Thought it was going to spot kicks

Friday 11 September 2026, Walsham-Le Willows 2 Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers 0 - FA Vase, 2nd Qualifying Round, Summer Road

Very surprised how low the crowd was - 78 (looked more there) but Walsham used to get big mid-week gates and as a Friday Vase game, expected more here- maybe the planned late night closure of the A14 put people off

Walsham were slightly the better team in the first half, but no real end product, they were far better in the second half but it looked like we were heading to penalty kicks, until Walsham got 2 late goals, one in the 85th minute and then the second in the third minute of injury time, the final score making it look an easier game than it was in reality .

Left it late

Tuesday 8 September 2012, Woodbridge Town 0 Ipswich Wanderers 2, Easter Counties, Premier Division, Notcutts Park

Looked like a 0-0 game with just 10 minutes left then Wanderers won it with two superb goals one from a direct free kick and then a second great individual goal just 2 minutes later.

How Essex can you get?

Saturday 5 September 2026, Wakering Sports 1 Harold Hill 1 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, Cupids Country Club

Not sure you can get more TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex) than the name of the ground- 'Cupids Country Club' . Ignore the name and you have a great set up, 5 pitches, main one railed off and a small seated stand plus a large clubhouse- not bad for Step 7!

Football wise, a close game but one the hosts should have won after going ahead in the first half but Harold Hill kept going and got an equaliser in the second half.

All over in 9 minutes

Friday 4 September 2026, Ipswich Town 0 Liverpool 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

Poor start but still showed enough to think we could survive this season.

Good season ahead?

Tuesday 1 September 2026, Ipswich Wanderers 4 Cornard United 2, Eastern Counties, Premier Division, Humber Doucy Lane

Another good crowd at the 'Doucy' and another good win but it looked a lot easier at half time!

All Wanderers in the first half and they were 3 up at the break with goals after 9, 27 and 43 minutes. Not sure what happened in the second half as Wanderers seemed to take their foot of the pedal and Cornard pulled 2 goals back on 63 and 67 minutes and then nearly got a third. 

This woke the home team up and on 88 minute one of their forwards got through only to be pulled down just outside the box, straight red card for the Cornard player and then Wanderers got their 4th goal in the 94th minute to secure all 3 points. 

Sussex by the Sea (twice)

 Monday 31 August 2026

11am - Newhaven 1 Haywards Heath 5 - Southern Combination, Premier Division, Trafalgar Ground

Plenty of goals, but after an even first half when Haywards Heath went in just one in front, second half they found their shooting boots and strolled to an easy win, with Newhaven getting a consolation with the last kick of the game. 

3pm - Eastbourne Town 0 Steyning Town 1 - Isthmian League, SE Division, The Saffrons

Large sports complex, shared with Cricket, Hockey and other sports - been in use over 100 years and Ipswich even played here before turning professional. Nice set up and the impressive Town Hall gives the ground a great back drop.

Football wise, a very poor game, with the visitors scoring very early on then very little quality shown by either side. 

Not far for a double

Saturday 29 August 2026

Match 1 - 12 noon, Cambridge Utd Under18s 1 Burton Albion Under 18s 3 - U18 Professional Development League Cup, Group game, Clare College Sports Ground

Match 2 3pm - Netherton United 5 Clacton Town 1 - Eastern Counties League, Division One, North, The Grange

First of all, it was to a leafy part of Cambridge and their training ground, to see their Under 18 team, the old Pavilion from the college is still there (used by the away team) and next door is the new training ground building , recently opened for Cambridge United. The Under 18 pitch is right next to the complex. Burton scored in the 4th minute and never looked in trouble after that, scoring again in the 33 and 42nd minute. Cambridge did get one goal back in the 61st minute.

Then the short drive to Peterborough for the Netherton game, buy doing so, I re-completed the Eastern Counties League. A modern G4 pitch, you can only watch from 2 sides, a modern stand with cover for standing fans, but no seats yet, small clubhouse and quality burgers. Not sure if the club can go up the pyramid, need seats and not sure 2 sided grounds allowed, football wise they won easy and could be near the top come the end of the season, The scored in the 22, 23, 52, 64 and then a penalty in injury time. Clacton got their goal in the 28th minute.