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.