Much better second half

Friday 13 September 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Cardiff City Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League Cup, Bloomfields.

Terrible first half but much better in the second- as Cardiff were the team who were hanging on at the end

Nothing to write home about

Tuesday 10 September 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 0 Hull City Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Very poor display by Ipswich, second best all over the field, Hull City scored direct from the corner on 25 minutes and the home keeper did not cover himself in glory when the second goal went in after32 minutes.

Slight improvement by Ipswich in the second half, but nothing to write home about!

Closer to the 92

Saturday 7 September 2024:

Got closer to the 92 today and managed a second game on the way north

1030am

Coalville Town Ravens Under 21 1 Bilston Town Under 21 3

MFL Under 21 Division

Owen Street Sports Ground

F & N

Attendance: 43 h/c

Good game to watch, even first half with the home side taking the lad after 32 minutes. Second half saw Bilston dominate - getting back on level terms after 46 minutes then scoring again after 73 and 79 minutes, the last two goals scored when they were down to 10 men after one of their players sin binned.

Snack bar open and doing a roaring trade, as junior and women matches were being played on the 3 outside pitches. Obvious a great youth set up, so surprising they chose to drop down a few levels.

Then onto:

3pm

Chesterfield 2 Grimsby Town 1

League 2

SMH Group Stadium

Admission: £24

Programme: £3

Attendance: 9325

Score line flattered Chesterfield, who finished the game with 10 men. Ref filled his book with yellow cards, including a number of the coaching team from both sides! Attendance indicates that Paul Cook has got the club on the up, and home fans seemed very happy with what is on offer football wise.

Cup did not draw the crowds in

Wednesday 4 September 2024, Banstead Athletic 1 Midhurst & Easebourne 3 - Southern Combination, Peter Bentley Challenge Cup, Chalky Lane

Game started 7 minutes late, no reason for it as all players and officials were warming up well before kick off!

Even start to the game, then the visitors, who are from a high division took control and had the better chances, with their number 9 getting the first goal of the game, with some smart finishing on 27 minutes.

4 minutes into the second half and the same Midhurst player added his teams and his own second goal after a well worked move, just after Banstead had just had their best chance in the game so far.

4 minutes later it was game over as the visitors added a third goal, Midhurst then introduced a number of substitutes, most looked quite young and this allowed Banstead to start having more of the ball and they managed a consolation goal in the 79th minutes, with what was probably the best goal of the game.

Very close to London, just off the M25 but has a very rural feel, off a small track opposite Chessington, World of Adventures.

Two wooden dug outs and on the opposite side a 120 seat stand. Behind one goal was some cover, with a few 

chairs placed in it. Behind the other goal are some further pitches.

Bar was open for beer, and Banstead run their own small snack bar which had rolls and hot drinks.

Cup run over

Tuesday 3 September 2024, Ipswich Wanderers 0 Newmarket Town 1 - FA Cup Qualifying Round, Replay, Humber Doucy Lane

Very poor first half with neither team creating much, Wanderers having slightly more of the ball.

Second half seemed to be following the same pattern until the 57th minute when the visitors took the lead. This changed the game completely, with Wanderers now looking more positive, hover Newmarket kept catching Wanderers on the break. In the 82nd minute, Wanderers were awarded a penalty, I think for handball. the last cup game I saw here, Chris Casement, ex Ipswich Town and Linfield scored a cracking goal from a direct free kick, but today he managed to put his penalty wide of the goal!

Newmarket continued to catch Wanderers on the break and in the 87th minute the Wanderers centre half managed to get himself a second yellow card. 

8 Minutes of injury time, and even with 10 men, Wanderers kept pushing forward but it was the visitors who held on for the win.

Last minute cracker

Monday 2 September 2024, Ipswich town Under 18s 3 Barnsley Under 18s 3 - Bent lane , Training Ground, Professional Development League

Good game, first half quite feisty and surprised no one got a red card. Second half, Ipswich got on top, but Barnsley got the goal of the game deep in injury time to grab a point