Hempnall FC

A large crowd assembled to see two local teams compete – a well established Long Stratton against an essentially new Hempnall team.

The game was open and competitive, chances at both ends of the pitch, and despite the forced changes due to late call offs and injuries, Hempnall played some good football.

Hempnall’s defence was still getting settled when a long throw in, better than a corner, left the unchallenged Long Stratton player the easy task of heading in for 0-1.

A few minutes later, Stratton were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, a good free kick which pinged off the crossbar onto the keeper’s back and in for 0-2.

Hempnall were feeling somewhat aggrieved as their play did not warrant a two goal deficit. Trett continued to encourage the players forward, and Hempnall playing the better football overall, looked threatening.

A speculative shot from Ben Lewis, collected by the Stratton keeper, was Hempnall’s best early effort, though the front players all looked mobile and threatening, with (Billy) Kelly and Griffiths unsettling the Stratton defence.

With Bellingham having his best game for a long time, Collett tackling well and looking mobile, Bennett looking assured, and Shaun Kelly doing his best to motivate his team-mates with his forward running out of defence, we were sure that Hempnall could fight back.

It was one of Shaun Kelly’s runs that saw him collect from an offside player and score, but the goal was disallowed – a lucky break for Stratton as Hempnall were on top and a goal at this time would have made all the difference.

The second half saw some very good football from Hempnall, plenty of half chances and efforts by Kelly in particular were threatening but not really troubling the keeper. Then Bellingham found himself in the middle of one of Hempnall’s best attacks, a good cross saw a great header sail in for 1-2, and the comeback was looking possible.

Regrettably, Hempnall were again caught out by the ball pumped forward leaving the defender exposed, and a coming together was regrettably seen by the referee as a penalty – debated on the sidelines for the rest of the match but refs never change their minds, so Hempnall were 1-3 down.

Still they fought, and it was this effort that was most pleasing, Drake looking good when he came on, as did Jordie Batterham, and Ben Lewis never gave up.

The final nail though came with Billy Kelly being sent to the sin-bin for the last 10 minutes.

There were several players in contention for MOM, including both Kellys, James Bennett (superb at right back), but the Secretary’s choice for MOM is Adam Bellingham.

Manager Trett commented that the team played reasonably well, but didn’t get the rub of the green, always remaining competitive in a well fought game against a more established squad of players.

Match photos are on the Gallery.