Beat the rain - play the G3 card

Saturday 7 February 2026, Cambridge City Development 1 Great Shelford 6 - Cambridgeshire County League, Premier Division, Sawston G3

City started on top and had two great chances in the first two minutes but that was followed by two great chances for the visitors!

Shelford, the League leaders soon got on top and took the lead on 18 minutes, it then got a lo32nd minute t harder for the home team when their centre half got sent off in the 32nd minute, probably the right decision but not great seeing the visitors pressurising the ref to give a red card.

Shelford extended the lead on 37 minutes when the home keeper failed to hold onto a shot and it was an easy tap in for the visitors. Tow great solo goals were added in the 40th and 44th minute.

Great Shelford added two further goals in the 57th and 80th minutes before the home team got a consolation goal in the 81st minute.

Two minutes from the end, a visiting player picked up an injury, he managed to walk off but them seemed to be struggling with his breathing. The trainer and away players went to him - after a  few minutes, the Ref spoke to both benches and decided to finish the game two minutes early, hopefully the player was not in a bad way.  

No Plan 'B'

Saturday 31 January 2026, Ipswich Town 1 Preston North end 1 - Championship, Portman Road

Ref was poor but even so, we seem to lack a Plan 'B' to compete against teams who sit deep.

Winning in the rain

Friday 3o January 2026, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Crystal Palace Under 21s 1- Premier League 2, Colchester United, Community Stadium

Spitting as I arrived but within 10 minutes it was torrential rain, and with a strong wind, still getting wet sat 15 rows back! Last year this game would have been called off but Ipswich have worked on the pitch for Colchester over the summer and even with the heavy rain the match was never in doubt.

Ipswich had lost a few games on the trot so needed a win, and after 2 minutes were ahead after a good move. It was then end to end, with both keepers making good saves and could have easily been 3-3 at the break.

Second half continued in the same vain and Ipswich went two up after 53 minutes. Both teams then hit the woodwork and both keepers were still kept busy. A number of subs for each side saw the game get very fragmented, Palace did get a goal back on 84 minutes but Ipswich saw out the last few minutes to get a win from a very entertaining game. 

No defending allowed

Saturday 24 January 2026, Aston Villa U21s 5 Ipswich Town U21s 4 - Bodymoor Training Ground, Premier League 2

What should have been the second game of a double with a Midlands U21 game in the morning, became just the only game I would see today, as my game at Cadbury Athletic was called off very late last night and then when we arrived at Ashby Ivanhoe (our back up game) we found that had also been called off whilst we were on route. So an hour in a coffee shop then a quick beer in Ashby before the short drive to Bodymoor.

Very smart complex with the Academy and Women's set up the furthest from the main road, and most impressive thing? The warm welcome, a number of other clubs could lean from Villa - fans made welcome, stewards smiling and helpful, stewards at car park - plenty of teamsheets plus a tea bar!

Ipswich had been top of the league but had lost last two games, but were on top straight away in this game, however Villa looked very sharp on the break. Ipswich took the lead from the penalty spot on 26 minutes only for Villa to equalise 2 minutes later. Villa then took the lead after 32 minutes.

Ipswich started the second half on the front foot but it was the hosts who went further ahead after 49 minutes witha long range shot that the Ipswich keeper should have stopped. Ipswich still kept pressing and got back on level terms with goals in the 52nd and 54th minute. 

The Villa forward, K Young then put Villa back ahead after 63 minutes, completing his hat trick at the same time. Villa added a fifth goal in the last minute with Ipswich then pulling one back , deep in injury time. Not a day for good defending! 

Home becoming a fortress

Tuesday 20 January 2026, Ipswich Town 2 Bristol City 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Another easy win as Bristol just seemed to give up once the second goal went in.

Suffolk double (well one and half games)

 Saturday 17 January 2026, Ipswich Town 3 Blackburn Rovers 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Then: Woodbridge Town 2 Heacham 0 (Abandoned 45 minutes, fog)  - Eastern Counties League, Premier Division, Notcutts Park

Another good win for Ipswich and a a good journey meant I made the Woodbridge game before kick off, but with the home team two up, in came the fog and that was it for the entertainment today.

Sun even came out

Friday 16 January 2026, Colchester United Under 21s 2 AFC Bournemouth Under 21s 1 - PDL 2, Florence Park

Made a change not to be freezing watch Colchester at Florence Park - the sun even came out in the second half! AFC Bournemouth had plenty of the ball, but when Colchester had it they looked the more dangerous of the teams. We got to the break goalless and did think it might be a goalless match.

However the hosts went in front after 51 minutes with a goal from close range for Lisbie. United did sit back then but the visitors still struggled to give the United keeper much work to do and on 83 minutes Colchester added a second through one of their subs. AFC Bournemouth did score with a minute left but Colchester saw the 6 minutes of injury time out quite easy.

Game played on lower pitch, still a very muddy path to get to the pitch.

Two cup wins in a week

Thursday 15 January 2026, Bromley Under 18s 1 Ipswich Under 18s 2 - FA Youth Cup, Round 4, Hayes Lane

First of all rain all day, but never a doubt the game would be off thanks to a fantastic pitch at Bromley (Blackburn take note!!)
Ipswich go through but Bromley were very unlucky, the hosts were the better team in the first half but a goalie error gave Ipswich the lead after 13 minutes but Bromley got a deserved goal back on 25 minutes.

Second half Ipswich were much better and got the winner after 63 minutes, but Bromley kept working hard and almost got an equaliser in the last minute of injury time.

A cup win for Ipswich, but a very fortunate one.

Into the hat

Saturday 10 January 2025, Ipswich Town 2 Blackpool 1 - FA Cup 3rd Round, Portman Road

Total domination by Ipswich, but failed to get the goals, meaning Blackpool were always in the game, but at least we are in the 4th Round draw on Monday!

Before the main game, was at the training Ground to see:

Ipswich Town Under 18s 2 Millwall Under 18s 4 - Friendly, Bent Lane Training Ground

​Game arranged to give the Ipswich players a warm up for their FA Youth Cup game later in the week. Match played on the pitch normally used by the U16 team. The U16 match was played over Playford Rd on the G3 pitch.

Good even first half with Ipswich coming out on top 2-1, expected more of the same but it was Millwall who were straight on the front foot, and dominated the second half, winning the game 2-4. Ipswich tried to get back in the game and put on a few of their stronger players at subs, meant they had more of the ball but never troubled the Lions keeper.

Rare defeat

Friday 9 January 2026, Ipswich Town under 21s 1 Fulham Under 21s 2 - Premier League 2, Colchester United 

Ipswich top and Fulham third, so expected a good game but football was disappointing tonight, maybe two weaker teams than normal due to FA Cup games on Saturday. Ipswich started well but Fulham soon got on top and scored twice in the first half and could have had more, however the Ipswich keeper will feel he should have done better with both goals.

Second half saw Ipswich make a couple of changes and they were the better team in the second half and got one goal back as Fulham concentrated on defending but also hitting Ipswich on the break. Even with Ipswich now on top, Fulham held on with ease for the win.

Goal Fest kept us warm

Saturday 3 January 2026, Shenfield 6 Bishops Stortford Swifts 7 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, St Martin's School 3G

My first 3 choices of games, all in the East Midlands - were all off by 11am and then one in Sussex at noon, so it was just a short trip down the A12 to a 3G pitch at Shenfield - was not expecting much, football wise.

Well I got that wrong - basic 3G set up at the back of our school, large car park but no catering- good news, you can spectate from inside the cage with almost all of one side having a railed off spectator area.

But the facilities may have been basic but the game certainty wasn't!

After just 3 minutes a keeper error gave the visitors an early lead but Shenfield were back on level terms after 9 minutes. Shenfield had plenty of the ball but having just 3 at the back meant Stortford benefited from any quick break, adding further goals in the 17th and 22nd minute, Shenfield pulled a further goal back in the 23rd minute but the visitors had the ball in the back of the net, 3 more times before the break, with one being disallowed.

At half time, bumped into a 'hopper' legend, just back from Morocco, spent the second half with him- we wondered if we would get more goals - we did.

Shenfield looked a much better side, hitting both posts and numerous chances kicked off the line but they were still very vulnerable at the back. Shenfield got it to 3-5 after goals  in the 55th and 71st minute, and a comeback looked on but the visitors got their 6th goal in injury time and then added a further goal 2 minutes later, only for Shenfield to score from the spot in the 10th minute of injury time.

Still time after that for an all player throwing handbags session - and then the final whistle. 

Not as ill disciplined as some of the games I saw in this division last season but still too much verbal abuse from both players and coaching teams, a very young Ref, did a great job in keeping this game under control.

Weather- bloody cold - but with 13 goals to keep us interested, it was no real concern and a quick exit back onto the A12, soon saw us warm back up. 

Should have been easier

Thursday 1 January 2026, Ipswich Town 2 Oxford United 1 - Championship, Portman Road

Now second in table, but we made hard work of this game.