Crawling over the line

Wednesday 22 April 2026, Charlton Athletic 1  Ipswich Town 2 - Championship, Portman Road

One down in 2 minutes, but a great fightback, weak penalty and still in our own  hands

Still trying to throw promotion away

Sunday 19 April 2026, Ipswich Town 2 Middlesbrough 2 - Championship, Portman Road

3 points needed by both teams but in the end just one point a piece, better for us that Boro - but also good news for Millwall and Southampton.

Broken seats

Wednesday 15 April 2026, Welshpool Town 2 Forden Unted 2 - Central Wales, Northern Division, Maes Y Dre Recreation Ground

My annual work trip to Wales and managed to get another game in, Welshpool have played at a higher level but now find themselves a division lower. Large 120 seat stand, but on closer inspection over 30 of the seats have been vandalised.

Rugby, bowls and cricket next to the football and a further football club have their home pitch a bit further away in the same sports complex.

The visitors were the better team for the whole game, but went behind to Welshpool but Forden were back on level terms 3 minutes later. Forden took a deserved lead on 72 minutes, only for the home team to draw level on 80 minutes.

Forden will wonder how they never left with all 3 points.

Champions but defeat today

Saturday 11 April 2026, Great Shelford 1 Orwell 1 - Cambridgeshire County League, Great Shelford Recreation Ground

Great Shelford won the league during the week, and with Orwell closer to the bottom a home win was expected, however it was Orwell who took the lead on 5 minutes and continued to look dangerous on the break. Shelford had plenty of the ball but today the final pass was missing. They got back on terms after 24 minutes, direct from a free kick.

Second half was much the same, Shelford having most of the play but Orwell looking dangerous on the break, as the game went on, Great Shelford got more frustrated and in injury time, one of their defenders got a red card.

The Recreation Ground is in the middle of the village, has an enclosed feel due to trees on one side, roped off on both sides and plenty of benches around the pitch, all that gave a good view of the game.  Very modern pavilion, shared with cricket and bowls - serving hot drinks at half time. Like Foxton, during the week, another quality pitch in this league. 

Early goals

Wednesday 8 April 2026, Foxton 0 Hardwick 2 - Cambridgeshire County League, Premier Division, Hardman Road

What a beautiful setting for a game, an English village green, the football pitch next to a cricket square, a bowls green and overlooked by the local church.

Football wise, Hardwick were the better team scoring their goals in the second minutes of each half, Foxton made the game competitive but an easy win for the away team.

Poor second half

Monday 6 April 2026, Ipswich Town 2 Birmingham City 1 - Championship, Portman Road

Greta result, terrible second half of football!

Barleylands

Saturday 4 April 2026, Hashtag United Development 1 Wakering Sports 4 - Barleylands, Essex Olympian League, Premier Division

Strong wind, however both teams till attempted to play football and unusually from my experience of the games I have seen in this league, no real bad tackles or arguing- helped by some good officiating.

Wakering had most of the ball in the first half and went in front after 14 minutes however Hashtag were back level 5 minutes later, with probably the best goal of the game, Wakering went back in front after 42 minutes.

Second half, Wakering had the advantage of the wind behind them but it took them a while to work out best how to use, it, once they di they added goals in the 62nd and 65th minute.

After that, Wakering sat back and allowed Hashtag to have most of the ball, some good passing moves but they could not get any further goals back.

Hashtag have obviously put some work in to Barleylands, a number of junior pitches and a big youth set up - not sure how connected they are to the current Step 5 Hashtag Utd and what will happen next season with Hashtag Utd moving closer to London.

Pitch had a slope (Hashtag name it Pitch 5) fully railed and 2 wooden dugouts. Clubhouse open and hot drinks and food available, large complex of pitches with another junior club next door (FC Redwing)  and Toby FC  to the North East.