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.