Hempnall FC

Following difficulties caused by unavailable and injured players, Manager Cranmer aided by Matt Oakley, assembled a good looking squad thanks to players stepping up to the mark at very short notice and we were very happy to see 14 players ready to play.

The Manager, Andy Cranmer, played himself in goal releasing Declan Leigh to play outfield.

As very few of the players had played together before, it was going to be difficult, we thought, for the team to gel.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and on a sloping Loddon pitch, Hempnall looked very good going forward with the slope in their favour.

In defence, Dave Bristow came in and showed class alongside the on-call Andy Talbot who would otherwise have been with the first team.

Starting with three at the back, Hempnall withstood the long ball attacks, and themselves had the better of the early chances, with Ross Shaen-Carter and Keely Cleverly looking very mobile, and Nick Talbot showing all of his old power, the Loddon defence was unsettled.

All the lads were working exceptionally hard, Cleverly often finding himself facing two players, but the general formation looked to be working.

It was only 10 minutes into the game when a powerful Nick Talbot header from a corner didn’t quite find the net.

At the other end, Loddon were offering a little concern, though the defence and stand in keeper were dealing with the threats.

After 15 minutes, Talbot found the back of the net with a good finish, and Hempnall deservedly had the lead.

The first half progressed with Hempnall having numerous half and good chances, none of which were put away.

Hempnall had a decent shout for a penalty, the referee deciding that the Loddon goalkeeper had won the ball cleanly though Cleverly and a number of us would probably disagree.

Then another corner and Talbot looked odds on to score with his head but misjudged the flight and the ball sailed across the goal without a touch.

Hempnall then hit the bar, the follow up shot also could not be put away,.

Then Andy Talbot looked to head the ball in but again, the ball eluded him.

Nick Talbot had another chance, his header just missing the goal. The only real threat came from a shot from Loddon that Cranmer saved, diving well.

The second half, with Loddon having the benefit of the slope, was more difficult for Hempnall, who started tiring, with Bradley having to leave for work, and Talbot having winded himself, not helping the Hempnall cause.

Despite this, Hempnall kept playing the ball forward, playing very decent football, and during one attack, Shaen-Carter was clearly brought down from behind by the Loddon keeper, the ref must have been unsighted, as it wasn’t given.

Loddon were applying pressure, but still Hempnall looked capable of scoring, and in another attack, Leigh was odds on to score, but he leant back and the shot went over the bar.

Oakley came on to add experience to the front line and perhaps should have scored if he had been a bit quicker when presented with a good chance – 10 years ago, that would have sailed in.

Shaen-Carter had bad cramp but rallied to the cause and came back on, he will be disappointed that his effort on goal went past the post.

Another effort was well dealt with by the Loddon keeper following a corner, and still Hempnall kept going.

A tired lunge by a Hempnall defender was a clear penalty, the Loddon player though missed, perhaps this made up for the two Hempnall may have had.

Perhaps Loddon were a bit unfortunate not to score and perhaps they were disappointed not to secure a draw, but Hempnall’s magnificent fighting performance bodes well for this season and their first half misses prevented them putting the game to bed in the first half..

There were too many excellent performances to pick a man of the match, the Manager advising that the award should go to the entire team.

Thanks to all the players that turned out at short notice, it was a very enjoyable game of football.