophy. Game became a bit of a joke with so many subs and they even put their keeper up front as he tried to get on the scoring chart.

2 pitches behind the Miners Welfare, fist pitch is home ground of Mosborough Rugby Union Club, the football pitch is beyond the rugby pitch and up a slight bank. Two fixed dug outs in place.

Then short drive to:

Game 2 - 3pm
Sheffield 0 Hebburn Town 2
NPL, East Division
Home of Football

Hebburn had to win to guarantee the title and they did so with little stress. Sheffield were on top for the first half hour but never troubled the visiting keep, after 30 minutes Hebburn started to take control and only real surprise was they only scored twice.

Ground struggled to cope with the much larger than normal crowd, home fans seem very keen on the move to their new ground ( for 25/26 season) not far from their current home but at least not in Derbyshire! Am sure some will miss their current home, no surprise when the ground is in a pub back garden!

Short drive east to:

Game 3, 8pm

Hull City 3 Ipswich Town 3
Championship
MKM Stadium


Classic - great for the neutral but if we had held on a for those last few minutes we would have almost been up, but now Leeds are still in the race.

In the box

Tuesday 23 April 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Wigan Athletic Under 21s 0 - Professional Development League, Portman Road

Luxury viewing today, in an executive box and free  coffee! 

Surprise win

Saturday 20 April 2024, East Harling 3 Norwich CEYMS 2 - Anglian Combination, Premier Division, East Harling Memorial Field

East Harling are bottom of the table but somehow after 44 minutes they found themselves two up! Norwich got back on terms and looked the team more likely to win the game but East Harling never gave up and got a cracking winner in injury time.

Mountain views

17 April 2024, CPD Llanuwchllyn 0 Dolgellau AA FC 2 - Ardal North East, Cae Gwalia

My annual walking trip to Wales allowed me to catch yet another Welsh non-league game, and another venue with cracking mountain views. a Welsh speaking village, however I was made very welcome and watched a surprising away win.

Can't win but still top

 Saturday 13 April 2024, Ipswich Town 1 Middlesbrough 1 - Championship,  Portman Road

Going to the wire

Wednesday 10 April 2024, Ipswich Town 0 Watford 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Down to the last 4 games

Windy game

Tuesday 9 April 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 4 Burnley Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Very windy Bent Lane, but it did help keep the rain off, An entertaining game and one the players still managed to play some good football, even with the strong wind.

Ipswich dominated the first half and were 3-0 up after 23 minutes but after some sloppy play, Burnley got one back before the break.

The visitors then had a player sent off after 47 minutes and it was game over, only surprise was that Ipswich only added one further goal.

Sunny for a change

Monday 8 April 2024, Colchester United Under 21 1 Birmingham City Under 21 0 - Professional Development League, Park Drive, Maldon

Poor start for Colchester as they scored an own goal after 2 minutes, but were back on terms after 9 minutes and were probably the better team for most of the game. Even with Birmingham sitting high in the Northern Division.

Colchester hit the post twice in the second half but in the last 10 minutes of the game Birmingham stepped up the pace and were awarded a penalty after 85 minutes but a poor kick was easily saved, so a point for each team. 

At least the sun came out.

Tuesday 2 April 2024, Ipswich Town Under 18s 3 Millwall Under 18s1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Entertaining game at Bent Lane and for once it was both dry and sunny!

Ipswich started on top and took the lead after 28 minutes and added a second 4 minutes later. Millwall then got back into the game after the Ipswich keeper was caught off his line and lobbed.

Second half saw Ipswich miss numerous chances but they did add a third in the 58th minute.

Ipswich had a young side out with a number of schoolboys playing and all the subs also being school kids. Guess with Millwall it was a similar aged team.

Does it get any better?

Easter Monday 1 April 2024, 12 noon - Yelverton 3 East Harling 2 - Anglian Combination Premier, Garrick Field

Short drive up to Norfolk to watch a decent game at Step 7, and the bonus of a tea hut in a ground that felt enclosed thanks to hedges.

Then off to Portman Road

5.30pm - Ipswich Town 3 Southampton 2 - Championship, Portman Road

What a game, what a win - 97th minute winner!