Hempnall FC

The Battle of the Reserves

On both occasions last season this fixture resulted in the teams sharing the points, as they fought to take the crown as the best Anglian Combination Reserves side in all 6 divisions.

The Hempnall Squad was strengthened by the addition of 3 youngsters returning to the club, Mark 'youthful' Hedges, Bruce 'baby' Rumsby and Lawrie 'Penalty' Pointer.

The game kicked off in usual Division 2 fashion with both teams flexing their muscles and trying to stamp their authority on the game early on.

Acle started the game well and were probably the better side. We were left chasing their shadows for the first 15 minutes until we finally settled into the contest. After 30 minutes of the game an Acle midfielder drove (not literally) towards the heart of the Hempnall defence and chipped the ball over Danny 'Bet Fred' Quantrill.

The Hempnall midfield blamed the defence, the defence blamed the keeper, but in my opinion it definitely wasn't Danny's fault that he was on his phone checking his accumulator....at that very same second that lad had shot...what are the odds..hey?!?

Within 2 minutes of conceding the first, Bruce 'the nipper' Rumsby bundled Danny 'Ladbrokes' Quantrill over just as the cross came in and gave the Acle player an open goal to head the ball into.

We don't normally concede goals like that, so we knew that we needed to knuckle down and work our way back into the game.

Half time: Hempnall Res 0 - 2 Acle Res

The half time team talk went something like this...

'the next goal is the most important...so score it'. Inspirational I know!!

The second half was a different story, the stats show that we were the better side with some 37 corners, 239 attempts at goal, 12 free kicks and 127 throw-ins in their half. With 79% of possession and 39 shots on target (to their 6) we pummelled their goal! With our Super Striker Jay McCluskey (recently called up to the Scotland squad) missing all 239 opportunities from inside the area. For those of you who know him well, understand that this wasn't a great ratio for such a potent striker who is clinical in every department of his game...perhaps just a bad day at the office!!

NOTE: all stats supplied by Pointer Statistics Ltd.

The game finished with Acle grabbing a 3rd after we had bombed forward leaving no one at home.

Final Score Hempnall Res 0 - 3 Acle Res

A great performance second half wasn't enough to get anything in terms of points from the game. But an awesome second half performance by Danny 'Sky Bet' Quantrill making 5 or 6 world class saves that even his sister would have been proud of!!

Other great performers on the day were Mark 'your round son' Jones who gets better and better every time I see him play.

The lads were disappointing with losing, especially at home but even more disappointed that Chris Easton's girlfriend wasn't watching!!

Man of the Match :

3rd Ben Player

2nd Mark Jones

1st Jim Dale

Onwards and upwards!!