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.

Lat minute defeat

Saturday 28 March 2026, Ipswich Town Women 1 Southampton Women 2 - WSL 2, Portman Road

Looked like it was going to be a great day for the hosts, fantastic chance withing the first minute, should have scored and could have also seen the Saints down to 10 players, however the Ref ignored the foul (played advantage) and then Ipswich missed a very easy goal chance when the ball ran free - and 2 minutes later Saints were in front!

Ipswich then had most of the play for the rest of the half, however when Saints did get forward they looked more clinical in their finishing. Ipswich did get back on terms after 27 minutes.

Ipswich still had most of the play in the second half, this half was more scrappier, and as we got towards the end it looked like the points would be shared, however in the 6th minute of injury time, the visitors were rewarded with a (very soft) free kick on the edge of the box, the initial shot was kept out however the ball was deflected to a Saints player for an easy tap in.

A very disappointing result, the men's First ream manager was in attendance with his daughter, but maybe not a surprise, the Club CEO, Mr Ashton seemed to be missing!

Windy

Tuesday 24 March 2026, Woodbridge Town 1 Haverhill Rovers 2 - Eastern Counties, Premier Division, Notcutts

My third attempt to see a game at Woodbridge this season, first one never started, floodlight failure then second abandoned because of fog at half time, this game did finish but still spoilt by strong wind and poor match officials.

This game was also re-arranged after lights had failed the first time, Haverhill had the strong wind with them in the first half, and managed to get one goal, in the last minute of the first half.

Haverhill added a second on 67 minutes but after that it was all Woodbridge, but they only managed to get one goal back on 88 minutes, 10 minutes of injury time played but Haverhill managed to hang on for the win.

A large number of Ipswich Town academy players watching as one of their team mates was on the loan at Woodbridge, coming on in the second half, hitting the bar and getting an assist for the consolation goal 

Loads of chances but no goals

Monday 23 March 2026, Ipswich Town Under 21s 0 Burnley Under 21s 0 - Premier League 2, Portman Road

Not sure how this game ended up 0-0, Ipswich had most of the play and created some good chances, visiting keeper made a few good saves and Ipswich also hit the bar. Burnley may have had less of the ball but also hit the bar, had a first half penalty saved and saw two great chances hooked off the line and also missed a few sitters. So some great entertainment but no goals.,

Disappointing to see that teamsheets only available for scouts.

Not the result needed

 Saturday 21 March 2026, Ipswich Town 1 Millwall 1 - Championship, Portman Road then onto:

Ipswich Wanderers 3 Kirkley and Pakefield 0, Easter Counties, Premier Division, Humber Doucy Lane

Not a great result for Ipswich Town, brilliant first half but poor in the second, with Coventry the only team to benefit.

Then onto Wanderers:

First visit to Wanderers this season, some improvements to the ground, but still has that classic 'non-league' feel - reason why so popular with ground hoppers.

Visitors had a good first ten minutes, but then it was mainly one way traffic, however Wanderers were only one up at the break, and that was thanks to an own goal!

Two further goals were added in the second half to give the home team an easy win.

Up the A1

Tuesday 17 March 2026, Newark and Sherwood United 3 Wisbech United 0 - United Counties League, Premier North, Fruehauf Stadium

Do not be fooled by the score, this was a very poor game. 0-0 at half time and not sure either keeper made a save, Newark at least started to get chances on target in the second half, the first goal was from the penalty spot after a handball on 66 minutes then a header from close range on 77 minutes for the second goal. A third goal was added on 83 minutes then a Wisbech player was shown a straight red card for a bad tackle on 89 minutes.

Wisbech spent far too much of the game throwing themselves to the floor whilst too many of the home team seemed to want to referee the game rather than play football.

Newark do well to survive on such low crowds and not even playing in Newark! They do seem to have a good set of volunteers, which does help. Stand and covered terrace plus good social club are all OK for this level, pitch is in poor condition, but with two teams using it, not a surprise.

Chose this game as it was my closest new tick and had been thwarted twice this season, first time by an accident then a frozen pitch. Easy journey up but 3 diversions on way back put a further 45 minutes on return trip.