Quality at the bottom of the pyramid

Thursday 15 May 2025, South Essex United 1 Ekco Park 0 - Essex Olympian League, Div 4, South east, Basildon, Post Office, Sports & Social Club

Had a night off and fancied ticking a new ground, Ford Social Club in Basildon  - and South Essex keep their twitter feed updated, checked with club and told game now at the Post Office Club, no problem, still a new ground.

This is quite close to the bottom of the pyramid but it would be hard to tell as both teams helped give us a cracking game with some very good football, both teams with a mix of experienced players and those starting in the men's game. Certainly seen many games much higher up the pyramid who would have struggled to display some of the quality football we saw tonight.

South Essex are to of the league and unbeaten but Ekco gave them a a very good battle. Only surprise, just the one goal and that took 51 minutes for South Essex to get that, they also missed a penalty after 77 minutes.

​This game was certainly a great advert for the league.

Game of two halves and a strange penalty

Tuesday 13 May 2025, Hackney Wick 2 Rayleigh Town 0 - Eastern Counties League, Division One, South- Spa Road

First time I have been back to Spa Road for a while and the ground has changed very little - and unlike my last visit, a decent crowd today- which meant chaos on the road up to the car park.

Football wise, Hackney had finished so far ahead on points ahead of others they were always going to start as favourites and that seemed the way as they took the lead from a towering header from a great cross in what was the first attack of the game. they added a second goal and Rayleigh did well to keep the deficit down to 2 goals.

Expected the same in the second half, but it was Rayleigh who were on top and Hackney were saved by a great save from their keeper then the real fun started. The Ref gave Rayleigh a penalty, the striker took ages to take it, stuttering run - and all the sort of tricks you often see in the Premier League - but the Ref was have none of it, so blew his whistle and gave an indirect free kick to Hackney! To be honest the Rayleigh players and bench took the decision well, as many other clubs in the league/ or at this level would have gone ballistic.

Hackney saw the rest of the game without incident and got the promotion that their football over the season deserved.

Finals day - Ipswich and Cambridge

 Sunday 11 May 2025

Portman Rovers 0 Kitchener Taverners 1

Peter Cocker Senior Cup Final

Whitton Sports Centre, Pitch 'A', Ipswich

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Ipswich Sunday Morning League, finals day with the Junior Cup Final being played on Pitch 'B'. A competitive game which was quite even with Taverners having the best chances but after half and hour a Portman Rovers player got a straight red for a nasty challenge. Just before the break Taverners went ahead, with a great free kick from just outside the box, with the ball being curled low round both the wall and the keeper.

Second half, Taverners had most of the ball but could not make the advantage of having an extra man pay. Portman Rovers actually had most of the ball in the last 15 minutes as some of their more experienced players came on from the subs bench and they  really went for it as they attempted to get back on level terms. Taverners managed to hold on for the victory.

Sports centre has 3 pitches, the sports centre is now past its best.

A short drive up to Cambridge:

Jesus College 0 Trinity College 0 ( Jesus win 5-4 on penalties)

Cuppers Cup Final

Grange Road (Cambridge RUFC)

A poor standard of football but this visit was more about the venue than the game. Jesus were clear favourites as they play in a higher division, speaking to a number of the students, they expected an easy Jesus win. However it was Trinity who had the better of a poor game, especially in the second half. Neither team had many chances and the two keepers were probably two of the better players.

Football skill may have been lacking in the game, but we did see some fantastic  penalty kicks, but we then had a couple of misses and Jesus won it with probably the worst penalty of the shoot out!

Cracking venue with a very large wooden stand with bench seating, other side of the pitch is the pavilion/bar and that also had covered seats in front of that and further seats on the roof of the building. A small terrace to one side and some rake seating the other side. before 1970 this ground would have seen some of the greatest Rugby players show their skills off and can imagine there were some quite big grounds.

I have been for Rugby Union before, but very few football games played here and even the Cuppers Cup Final is not played here every year.

VAR Killing the game

Saturday 10 May 2025, Ipswich Town 0 Brentford 1 - Premier League, Portman Road

First of all Brentford were slightly the better team - and probably could have stepped up a gear and our home form is poor and we deserved to go down but today a game again was spoilt by a poor Ref and VAR.

The Brentford goal came from a 3 times taken corner, Brentford certainly know how to get the most out of set pieces. But the Ref was so poor that even the Ipswich manager for once was critical and he is right- VAR is destroying football. 

However as seen at Orient today, officials make mistakes, but what is unacceptable is the misuse of VAR, going to VAR after being surrounded by visiting players then ignoring our players as they did not surround him.

The we have the failure to add on time for time wasting - this Ref was certainly the worst we have seen this season and it was a very low bench mark in the first place

Just please do not introduce VAR to the Championship

First time winners

Thursday 8 May 2025, Hadley 4 Welwyn Garden City 2 - Herts FA Charity Cup, Final, Herts FA County Ground

Always find it strange that some County FAs have their own ground, especially when no club side seem to use it as a ground- maybe even stranger when Letchworth Eagles play at a ground not as good less than 200 meters away!

Ground has all you need, a very good main stand, plenty of covered standing and a cafe that sold hot drinks, food and booze and had no trouble coping with the 200 plus in attendance- and some of the Hadley fans seemed to be on a mission to make sure every can of beer was sold!

Hadley started off in a hurry and within 2 minutes were one up and dominating but Welwyn had a purple patch half way through that half and found themselves 2-1 up - but then disaster- straight Red card and down to 10 men.

Second half was all Hadley, took a while to get back on terms but in the end won quite easy with a cracking goal from distance by one of their centre backs, being the goal of the day.

115th time this cup has been held and neither Hadley or Welwyn had won it before. 

Back to losing ways

Tuesday 6 May 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Fleetwood Town Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground.

After a run of wins, Ipswich finished the season with a loss. Not helped after going behind after just 2 minutes!

Dominated the game but good saves, bad misses and the woodwork meant it was Fleetwood who got all 3 points.

Left it late

Saturday 3 May 2025, Buntingford Town 1 London Lions Development 0 - Herts Senior County League, The Bury

Chose his game as result could decide who takes the third relegation place. lucky that I arrived early as game kicked off at 2pm, even if all social media and Full time had it as 3pm.

Even first half hour with the the young London Lions team probably having a slight upper hand. After 38 minutes some tricky footwork ended up with a London Lions player being tripped and penalty awarded, not the best penalty and so the home keeper saved it. The last play of the half saw Buntingford have their best chance from a goalmouth scramble.

Second half was quite even but it looked like a goalless draw, that would have been a good result for London Lions, but deep into injury time, Buntingford got a winner, but there was still time the home team to concede yet another penalty, but the keeper yet again kept the resulting spot kick out,

The result means a win in their last game, would see Buntingford stay up and it could be the visitors, London Lions, who end up getting relegated instead.

Nice ground, edge of the village by a newish housing development, pitch fully railed with the clubhouse elevated giving a good view from the balcony. Behind one goal is a grass bank with a couple of park benches.