Great start then boredom!

Tuesday 17 December 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Colchester United Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

What a start - less than 30 seconds into the game Ipswich were in front, fantastic finish from a tight angle, Colchester hit back on 10 minutes when Kai Martin, who netted a hat-trick for Colchester’s U18s in a 3-2 victory over QPR at the weekend, out muscled two Town players out of the way to score- and that was with Martin looking the smallest player on the pitch!

Ipswich then dominated for the next 80 minutes with Colchester just having two attempts on goal, one from a free kick. Hpowever even with all their domination , Ipswich never really looked like adding to their first minute goal.

Ipswich fielded a very young U21 team today, guessing a few of the usual starters may turn out for an Ipswich Town XI tonight in the County Premier Cup at Leiston.

Excitement all the way

Saturday 14 December 2024, Badshot Lea 2 Harrow Borough 3 - Isthmian League, South-Central, Operatix Stadium

Fantastic entertainment- for a neutral - the young Badshot team were on fire for the first 20 minutes but could not score, then suddenly Harrow seemed to wake up, two quick goals and then a third in first half injury time, It seemed very unfair on Badshot but also it seemed game over.

Badshot started the second half like they did the first, on the front foot attacking with pace and skill and this time they did find the net and got two goals back. It looked like they would get a point, especially after the Harrow keeper got a straight red card, but actually the sending off seemed to wake Harrow up and they held on to get all 3 points.

Badshot have a young team, keep playing like this and they could stay up,  great young skipper and footballer in Kai Allsopp.

Ground is very basic but you get a very friendly welcome.

No cup joy this year

Wednesday 11 December 2024, AFC Bournemouth Under 18s 3 Ipswich Town Under 18s 2 - FA Youth Cup, round 3, Silverlake Stadium, Eastleigh

Did not expect much from this young Ipswich team as not had a great season, but in the end they were unlucky to go out, with the ref being the only person in the stadium who did not see a blatant penalty for the Town that the Ref just ignored.

Impressive stadium and bonus of cracking chicken burger and chips!

For once, McKenna got it wrong

Sunday 8 December 2024, Ipswich Town 1 AFC Bournemouth 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

Kieran McKenna has got very little wrong since arriving at Ipswich, but the blame for defeat lies at his feet today, for once he failed to use his subs early enough.

Not sure we can afford many more home defeats like this.

Where Leeds got booted out of the FA Cup

Layer Road was the home of Colchester United for many years, and the scene of a great giant killing, when the Essex team knocked Leeds United out of the FA Cup.

The ground, is no more- new houses on a site called Turnstile Square, but great to see a physical reminder put in place to remind people that this was once the home of thousands of supporters every other weekend. 

Not sure this is the right place for the second sign spotted! 

Storm Darragh does not stop play

Saturday 7 December 2024, Tiptree Heath 5 Sudbury Sports 0 - Essex and Suffolk Border League, Premier Division, Shrub End Sports Centre

3G Pitch but was always planning to come here today, large sports field with a small changing room block, a large number of grass pitches ( 3 games were under way at 2pm, on the grass) and a G3 cage next to the main building. The whole place is run by the Colchester United Community Foundation, field is just 5 minutes from the old Colchester, Layer Road Ground.

No spectator facility inside the cage, 3pm kick off with the lights coming on after 30 minutes of the game. 19 watching at the start but only 5 at 90 minutes!

Second half was played in horrendous conditions, but both teams still attempted to play football, very few fouls and the officials had an easy afternoon.

Tiptree were one up inside three minutes, scoring straight from a direct free kick, then adding a second goal 6 minutes later, they dominated the half and added a third in injury time.

On 48 minutes, a keeper error, gifted Tiptree a 4th goal and they added a 5th after 74 minutes.

A game no one deserved to win

Tuesday 3 December 2024m Ipswich Town 0 Crystal Palace 1 - Premier League, Portman Road

A poor game, but one we had enough of the ball to win- but struggled with the final ball, going to be a long winter.

Almost threw it away

Monday 2 December 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 3 Swansea City Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Ipswich started on the front foot and were three up within 14 minutes and it looked like it was going to be a very one sided game, however Ipswich failed to add any further goals in the first half even though they dominated most of the possession.

Second half was also played mostly in the Swansea half however even with most of the play, Ipswich only made one good chance that the Swans keeper had to save.

The Welsh side got one goal back on 55 minutes and then they added a second on 82 minutes, it should never have been this close a game, however Ipswich managed to see the rest of the game out to ensure they got all the three points.