Beat the storm

Saturday 15 November 2025, Bugbrooke St Michaels 2 Newport Pagnell Town 3 - Birds Close, United Counties League, Premier Division, South

As well as Storm Claudia, I also had to get home early tonight- thought I would end up at at 3G or 4G cage close to home then saw this game was on- and with a 2pm kick off, made it possible - not sure why 2pm as lights worked - maybe not good enough for a 3pm kick off?

All facilities on one side of the ground, good clubhouse and car park parking was well managed.

Newport Pagnell dominated the first half created a few good  chances so it was a total surprise when Bugbrooke took the lead after 28 minutes, Newport eventually got back on terms thanks to an own goal after 40 minutes.

Second half looked like it was also going to mostly one way traffic after Newport Pagnell got a very quick goal, however this one was disallowed and the scorer was then yellow carded and then sent to the sin bin after berating the Ref. This was the signal for the visitors to lose any control of the game they had, they seemed to think every decision was going against them and their attitude was pretty poor. At the same time the home side improved on their poor first half display and their young subs also contributed to a more even half. On 74 minutes Newport Pagnell did get a second goal but 5 minutes later the home team were back on level terms  however 5 minutes later the visitors got the winning goal.

On the way they played in the first half, Newport Pagnell looked a good team, but less said the better about their second 45 minutes!

Outclassed

Saturday 8 November 2025, Harold Wood Athletic 1 Catholic United 5 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, Harold Wood Recreation Park

Nice easy trip down the A12 to get to this game, just a public park, with 3 pitches, games on all three, and all home teams representing Harold Wood Athletic.

The main game was on the pitch that runs parallel with the entry road and was roped off ( poorly) on all 4 sides, with a slight slope on the pitch.

The club house is large, modern and a bit of a surprise when this is just a park- the clubhouse overlooks the cricket pitch, full bar and good choice of hot food.

It only took the visitors from Southend 4 minutes to open the scoring after a defensive mix up at the back and a second goal was added after 30 minutes after an error by the 'Wood' keeper.

Second half was also dominated by Catholic, adding two more goals in the 56th and 59th minute with the goal on 59, a great individual goal. Harold Wood got one back from the penalty spot on 73 minutes but Catholic Utd finished stronger and added a 5th goal on 89 minutes.

How did we not win?

Tuesday 4 November 2025, Ipswich Town 1 Watford 1 - Championship, Portman Road

More wasted chances, another missed opportunity.

Sussex by the Sea ( In the rain)

Sussex Double

Saturday 1 November 2025,  Worthing 3 Hampton and Richmond Borough 0 - National League, South, Woodside

Followed at 545pm by - Lancing 1 Newhaven 3 - Southern Combination, Premier Division, Culver Road 

No time to get in the Sea but still got wet! Heavy rain at the first game, meant still damp at the second!

Second game, was the third of the day from the Sussex hop, but only one I watched as went to Worthing instead for my first game. Superb stadium for this level and plenty of food and drink outlets pitchside- a few League clubs could learn something there, football wise it tuned out to be an easy win for Worthing.

Lancing was a short drive but rain was still coming down and parking was an issue, however good news, once a parking solace was found the rain did stop. Lancing is also the home of Sussex FA but other than one stand is till quite basic but at least with an artificial pitch the game was always going to be played.

Newhaven started the stringer, no real surprise as Lancing were just one place off the bottom of the league, however Lancing started to get back into the game and got back on terms and it was only in the last 20 minutes of the game did Newhaven get back on top and secure all 3 points.

Top of the league

Friday 31 October 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Newcastle United Under 21s 0 - PL2, Portman Road

With Man Utd losing tonight, Ipswich go top of PL2 and they deserved the win, even after playing the last 33 minutes with ten men.

Ipswich dominated the first half but had to wait till the 40th minute to take the lead through Finn Barbrook. Second half saw Newcastle come into the game more, however it was still Ipswich who were creating the clearer chances, but on 57 minutes one of the Ipswich centre backs got a second yellow card and Ipswich were now down to 10 men. Newcastle seemed to lack any idea of how to break the 10 men down and it was Ipswich who were still looking the more dangerous. But Ipswich kept missing the chance to make the game safe and it was in the 7 minutes of injury time that Newcastle had their best chances, but Ipswich held on for a great win.

Crowd today shows how many more will watch Ipswich Under 21s at home rather than drive down to Colchester.

Supersub

Thursday 30 October 2025, Haverhill Rovers Under 18s 1 Ipswich Town Under 16s 3 - Suffolk FA Under 18 Midweek Cup, Hamlet Croft

As in previous years, Ipswich enter their Under 16 team in this competition to give them some experience against older players - Haverhill started strongly but after 15 minutes, Ipswich settled into the game and had most of the play, but a bit like the First Team, lacking the killer instinct with just shots from distance.

Second half, saw the introduction of a few Ipswich subs, as no programme or teamsheet, hard to know who they are but one was believed to be an England schoolboy international and he certainly looked a class above the players already on the pitch. he was involved in everything. Ipswich went ahead after 52 minutes but Haverhill were back on level terms 5 minutes later after confusion at the back but Ipswich were back in front after 65 minutes and then in injury time the 'super sub' won a penalty which he converted himself. A decent game and great to see the two young teams play in front of a good sized crowd. 

Could not take all the points

Tuesday 28 October 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Preston North End Under 21s 2 - Premier League Cup, Group game, Bloomfields, Needham Market FC

Second visit to Needham this season, but first with the new Grandstand open - a big improvement on the old one, but do actually miss the wooden bench seating.

Larger crowd than at the U21 games held at Colchester, I for one, would rather see Ipswich invest in the facilities at Needham or Felixstowe rather than hire Colchester United for U21 and Ipswich Women games.

Preston started well but Ipswich soon found themselves two up with both goals coming from Jamie Mauge, a local Ipswich lad whose dad (Ronnie) played professionally for a number of clubs, mainly at Bury and Plymouth.

This was the Ipswich U21 Second XI, as only 3 players who started  against Brighton started today but it was still disappointing how in the second half they could not finish the game off and it was Preston who finished the stronger, getting one goal back from the penalty spot and then getting an equaliser late on.