Hempnall FC

It continues to be one of those seasons for Hempnall, with injuries and work commitments hampering manager Dimsey’s chances of creating and maintaining a competitive side.

The team including Leeder from the Reserves were facing the second placed side in the division, a side Hempnall beat away before Christmas when their available side was perhaps stronger.

So, we were looking at a very difficult game and we on the sidelines were perhaps preparing ourselves for the worst. But Hempnall produced a fighting, competitive performance that belied their lowly position in the league, and a few more performances like this may have staved off relegation fears.

The defence, well marshalled by the positive Pointer, always encouraging his team-mates, looked stronger than in recent weeks, and the goalkeeper, Spillane, again showed his worth – the Manager must be pleased he joined us relatively recently.

All the players showed determination throughout, and we hit the opposition on the break several times, though chances were mainly half chances.

Stalham always looked strong, and it was a rather lucky break that saw them score their first, when a defensive header from Pointer, who arguably had his best game for the team, dropped invitingly for Patterson to score.

Still we thought Hempnall may get back into the game, and for a while it looked as though Kelly, causing the opposition defence some headaches, may either score or assist, but it never quite happened for the Hempnall team.

The referee, Cameron Brown, who had an excellent game, was probably in two minds when showing a yellow card to an opposition player who was arguably the last man when fouling a Hempnall player, but I thought his decision to show only a yellow was the right one. The resulting free-kick went close, but not close enough to trouble the keeper.

Inevitably, Stalham sub and former Hempnall player, McCarthy, came on to beat the Hempnall defence and plant a header into the back of the net for 0-2.

Stalham just about deserved their victory, but Hempnall will feel very disappointed not to have come away with a point.