TWTD Teams Crash at Soccer Sixes - Ipswich Town News

Two teams made up of TWTD readers were involved in today’s Soccer Sixes tournament on the main pitch at Portman Road. Sadly both Atletico TWTD and Dynamo TWTD — wearing kit kindly provided by the ITFC Charitable Trust - failed to get to grips with the near perfect conditions and the spoils went elsewhere.

The competition was played on a group basis with the top two and best third-placed sides going into the ‘Champions League’ and the rest into the ‘Europa League’.

Dynamo’s League A campaign began with back-to-back unlucky 1-0 losses to MCP and Building Repair Solutions, which were followed by a plucky if ultimately fruitless 2-0 defeat to group powerhouses The Corner House.

There were signs of promise in the squad, though, most of whom hadn’t met one another until the day of the game.

Meanwhile, Atletico, also a scratch side, were getting off to a similarly scoreless start in League B. The impressive Jackson 6 claimed a 1-0 win, then the red-clad TWTD team failed to score in their next game, however, they picked up TWTD’s first point of the day as they drew 0-0 with Baker Tilly.

Dynamo finally claimed TWTD’s inaugural victory with Jamie Smith bustling through a crowd of players Archie Gemmill-style to secure a 1-0 win against Anglia Care Trust and three well-deserved points. But still last place in their group.

Atletico TWTD

Atletico succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Red Seven Marine, then, frustratingly and unluckily still without a goal, secured another 0-0 draw, this time against The Peldon Rose.

So it was the Europa League for both sides, who met in a hotly contested first ever TWTD derby in the opening game.

Dynamo TWTD

The glory went to Dynamo, wearing last season’s black away kit, with Phil Ham netting the first attempt and then Jamie Smith getting his second of the afternoon from Ham’s flick as the game ended 2-0.

But that was the high point for Dynamo as their second game of the afternoon against MCP ended in a 3-0 trouncing.

The TWTD derby

Worse was to follow with the more senior members of the squad — and some of the younger ones — starting to feel the effects of the games and the heat. Another game with the improving Anglia Care Trust ended in another 3-1 defeat, Max Pryke hammering home a low drive.

Even worse was to follow in their final match which ended in a 6-1 thrashing to a rampant Red7Marine, Martyn Abbott’s goal the only highlight.

Despite the resultant Roy Keane-esque tongue-lashing from player-boss Ham, the squad were still in good spirits after their afternoon playing — and in some cases scoring — at Portman Road, particularly as they were confident they’d beaten Atletico in the table, even if no one else.

However, after a 2-0 defeat to the Anglia Care Trust and a 3-0 loss to MCP, Atletico broke their seven-game goal and victory drought in their final match, a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Red7Marine, Dominic Wilson netting both goals.

While the win and goals were cause enough for celebration, perhaps even more satisfyingly the result put Atletico above table-propping Dynamo in the Europa League table on goal difference.

Anglia Care Trust receive the Europa League trophy from Simon Milton

Anglia Care Trust, vanquished by Dynamo in the group stages, won the Europa League but the big prize, the Champions League, went to Jackson 6.

The lack of victories for TWTD’s teams failed to put a dampener on an afternoon on which the squads fulfilled childhood dreams of playing on Portman Road’s hallowed turf.

Champions League winners Jackson 6

Town are likely to run a similar event next season. If you’re interested in being sent details of that or the Portman Cup, send an email to the club’s commercial department. Many thanks to the ITFC Charitable Trust for the loan of the kit.

Dynamo TWTD: Luke Bloxam, Matt Shore, Ashton Jones, James Hadley, Max Pryke, Jamie Smith, Adam Horner, Philip Ham, Wayne Joshua, Martyn Abbott.

Atletico TWTD: Patrick Durham, Elliott Rampley, Dominic Wilson, James Lennard, Daniel Lycett, Liam Murphy, Chris Murphy, Steve Hoskins, Michael Wootten, Darren Powell.

Photos: TWTD/ITFC

What to read next: