Hempnall FC

With holidays, work and injuries still affecting the manager’s ability to get a full squad together, Hempnall’s first home game of the season with a new looking team was always going to be tricky against a young looking Swaffham side.

Despite the absences, the Hempnall squad looked strong.

With Shaun Kelly marshalling the changed defence and brother Billy doing all he could to run at the opposition defence, the game started promisingly for Hempnall, the ball over the top also played to great advantage, four good chances fell to Griffiths and Kelly in particular, but none were put away.

Hempnall showed some hesitance, or was it over-confidence, in defence when dribbling out should instead have seen the ball launched up the field out of danger. One of these instances led to Swaffham stealing the ball, and the Hempnall keeper, who had a generally sound game, was unable to prevent the ball entering the net - 0-1.

That’s how it stayed at half time, and with the Secretary out of earshot, the manager was clearly laying down the law, and Hempnall came out second half in determined mood.

Hempnall looked the more likely to score, but good release balls from Swaffham did put the Hempnall defence under pressure, and only good interventions, or wayward finishing did, on a couple of occasions save Hempnall from going a further goal down.

However, Kelly in particular was causing havoc with his runs, Wayne Collins was looking the best player on the pitch, and Adam Clarke was threatening.

Hempnall finally stabbed home through Clarke, and a few minutes later scored a second through Collins.

The final minutes saw chances at both ends, but Hempnall survived to register their first win of the season. All in all, a fair result, Hempnall played the better football overall.

Again, the manager was pleased with the fighting performance.

Onwards and upwards……

Secretary’s MOM Wayne Collins

Match photos have been posted.