Hempnall FC

Hempnall today welcomed Costessey Sports to Bungay Road, knowing that a win would take them well clear of the bottom three, and elevate them into mid-table.

Hempnall started brightly, with Billy Kelly looking the player we knew he could be, looking dangerous and threatening from the off.

The game was only a few minutes old when pressure from Hempnall told, and the excellent James Edwards was on hand to rocket the ball into the back of the Costessey goal.

This was a close game, though, and Costessey, like Hempnall, looked better going forward, though individually, defenders were generally fine, Hempnall’s strange failing of making the wrong decision at times led to more pressure from Costessey than perhaps should have been the case.

Billy Kelly and Tom Griffiths were good outlets, and with Forbes working hard, there were more positives than negatives.

Again the midfield were giving a good account of themselves, Collins and Bellingham keeping and passing the ball well, Lewis benefitting from a good move to fire a decent shot just over the bar.

Lewis and Forbes then combined in the box, a loose ball rolling to Collins who couldn’t get his shot away in time.

Bellingham got in on the shooting act, firing just wide, and another effort shortly after from Griffiths brought the opposition keeper into action.

Billy Kelly had a magnificent run beating a number of players, before facing the keeper one on one, he tried to slip the ball under the keeper but his effort was saved.

Costessey though were still well in the game, but Shaun Kelly and Twiddy were strong in the centre back positions, and Edwards was having his best game for Hempnall, looking classy going forward, and quick when having to defend.

Anything that got past them and Radford was well dealt with by the excellent Davis in the Hempnall goal – he, and his father on the Hempnall line, have been great signings for Hempnall this season.

The first half continued much in the same vein, with Hempnall only getting caught out on the odd occasion, and at the other end, Billy Kelly causing the full backs a great deal of consternation, and on a couple of occasions, following Kelly runs, Hempnall probably should have buried another at least.

We went into half time 1-0, it probably could have been 6-2 if the good, or half, chances had been taken by both teams.

The second half started with Hempnall on the attack, Griffiths going close early on, then Lewis looked to take the ball around the keeper who did well to stifle the run.

Still though, Costessey looked as though they could score a breakway goal.

Substitutions were made, to add fresh legs, as all the Hempnall players were putting in good shifts and some were understandably tiring.

Hempnall strted to regain control, the urgency gained them several corners, Kelly not delivering at his best until one beautiful corner eluded everybody – ‘oh for someone at the back post’ we cried.

Kelly had a couple of shots, neither bothered the keeper, though Hempnall were looking more dangerous.

Then Collins added to the concerns by getting himself ‘sin-binned’ for showing his discontent at a refereeing decision. 10 minutes with 10 players wasn’t helpful, but Hempnall survived them.

Substitute Germaine then latched on to a through ball, his shot whizzing across the face of the goal and another effort ended up in the keeper’s gloves.

More forceful running from Kelly and Griffiths didn’t result in more goals, and to be fair, Costessey had a couple of half chances, though all in all, Hempnall looked the team more likely to score.

Several players went close in the final few minutes, Collins chance probably the best, though he slipped his shot past the goal.

Kelly looked determined to play an excellent game but not score – wayward finishing, and then a bit of misfortune shooting at the keeper who still had to save well.

Bizarrely, the referee played 8 minutes of additional time, we were asking him to look at his watch

as we were expecting Costessey to steal a final chance, but Griffiths was determined mode and after 51 minutes, latched onto the ball, and slipped it past the keeper for the vital second goal.

Then, strangely, the final kick of the game saw Kelly make amends and not incur the wrath of girlfirend and mother on the line, to at last score after his several chances.

A cracking game at Bungay Road saw both teams play their part, Hempnall definitely deserved the victory, but Costessey looked far better than their bottom position in the division.

Well done to all the Hempnall players, getting better week by week.

A number of good perfomances today gave a number of players a shout at MoM, especially Billy Kelly and Tom Griffiths, but the best player on the park was, in the opinion of the Secretary (and others around the dugout), James Edwards.

Onwards and upwards!