Still no win, but again a great display

Sunday 29 September 2024, Ipswich Town 2 Aston Villa 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

What a game, and one that Villa were lucky to leave with a point - Delap was a handful all game - it is coming - that first win!

Heavy rain but still some decent football

Thursday 26 September 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 3 Everton Under 21s 3 - Premier League Cup, Bloomfields (Needham Market)

Heavy rain started at 4.30pm, so arrived fearing the worse, but when I turned up teams were warming up and so were the match officials. Game started with the rain still heavy but the pitch stood up to the conditions well.

Everton took the lead twice in the first half but each time, Ipswich got back on level terms quite quickly. Both teams had played some good football in what was very poor weather.

Second half the rain stopped for a while and Ipswich now dominated the play but it was Everton who took the lead for the third time, but again Ipswich hit back with probably the best goal of the game. Somehow Everton managed to hold on for a point.

At least one cup win this season

Tuesday 24 September 2024, Stowmarket Town 0  Ipswich Town Under 21s 0 ( 3-4 on pens) - Suffolk Premier Cup, First Round, Greens Meadow

It was thought Ipswich would play an U18 team as they have an U21 game v Everton on Thursday - however so many registered players, we could fill two or 3 sides, but maybe large numbers, certainly not much quality beyond the first choice U21 players.

With Stow re-building this year and fielding a very young side, Ipswich were expected to stroll to an easy win - but it never happened. Ipswich hit the post in the first half and had one goal chalked off for offside, second half it was Stow who went the closest to scoring as Ipswich struggled to create many chances. In injury time, the Stow keeper became a hero after making a great save from a direct free kick. 

In the penalty shoot out he improved on his hero status by saving the second Ipswich penalty - then he turned villain! He volunteered to take the 4th Stowmarket penalty and managed to hit it so high, it missed the goal, left the ground and the ball was last seen heading towards Bury St Edmunds!

The Ipswich keeper then saved the next Stow penalty and Ipswich were through to the next round.

No finisher and a few cheapskates

Saturday 21 September 2024, Buckingham 0 Brook House 3 - FA Vase, Second Round, Qualifier, Stratford Fields

Progressive club, friendly but on the pitch lacking a finisher and off the pitch, too many people willing to watch from the park .. and not pay the £6 (which included a free programme)

No need to stay sharing

Tuesday 17 September 2024, Benfleet 2 Little Oakley 1 - Essex Senior League, Woodside Stadium

A good news story about ground sharing, and you do not get many of them in Essex. Benfleet shared at Canvey but have now moved back to their original ground, and with plenty of work done over the summer, it is working well. good news is they are attracting large crowds, get the benefit of booze and food sales - and they are even winning! Just need a few more teams, like Hutton, Stanway Pegasus to move home or to a ground of their own.

Much better second half

Friday 13 September 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Cardiff City Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League Cup, Bloomfields.

Terrible first half but much better in the second- as Cardiff were the team who were hanging on at the end

Nothing to write home about

Tuesday 10 September 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 0 Hull City Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Very poor display by Ipswich, second best all over the field, Hull City scored direct from the corner on 25 minutes and the home keeper did not cover himself in glory when the second goal went in after32 minutes.

Slight improvement by Ipswich in the second half, but nothing to write home about!

Closer to the 92

Saturday 7 September 2024:

Got closer to the 92 today and managed a second game on the way north

1030am

Coalville Town Ravens Under 21 1 Bilston Town Under 21 3

MFL Under 21 Division

Owen Street Sports Ground

F & N

Attendance: 43 h/c

Good game to watch, even first half with the home side taking the lad after 32 minutes. Second half saw Bilston dominate - getting back on level terms after 46 minutes then scoring again after 73 and 79 minutes, the last two goals scored when they were down to 10 men after one of their players sin binned.

Snack bar open and doing a roaring trade, as junior and women matches were being played on the 3 outside pitches. Obvious a great youth set up, so surprising they chose to drop down a few levels.

Then onto:

3pm

Chesterfield 2 Grimsby Town 1

League 2

SMH Group Stadium

Admission: £24

Programme: £3

Attendance: 9325

Score line flattered Chesterfield, who finished the game with 10 men. Ref filled his book with yellow cards, including a number of the coaching team from both sides! Attendance indicates that Paul Cook has got the club on the up, and home fans seemed very happy with what is on offer football wise.

Cup did not draw the crowds in

Wednesday 4 September 2024, Banstead Athletic 1 Midhurst & Easebourne 3 - Southern Combination, Peter Bentley Challenge Cup, Chalky Lane

Game started 7 minutes late, no reason for it as all players and officials were warming up well before kick off!

Even start to the game, then the visitors, who are from a high division took control and had the better chances, with their number 9 getting the first goal of the game, with some smart finishing on 27 minutes.

4 minutes into the second half and the same Midhurst player added his teams and his own second goal after a well worked move, just after Banstead had just had their best chance in the game so far.

4 minutes later it was game over as the visitors added a third goal, Midhurst then introduced a number of substitutes, most looked quite young and this allowed Banstead to start having more of the ball and they managed a consolation goal in the 79th minutes, with what was probably the best goal of the game.

Very close to London, just off the M25 but has a very rural feel, off a small track opposite Chessington, World of Adventures.

Two wooden dug outs and on the opposite side a 120 seat stand. Behind one goal was some cover, with a few 

chairs placed in it. Behind the other goal are some further pitches.

Bar was open for beer, and Banstead run their own small snack bar which had rolls and hot drinks.

Cup run over

Tuesday 3 September 2024, Ipswich Wanderers 0 Newmarket Town 1 - FA Cup Qualifying Round, Replay, Humber Doucy Lane

Very poor first half with neither team creating much, Wanderers having slightly more of the ball.

Second half seemed to be following the same pattern until the 57th minute when the visitors took the lead. This changed the game completely, with Wanderers now looking more positive, hover Newmarket kept catching Wanderers on the break. In the 82nd minute, Wanderers were awarded a penalty, I think for handball. the last cup game I saw here, Chris Casement, ex Ipswich Town and Linfield scored a cracking goal from a direct free kick, but today he managed to put his penalty wide of the goal!

Newmarket continued to catch Wanderers on the break and in the 87th minute the Wanderers centre half managed to get himself a second yellow card. 

8 Minutes of injury time, and even with 10 men, Wanderers kept pushing forward but it was the visitors who held on for the win.

Last minute cracker

Monday 2 September 2024, Ipswich town Under 18s 3 Barnsley Under 18s 3 - Bent lane , Training Ground, Professional Development League

Good game, first half quite feisty and surprised no one got a red card. Second half, Ipswich got on top, but Barnsley got the goal of the game deep in injury time to grab a point