Strange game

Tuesday 15 October 2024, Charlton Athletic Under 21s 2 Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Price's Park, Dartford

Very strange game for an hour Charlton totally dominated, and it was only down to a number of great saves by the young Ipswich keeper that Charlton were not ahead by more goals at half time, in fact it was just 1-0, after a free kick hit the post and Charlton were first to react for an easy tap in, on the 44th minute.

Ipswich had been very poor, in the 58th minute Charlton added a second with a fantastic volley. It looked then like Ipswich could concede every time Charlton attacked but the opposite happened.

Ipswich made a number of subs and started to look and play like a team, even making a few good chances then in the last 10 minutes it was Town on top, getting one goal back on 80 minutes then the same player, Jesse Nwabueze getting the equaliser on 83 minutes. Ipswich could have even got the winner in the last minute, a very strange game indeed.

Worth the drive

 A midland double - another dip into the Midland Under 21 League then onto Gornal Athletic - to tick a ground on bucket list

12 noon
Walsall Wood Under 21s 4 Stafford Rangers Under 21s 0
MFL Under 21 Division, North
Oak Park

Arrived to an almost deserted ground, had good chat with a couple related to one of the Stafford players, main talking point for the Walsall Wood locals was the survival of the 1st team - third in the Division, but the manager followed by the players have walked out last week. Not being paid the issue - not sure where the money has gone, as it certainly has not been spent on the ground and the pitch. When I see the work Ipswich Wanderers have had to do to play at the same level in the East, do wonder if there are a different set of rules in other regions! Saying that, loved the ground, old wooden stand and the pit wheel in the field behind the ground.

The off field issues certainly did not seem to concern the Under 21 team as they were one nil up in the first minute and 3 nil up by half time. they added a further goal in the second half, for an easy win against a team who were second in the division at the start of the day. Will try and dip into this division again, a good way of seeing grounds you may not visit and the standard of football is OK.

It was then off to 

Gornal Athletic 1 Birstall United Community 1

Midland League, Divsions One

Garden Walk

This ground is a 'must visit' - I have been lucky enough to have been on a few of the hops to Romania and Serbia and we would be going overboard on how great this ground is if we hade visited something similar in Eastern Europe.

It is not just the ground that is great, obvious from listening to the fans, that this is real community club, and with most of them stood close together on the steep terrace, you get to hear some great conversations and banter. What ever they get - new ground wise, they will miss the Garden Walk but the new ground will bring benefits to the club, what they must try hard not to lose, is that close knit community spirit that obviously exists at this club - that may be a harder task to retain.

Just enjoy the photos - then plan your visit, they may be gone soon!

No Russell

Wednesday 9 October 2024, Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) 5 London Samurai Rovers 1 - Combined Counties, Division One, Addlestone Moor

84 of us gathered to the west of London for this game but Russell Grant the club president never made it! Maybe he should have checked his horoscope and would have seen a good home win was on the cards and most of the rain would keep away.

A club that ahs been boosted by a strong volunteer force from disbanded Staines Town, and seem to be putting a decent team together. Wonder if they will ever get their own ground? But Abbey rangers home does the job at the moment.

Back under the lights

Tuesday 8 October 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21 2 Watford Under 21 1 - Professional Development League, Portman Road

A good crowd at Portman Road for the first game under the new lights, and very entertaining, Ipswich the better side but poor finishing meant it was 0-0 at half time. Then Watford scored with a deflection as Ipswich started to struggle but Ipswich got back on terms and then a good solo goal saw Ipswich win.

Hammered

Saturday 5 October 2024, West Ham United 4 Ipswich Town 1 - London Stadium, Premier League

We know we will lose plenty this season, but to lose so badly to such a poor team was hard to take.

Positives -discovered the bars by the canal at Hackney Wick.

Dreaming of a Portman Road Final?

Wednesday 2 October 2024, Cornard United 1 Ipswich Town Under 19 6 - Suffolk Premier Cup, 2nd Round, Blackhouse Lane

Ipswich gave up home advantage and travelled to West Suffolk, low crowd but they were greatly entertained in a good game played on a wet pitch that held up well even with more rain during the first half.

It was Cornard who took an early lead after just 3 minutes, but Ipswich were in front by the break thanks to a well taken penalty and a forward chasing down the keeper and getting a rebound into the goal.

Cornard will feel they were unlucky to be behind at the break but in the second half Ipswich took them to the cleaners with their superior fitness being a key telling point.

What a difference a week makes, last week the same team struggled to get past Stowmarket in a dour game, but  today we were well entertained and the young Ipswich team, got a well deserved win. 

Still no win, but again a great display

Sunday 29 September 2024, Ipswich Town 2 Aston Villa 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

What a game, and one that Villa were lucky to leave with a point - Delap was a handful all game - it is coming - that first win!