Sunny Norfolk

Tuesday 29 April 2025, Easton 4 Mundford 0, Anglian Combination, Premier Division, Mattishall Playing Field

Mundford already relegated and one down in the first minute, it looked like we may be in for a goal fest, however even after adding a second goal in the 10th minute, and having most of the ball, Easton found it hard to add to their goal total.

In fact a few of the younger Mundford players showed a good level of skill and even created a few chances for themselves to score, and would expect a number of them to move to other senior clubs during the summer. 

Second half was a bit scrappier with Mundford defending for most of the half, Easton added 2 more goals in the 50th and 82nd minute then had a penalty saved with 5 minutes left.

A few Mundford supporters present, the club should be congratulated for fulfilling all their fixtures when other clubs would have just folded when they found themselves cut adrift.

Ground wise, not in Easton, but in Mattishall, small concrete stand, brick dug outs. The pitch is the far side of the cricket ground, the clubhouse was open and doing a good trade in beer on a warm evening. 

Improved display

Tuesday 29 April 2025, Ipswich Town under 18s 1 Watford Under 18s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

For the first time in a white a good performance from the young Ipswich team and for once we fielded a strong side, with the only schoolboys on the bench.

Ipswich took a deserved lead after 15 minutes and remained on top for most of the first half. Second half was more even but the lack of a centre forward in the Town team meant any chances created went to waste and a defensive/goalkeeper error saw Watford level on 71 minutes. Kristian Shevchenko, the son of Ukrainian football legend Andriy Shevchenko, was up front for Watford but he was subbed in the second half.

Cup Final Day

Sunday 27 April 2025, Framlingham Town Veterans 2 Capel Plough Veterans 3 - Suffolk FA, Veterans Shield, Bloomfields at Needham Market FC

Suffolk FA were hosting 3 of their finals today at Needham, this game was on the main ground at 1030am, with a Sunday final kicking off on the G4 at 11am and then the main Veterans Final would be back on the main pitch at 2pm.

Framlingham play in Division 3 of the Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League, whilst Capel are in Division 6, however Capel have just re-formed this season so they will soon move up the divisions and it was Capel who were on top in the first half and took a deserved lead after 28 minutes.

The second half saw Framlingham have more of the ball but game was still quite even, Framlingham got back on terms from the penalty spot 54 minutes and then took the lead on 69 minutes. Some thought that was it but Capel seemed to get a second head of steam up and were back on terms after 74 minutes then got a third goal on 80 minutes.

Tired legs on both sides, subs coming on, and game getting quite disjointed, and as the game got scrappier it was Capel who were hanging on, injury time and still enough time to see a Capel player get a second yellow and so an early bath ( by 2 minutes) He should possibly of just got a straight red for his poor acting as he attempted to get the Framlingham player sent off with him!

Today was also a good opportunity to sit in the main stand at Needham for the last time as it is to be demolished and replaced in the next couple of weeks.

Return to the Menace

Saturday 26 April 2025, Peckham Town 1 New Romney 2 - Kent County, Premier Division, Menace Arena

After a late call off last season due to a waterlogged pitch, thought I should go back and watch a game at the Menace Arena, and with top of the table, New Romney as the visitors, I thought it would be a good game.

The Menace Arena is a great ground for Step 7 and should be one for all hoppers to visit, Railed off, clubhouse, good beer, quirky stand, smallest stand in IK and great signage add to that a good community club, a woman manager and a friendly welcome.

Football wise, New Romney did not look like a team who could win the title today, they offered very little and Peckham deserved to go in front after 36 minutes.

New Romney started the second half with a more positive attitude and got back on level terms after 50 minutes. The game got quite niggly as certain players in both teams became ill-disciplined, but the ref did well to calm things down and keep all 22 on the pitch.

Peckham then got back on top and looked like they may get a winner but then with 5 minutes left New Romney hit them on the break to get an undeserved win. 

With Minster also winning, New Romney will have to wait a bit longer to lift the title. 

7 An unlucky number

Tuesday 22 April 2025, Ipswich town under 18s 1 Sheffield Wednesday Under 18s 7 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Another hammering for the Ipswich Under 18 team, and that capped with the Under 21 team also letting 7 in yesterday does not make good reading when hoping for the club to produce some of it's own young talent.

Ipswich started well and had the first good chance of the game with the Wednesday keeper making a fantastic one handed save but then it was all down hill for Ipswich - with Wednesday goals on 12, 18, 23, 40, 46, 57, 63 and 89. Ipswich did not help themselves with 2 own goals and a bad keeper error for a third goal. 

West Sussex Monday

Monday 21 April 2025, 11am Billingshurst 3 Storrington 1 - Southern Combination, Division One, Jubilee Fields

3pm - Broadbridge Heath 4 Littlehampton Town 0 - Isthmian League, SE Division, High Wood Hill Sports Ground

Two modern but decent grounds, larger than normal crowds saw two home wins.

The first game looked like it would be an away win as Storrington should have been well ahead at half time but in the end only had one goal to show for their domination. In the second half Billingshurst got two quick goals before a keeper error saw them add a third.

In the second game, an even start then Broadbridge went ahead with a penalty and after that it was all one way traffic as they added 3 further goals, however Littlehampton never game up and kept working hard, slightly more annoying were their aged ultras, one who had a loudhailer - who needed ignoring!

When will we win again?

 Sunday 20 April 2025, Ipswich Town 0 Arsenal 4 - Premier League, Portman Road

Not down mathematically, but only kept up by West Ham also being so poor recently

Arsenal dominated from the start and were two up quite quickly then helped by a red card after a needless foul by Davis, they ran out easy winners.

Ipswich defended well with 10 men in the second half but Arsenal added a further 2 goals both starting from  short corners.

Again disappointed that a team so good as Arsenal are happy to spend much of the game, diving, moaning and trying to influence the ref. Then no surprise when many Premier match officials seem to act as if they are mates with players from the top clubs!

In the end today we were not good enough, we have played well at times, maybe flattered at the start of the season, but we can't fault the players commitment, the club seems united, so hope we get back to winning ways in the Championship next season. 

Potential for growth

Saturday 19 April 2025, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 0 Winslow United 2 - SSM Premier, Haywood Way

Aylesbury started off well and missed a good chance from a header early on, but it was the visitors who took the lead after 8 minutes, also from a header. After that it was Winslow who had control of the game and they added a second goal after 63 minutes.

Aylesbury fielded a young team, plenty of skill on show but lacked tactical nous and needed to work on teamwork, whilst Winslow looked a well drilled team.

The ground is basic, but plenty of room for further ground improvements, small car park and you enter the ground via the clubhouse. By the number of young boys and girls at the game in Aylesbury strips, the home club obviously have a great youth set up. 

Soon to move

Saturday 12 April 2025, Cuxton 91 2 SC Thamesmead Reserves 1 - Kent County Premier, Cuxton Community Ground 

Wanted to be home early however wanted a new ground and then when I heard the Cuxton 1st team are to move in at Maidstone next season that had me driving just south of the Dartford Tunnel.

Ground is well worth a visit, the friendly welcome , the programme then you spot the raised spectator area on a small hill above the dug outs. Giving the ground an almost South Wales feel to it. The ground is very tight so you can only watch from the hill or the corner behind one goal. Smart, large modern clubhouse, selling beer and pies. The crowd (according to the programme) was one of the lowest of the season, but think that when the club announces the gate it will include the 15 to 20 punters who never left the clubhouse or clubhouse garden.

Cuxton started the day in third with a chance of going second but it was Thamesmead who started on top and took the lead after 12 minutes, this actually seemed to wake Cuxton up, who got back on terms after 19 minutes then went ahead after 30 minutes.

No further goals in the second half but Cuxton did hit the post and the visitors keeper had to make a number of good saves.

Good news is that the Cuxton Reserve team will continue to play here next season.