ECL Watcher

Ooops, only my second entry and I’m already falling behind!

On Saturday the 2nd Feb I decided I should go and watch another of our local teams that play in the Ridgeon’s Div 1 as Diss didn’t have a game today. I got to Maitland’s, home of Debenham LC nice and early so that I could take a few photo’s etc. These pics can be viewed at http://easternfootball.co.uk/gallery , they are located in the Debenham folder (obviously). I’m sad to report that the game was pretty poor and Whitton United, Debenhams visitors, won 2-1 though it was a scrappy affair throughout.

Diss Town 0 FC Clacton 1
This game was played on Tuesday the 5th Feb and it was a great chance for me to catch up with an old friend from the EF forum. Although he was club reporter for the evening we had a great chat about how we saw the season panning out for our respective teams. FC Clacton had a very good game in my view and although I’m a Diss Town supporter I think the best team won on the night.

That brings us up to date as I didn’t go to any games over the past weekend, Diss drew at home to Whitton Utd and I gather there is some unrest amongst the players but I’m sure it will all get ironed out one way or the other. It needs sorting though as it seems they are slipping out of contention for a promotion place once again nut there are still plenty of games left for them to turn this situation around.

In the meantime Tiptree Utd have cemented themselves as firm favourites for the Div 1 title and promotion, they currently stand with a lead of 13 points over Ely City who are well positioned in second place with a further 12 points to Saffron Walden who are currently third. Third position will be a tough spot to gain as there are several teams in contention for this position.

With Needham Market still well involved in the FA Vase and other cups, Soham Town Rangers have taken over top spot in the Premier Division. Needham Market do have games in hand but as there cup runs continue their fixtures will begin to back up but they have played so well all season they surely deserve to continue their great form in the league as well but football is a cruel game and they could end up paying a heavy price for such excellent success so far. Wroxham are also still in contention but they do need to start finding a bit more consistency when they meet so called lower teams but they do have fixtures against both top teams where they could so easily turn this around.

At the bottom of the Premier Division it looks as is if Newmarket are already staring relegation full in the face along with Histon Reserves. Ipswich Wanderers still have a lifeline if they can stay in the third relegation spot because if either Needham Market or Soham Town Rangers win the league they will get promoted to the Ryman’s league Division 1 North, therefore reprieving Ipswich. I know many supporters are hoping that Ipswich Wanderers do survive as although they are quite a new team in the scheme of things they have a very loyal, vocal but well loved set of supporters who will be sorely missed by all if the unthinkable does happen. I know there are many supporters from other clubs that wish Ipswich Wanderers all the best and they can find it within themselves to gain the points necessary to stay in the Premier Division without the need to rely on this final scenario

I actually got to watch my team this week, after a day of no games last Saturday and going to Swaffham for the podcast the week before, Diss Town were at home on a Friday evening which meant a) I could definitely go and b) if I got invited elsewhere on Saturday I could go to that game as well!

Diss Town 1 Debenham LC 1

My first game at Brewers Green Lane in some weeks and after hearing tales of their recent performances I was looking forward to a good evening out. In their last 4 games they had netted 23 goals, so although I wasn’t expecting a goalfest; I was looking forward to a good game against the tightest defence in the league. Diss had much of the play in the first half and eventually scored just before half time but really should have found the back of the net in at least a couple of other occasions as well. The second half turn out to be the complete reverse of the first with Debenham having much of the play and scoring a well deserved equaliser with about 15 minutes to go. There were a couple more decent chances for both teams to gain the win but a draw was the fairest result.

With Diss having played more games than Debenham and both looking at a promotion spot the result probably pleased the Debenham people far more than those at Diss, with 13 (16 for Debenham) more games to play I really don’t think it will affect Diss’ hopes of a promotion spot if they play the way they have been playing in recent weeks.

FA Vase and the League

After today’s wins for both Stanway Rovers and Needham Market after last weeks postponements due to the bad weather, it means there are still 3 clubs from the ECL in the last 16 and 1 club, Concord Rangers, from the ESL giving us 4 clubs from the region with high hopes of at least one of them getting to Wembley. After seeming to be a jinx on local clubs in cup competitions after our visit with the podcast to Soham Town Rangers in November, we decided that we won’t be going along to any of the other cup games that local clubs are still in. Soham had a bad day at the office when we were there yet after today’s league fixtures they now sit top of the ECL Premier Division on goal difference over long time table toppers Needham Market

I’m also extremely pleased to see that Ipswich Wanderers gained a valuable 3 points in their fight to get out of the relegation spot they seem to have held for best part of the season and that Wisbech Town seem to be pulling well away from the relegation zone with a fine 3-1 win over Harwich & Parkeston. Fakenham’s plight at the foot of Division 1 worsened as they were walloped by Gorleston who also have an outside chance of promotion, in fact there are currently 8 teams looking at the third promotion spot with Ely City and Tiptree United firmly placed in second and first respectively.

Full results from all the local East Anglian leagues plus discussion about the week’s football can be found at www.easternfootball.co.uk