Hempnall FC

The first match back after the Christmas break was always going to be tough, especially as the opposition was local rivals, Poringland Wanderers, who sat above Hempnall in the league, with games in hand.

A good sized support turned up including our favourite cheerleaders, the Hunnies, as usual vocal in support of the team.

The pitch was wet and heavy, so the players legs were going to be tested after the festive period.

After a tough start when Poringland had the upper hand, Hempnall eased themselves into the match but went 0-1 down after a decent Poringland move, but it was after the goal that Hempnall showed character and determination, creating a number of half chances, with just the finish being missing. Lambe twice went close, Rout looked likely to break the defence down, as did Bliss who had a couple of efforts, though the Poringland goalkeeper was not really troubled.

Kelly then had a run, his shot was deflected back to Rout who calmly slotted into the goal for 1-1.

Both teams were struggling to cope with the slippery pitch, and the game was end to end, and could have gone either way.

Navarrina looked odds on to score with the keeper just beating him to the ball.

Poringland had their chances, Hemmings stood in the way when the excellent defence, ably marshalled by Talbot and Everard, was breached.

Hempnall were on tenterhooks for the last 15 minutes after Watts was sent off for a second bookable offence, though actually held out comfortably.

Some wayward finishing, and not taken half chances by both sides, resulted in no further goals and what seemed to us on the sidelines to be a fair result between two evenly matched sides.

All the Hempnall players put in a great shift, again, Browne was highly competitive in midfield, Talbot is back to good form in defence, though the Secretary’s MOM is given to two players this week, Bliss, for a magnificent shift, and Rout for his general mobility, pitch coverage and pressurising the defence, culminating in a fine goal.

Onwards and upwards……….