Hempnall FC

The Secretary was able only to watch the second half, arriving when Hempnall were 1-3 down on the 3G pitch at Easton.

With Everard, Radvilas and Etherington all unavailable through holidays and injuries, Hempnall were stretched but managed to get a decent looking 14 together.

Browne returned to add presence to the back four with manager Dimsey stepping into a midfield role.

The first half report is based on advice from a couple of players – the advice was that, essentially, as in a number of games this season, Hempnall decided to give the opposition a couple of goals and play catch up, nobody quite knows how or why the fractures in the midfield and defence happen, they just do, but as in all matches, after giving the opposition a head start, the team start to play and look perfectly capable of holding their own against almost any team in this division.

Hempnall were kept in the game in the first half with an excellent finish from new player, Josh Hall, who looks mobile and hard-working.

So, the second half saw Hempnall with the wind, and for much of the half looked the better team, limiting the skilful Easton side to a few half chances on the break.

With Browne off injured, hopefully not as serious as first feared, Dimsey had to take up a centre back position, but was injured fairly quickly, leaving Craske to take his place in an unfamiliar defensive role, which he took to very well, and was arguably Hempnall’s best player for the time he was on.

The wind on their backs saw Hempnall improve dramatically, closing down the opposition quickly.

The midfield, well marshalled by Bliss, started to create more, there were shots aplenty, but none that really troubled the Easton keeper. A bit more confidence on the ball on occasions and we would have been treated to a better result.

One more good feature was the performance of youngster Troy Tobias, who harried and hounded and worked exceptionally hard for the team.

Hempnall didn’t quite manage to put away their chances until Watts finished from distance, aided a bit by the wind, but it was too little too late, and Easton held out to secure the three points.