When will we win again?

 Sunday 20 April 2025, Ipswich Town 0 Arsenal 4 - Premier League, Portman Road

Not down mathematically, but only kept up by West Ham also being so poor recently

Arsenal dominated from the start and were two up quite quickly then helped by a red card after a needless foul by Davis, they ran out easy winners.

Ipswich defended well with 10 men in the second half but Arsenal added a further 2 goals both starting from  short corners.

Again disappointed that a team so good as Arsenal are happy to spend much of the game, diving, moaning and trying to influence the ref. Then no surprise when many Premier match officials seem to act as if they are mates with players from the top clubs!

In the end today we were not good enough, we have played well at times, maybe flattered at the start of the season, but we can't fault the players commitment, the club seems united, so hope we get back to winning ways in the Championship next season. 

Potential for growth

Saturday 19 April 2025, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 0 Winslow United 2 - SSM Premier, Haywood Way

Aylesbury started off well and missed a good chance from a header early on, but it was the visitors who took the lead after 8 minutes, also from a header. After that it was Winslow who had control of the game and they added a second goal after 63 minutes.

Aylesbury fielded a young team, plenty of skill on show but lacked tactical nous and needed to work on teamwork, whilst Winslow looked a well drilled team.

The ground is basic, but plenty of room for further ground improvements, small car park and you enter the ground via the clubhouse. By the number of young boys and girls at the game in Aylesbury strips, the home club obviously have a great youth set up. 

Soon to move

Saturday 12 April 2025, Cuxton 91 2 SC Thamesmead Reserves 1 - Kent County Premier, Cuxton Community Ground 

Wanted to be home early however wanted a new ground and then when I heard the Cuxton 1st team are to move in at Maidstone next season that had me driving just south of the Dartford Tunnel.

Ground is well worth a visit, the friendly welcome , the programme then you spot the raised spectator area on a small hill above the dug outs. Giving the ground an almost South Wales feel to it. The ground is very tight so you can only watch from the hill or the corner behind one goal. Smart, large modern clubhouse, selling beer and pies. The crowd (according to the programme) was one of the lowest of the season, but think that when the club announces the gate it will include the 15 to 20 punters who never left the clubhouse or clubhouse garden.

Cuxton started the day in third with a chance of going second but it was Thamesmead who started on top and took the lead after 12 minutes, this actually seemed to wake Cuxton up, who got back on terms after 19 minutes then went ahead after 30 minutes.

No further goals in the second half but Cuxton did hit the post and the visitors keeper had to make a number of good saves.

Good news is that the Cuxton Reserve team will continue to play here next season.

Plenty of goals

Wednesday 9 April 2025, Llangollen Town 2  Brickfield Rangers 5 - Tower Fields, Ardal North East Division 

Slow start then quick 4 goals before the break, but the second half saw the visitors take control and run out easy winners. 

Down and out

Saturday 5 April 2025, Ipswich Town 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

Good first half, but could not get the much needed second goal - Wolves poor. Second half, Wolves on top and noticeable gap in quality evident between the team (us) third from bottom and Wolves- 4th from bottom.

So at half time the escape looked on but the final score means it will be (unless something crazy happens) it will be back to the Championship next year.

What I will not miss:

VAR - all 3 goals checked by VAR, no decision overturned but we never got all that time wasted added on.

Cheating/diving - seems fans happy to ignore if their team are cheating, rolling around, diving- as long as they are winning. The Ref did actually book the Wolves player, Andre, for the imaginary card waving but then allowed him to commit a number if fouls then lay on the floor and roll around, and time waste after he had committed the foul.

Not sour grapes, seems most teams do it and I am sure we would do the same eventually - and the FA and Refs could put a stop to it quite easily but seem happier trying to make VAR work.

Suffolk relegation month

Tuesday 1 April 2025, Needham Market 2 Curzon Athletic 3 - National League, North, Bloomfields

Thought I needed to see Needham play at least once at this level as this may be the month of a quadruple relegation for Suffolk teams- Ipswich Town, Needham, Lowestoft and Ipswich Wanderers after last season when it was all about promotion.

Been to Bloomfield a few times this season as used occasionally by Ipswich Town Under 21 and U18 teams, always a friendly welcome.

Curzon were out of the blocks quick and it looked like it would be a difficult night for the hosts, but as the half went on, Needham found their feet and it ended up quite an even half, finishing 0-0.

Needham actually started the second half on top, but some poor crossing, poor fishing meant they could not get the first goal, and then Curzon took advantage of that by going 2 ahead after 68 and 73 minutes, it looked all over but an obvious handball gave Needham a penalty after 75 minutes so it was game back on, however Curzon added a soft third goal from a corner after 83 minutes and that looked like it but Needham kept coming forward, the Curzon keeper was becoming the hate figure for the home crowd with his play acting and time wasting, Needham got a goal back in injury time, Curzon keeper got booked and was lucky not get a red as he kept hold of the ball after the goal, Needham kept the pressure on but could not get back on terms.

Needham will go down, but at least they have not bankrupted themselves, they have not been cut adrift and can look forward to next season with numerous local derbies. 

Lead thrown away

Tuesday 1st April 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s  2 Wigan Athletic Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Final result was about right but Ipswich had been 2 up at one stage and were unlucky to not add a third from a free kick.

Wigan probably had more of the ball during the game, however it was Ipswich who took the lead after 25 minutes. Then we had a strange 5 minutes, Wigan player pulled down on edge of box, could have seen a red card but only yellow shown, Wigan scored from free kick via a deflection but then goal chalked off as a Wigan player had got too close to the wall? Then 3 minutes later (55th) Ipswich were 2 up.

Wigan still had plenty of the ball and then the Ipswich subs saw them slightly sloppier when retaining the ball and allowed Wigan to get the 2 goals back in the 76th and 80th minute and it was the visitors who finished on top.