Great comeback

Saturday 15 February 2025, ADC United 3 Springfield 3 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, Seymour Field

Cracking first half, with the second half competitive but lacking the first half goal fest!

ACD Utd, started the day just above their local rivals from Chelmsford in the league, however it was the visitors who started the game on top. After 4 minutes the home keeper had a howler and gifted Springfield a goal, after 23 minutes they were three up and those present were probably expecting a big away win.

The game was quite feisty with some crunching challenges but the Ref managed to keep a lid on it and did well to hardly use his yellow card and keep all 22 players on the pitch.

ACD manged to pull two goals back and so that was it for the first half. 4 Minutes into the second half and the home team were back on level terms, the only surprise over that last 41 minutes, was that no further goals were scored.

Basic set up on the edge of the village, just off the A12, pitch fully roped off and a small changing room block, no other facilities. Very small car park.

No win this time

Tuesday 11 February 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 3 Bristol City Under 21s 4 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

One thing you are guaranteed watching Ipswich Under 21s is goals, and another 7 today. Unlike last week , no win for the Town this time but yet another competitive game that gave the few in attendance an afternoon of good entertainment. Ipswich took the lead early on through an own goal and dominated for the first 30 minutes, then Bristol took control and got level after 42 minutes. City started the second half on top and quickly took a lead by two clear goal. Ipswich then made  a few changes and pulled one back, only for Bristol to get a 4th goal on the break, Ipswich pulled another goal back on the 87th minute but could not get an equaliser. 

Under 21 League serves up another cracker

Saturday 8 February 2025, Sutton United (Birmingham) U21s 3 Stafford Rangers Under 21s 3 - MFL U21, North Division, Coleshill Road Stadium

My third time this season watching games in the Midland U21 League, all have been good with this one probably the best of the lot. Sutton went ahead within a few minutes of the start and were 2 up within 10 minutes and looked far sharper than Stafford Rangers but suddenly the visitors seemed to get their game together and were back on level terms within 24 minutes, only for Sutton to take the lead again before half an hour had been played.

The second half was quite even and the only surprise was taht there was just one more goal scored, the visitors getting an equaliser after 75 minutes.

Many of us here are not keen on new grounds and some are made even worse with a G4 pitch, but if you are going to have to build a new stadium, you can't get much better than Sutton, well looked after pitch, hard standing on all 4 sides, even some astro turf terracing steps behind one goal. Plus a cafe/ bar doing good business with plenty of parents watching two younger teams playing on the smaller pitches. Obviously a well run club, who are very proud of their new home.

Then it was just a short drive to Coventry to see Ipswich play in the FA Cup

Coventry City 1 Ipswich Town 4

FA Cup Round 4

CBS Stadium

Town’s second string never looked in any danger of being defeated by a Coventry side which until Wednesday’s loss to Leeds had won five in a row, perhaps illustrating the difference between the divisions.

Jack Clarke was perhaps the biggest of plenty of positives for Town, the summer signing netting twice and assisting one and giving the Coventry defence a tough time all afternoon.

Good omen for Saturday?

Tuesday 4 February 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 4 Watford Under 21s 2 - Premier League Cup, Bent Lane Training Ground

Great win for Ipswich, great game of football, two superb Ipswich goals, a good set of match officials and a trialist defender (from a local non- league team) impressed for Ipswich in the second half.

What more could you want from an afternoon?

Good omen for a cup win on Saturday?

Going down with the Saints?

Saturday 1 February 2025, Ipswich Town 1 Southampton 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

Just not good enough - maybe the dream is over?

From the half way line!

Wednesday 29 January 2025, Billericay Town Under 19s 1 Southend United Under 18s 2 - National League U19 Alliance, Division 'A', New Lodge 

Glenn Tamplin certainly caused issues when involved in football - some of his antics were certainly strange, but one thing he should be thanked for, is the stadium he has left behind at Billericay, one that can be graded as one of the best Step 3.

Football wise, Southend dominated but came unstuck at the start of the second half when the home team scored direct from kick off, from the half way line! However in the end the Southend players were far too good for their South Essex neighbor's. 

Hammering

Tuesday 28 January 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Charlton Athletic Under 21s 5 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

A score that certainly flattered Charlton, Ipswich had most of the ball and some very good chances in the first 20 minutes but Charlton took the lead after 19 minutes, with what may have been Charlton's first attack, however it did not take them long to increase their lead, this time from the penalty spot and they added a third just before the break.

The second half continued to see Ipswich having plenty of the ball, but not taking any chances they created and it was Charlton who continued to break at speed and unlike Ipswich take every chance created and they added two further goals.

Ipswich then introduced two of their more senior players with just 10 minutes left, plenty of chances created but it still took till injury time before Ipswich actually beat the Charlton keeper.

Among the spectators were ex Ipswich players, Paul Goddard, Jamie Scowcroft and Scott Mitchell

Slopey pitch

Saturday 25 January 2025, Flackwell Heath 1 Kings Langley 0 - Southern League, Central Division, Wilks Park

Flackwell started the day in the play off positions whilst Kings Langley were mid table, so I expected a home win however this was a very tough game for Flackwell and they only won it with an own goal on 80 minutes.

Flackwell were on top most of the game however the visitors had periods when they got on top and both keepers made a number of good saves.

Ground has an 'old school' feel, hidden away behind houses and one low seated stand with a small bit of cover by the tea hut/behind the dug outs and two bits of cover for those standing behind each goal.. Clubhouse is more modern.

Big thing here is the pitch, not in great condition, looked quite heavy, most noticeable is the sideways slope on the pitch.

Worth it for the floodlights

Thursday 23 January  2025, Union Saint Gilloise 2 Sporting Braga 1 - Europa League, The King Baudouin Stadium

Big question is how this can be a national stadium! - With such a large site, maybe knocking it down and starting again would be a plan.

The floodlights are worth a look/visit but other than that, very poor. And it is not just the spectator facilities that were not what one expected for a European competition, the pitch was almost unplayable, looked more like a ploughed field - not sure Union will get away with not being fined by UEFA, I knew one of the UEFA staff present but he was just acting as a 'mentor' today - the new UEFA Official may have wondered if he was there for a ploughing competition rather than a football game.

The first half was poor footballing wise, the pitch was partly to blame but neither team looked like they would be challenging for the trophy in the later rounds. 

Braga had very little of the ball but took the lead after 16 minutes, but most in attendance would want to forget the first half. Football wise, the second half was not much better if you wanted to watch good football but at least it was very exciting, with Union winning the game thanks to goals in the 50th and 74th minute. But that was only part of the story, A Braga player got a second yellow card in the 79th minute, and he was soon followed down the tunnel by a Union player who also received a second yellow card. The final whistle then saw a number of Braga players lose their cool and a second Braga player was shown a red card and if Soccerway is right a Union player also got a straight red.

Not a great game, but you could not fault the passion shown by the Union fans, who kept signing (and drinking) throughout most of the game. 

Ukrainian victory

Wednesday 22 January 2025, Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Stade Brest 0 - Champions League, Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen

Had wanted to visit the Shalke ground for a number of years after watching them back at the old Park Stadion in the early 80's, even in the Second Division, hard to get tickets so this seemed a good option. Took the short trip from Essen to Gelsenkirchen and then the tram to the stadium. Left him at the turnstile as my entrance was on far side of the complex, but when I got inside, you could walk round the whole ground, so watched the second half with Dave, as plenty of spare seats around, (top tier was not open)

Brest have been one of the surprise teams in the Champions League this season whilst Donetsk had little chance of qualifying, however it was the Ukrainian team who were the  better side today, going ahead in the 18th minute and then adding a second from the penalty spot in the 37th minute.

Brest were slightly more competitive in the second half, but the Donetsk keeper only had to make one save, Donetsk scored again in injury time, but ruled out by VAR, 3-0 would have been a score that showed the domination by the home side.

No problem with tram back to the station and then a short wait for the train to Essen

Outclassed

Sunday 19 January 2025, Ipswich Town 0 Manchester City 6 - Premier League, Portman Road

Good first 27 minutes by Ipswich but then City tore us apart and confidence ebbed away from the team - at least the fans kept behind them to the end. Unlike Brighton, City did not have to resort to gamesmanship to secure the win.

However the impotency of the FA/Premier League was on show again today - not on about City and FFP, but City were also fined recently for continuously coming out late for the second half - today Ipswich and match officials had to wait 3 minutes for City to come out for the second half - maybe time for points deduction, rather than fines - and we may see them turn up on time.

Wembley dream still on for Fleet

Saturday 18 January 2025, Crawley Down Gatwick 1 Fleet Town 2 - FA Vase, 4th Round, Haven Sports field

Rural setting but only just off the motorway and close to Gatwick Airport, large modern clubhouse, selling plenty of beer and live tv on numerous screens. Small part of bar selling tea/coffee and rolls.

Once inside ground, a table selling sweets and tea/coffee but surprised no other food offerings, money making opportunity missed! But you did get a free biscuit with your coffee.

Very basic ground, but enclosed feeling due to two sides having large hedges behind narrow spectator hard standing and a wood line behind one goal.

Fleet looked the more lively team as the game started and were unlucky not to be awarded an early penalty, as the half went on the home side improved and they took the lead. They had further opportunities to add to their total at the end of the first half and then at the start of the second. However Fleet did not panic and equalised from the best move of the game and then took the lead soon afterwards. Fleet saw the game out and deserved the win in what had been a hard fought but entertaining game.