Hempnall FC

3/12/17 Hempnall VS DCS Rapid.

Hempnall welcomed 2nd placed DCS Rapid to Bungay Road this week, but were in confident mood having comfortably beaten them in pre season.

Hempnall welcomed back James Youngs, Jamie Ellis and Ashley Gray to the starting 11 though Fisher was away in Amsterdam.

Still Hempnall manager Kelly had 13 to choose from and started in an unfamiliar 3-5-2 naming himself on the bench.

Despite the change in formation Hempnall started much the brighter with Gray and Melts chasing well and the back three looking solid, Youngs in particular against his old side.

10 minutes in Kelly was forced to bring himself on for Reynolds who had picked up a knee injury.

Almost immediately after coming on, Kelly played a ball over the top for Ellis who out ran his defender and rolled the ball into the net for 1-0.

Hempnall were really up for this and allowed Rapid no time on the ball, which made them kick long, being mopped up by the back three, Youngs, S.Kelly and Cleverly.

The next goal came from a quick throw into Macrae who chested, spun and played a delicate ball over the top for Ellis who chipped the keeper for his and Hempnall’s second. 2-0

This seemed to wake Rapid up, who started pushing more, and got themselves a free kick just outside the area which was bent round, tipped onto the post by Bailey only for it to roll across the line to the unmarked player. 2-1.

Hempnall were rocked and no sooner had Rapid got one back, they had got another, a good move found their winger completely free who rolled across into the six yard box for the striker who was again unmarked. 2-2 HT

HT was talk about the positive start we had and how we needed to get back to playing simply again.

Almost immediately Hempnall were on the back foot, giving the ball away cheaply and allowing Rapid shots on goal, which Bailey saved well or were well defended by the back line.

Despite the slow start it was us who regained the lead through Ellis again, completing his hat trick. Another ball from Kelly, found Ellis on the edge of the box who then decided to head the ball from the edge of the box past the keeper for 3-2.

The lead was doubled almost immediately with good play from Gray, Melts and Craskey, finding Ellis who was one on one, he rounded the keeper and passed the ball into an empty net for his fourth. 4-2.

Rapid responded, forcing corners and half chances and found their reward as a cross wasn’t dealt with and the player fired past Bailey to reduce the score line. 4-3.

Surely we wouldn’t throw away another two goal lead.

This time we didn’t crumble and kept pushing, a ball out wide from Melts was kept in play by Kelly (much to the dissatisfaction of the Rapid players) he beat his man and played in Ellis, who one touch later, lifted the ball over the on rushing keeper for his and Hempnall’s fifth. 5-3

But despite this, Rapid kept going and a clearance fell to the feet of the attacker who hit a thunderous strike from 25 yards, which Bailey could only tip onto the post, game on again 5-4.

One more chance fell to the opposition with the ball cut back the striker was free from 6 yards out and destined to score, only for Youngs to seemingly come out of nowhere and throw his body in the way, the block as good as a goal.

With Rapid pushing forward they left holes at the back and Ellis with some nifty footwork, switched the play over to Kelly, who took a touch, looked up and chipped the keeper to finally end the game.

Final score 6-4 to Hempnall in an end to end game, that ended with us securing a much needed 3 points after last weeks bad loss.

A shout out to the team today who were outstanding, playing a new formation, they adapted brilliantly and played some lovely football at times.

A mention to James Youngs today, who having been out for he last few weeks, came back and performed brilliantly, he won everything on the deck and in the air, any other day he’d have won MoM, but today it goes to 5 goal hero, Jamie Ellis, who was quite simply unplayable, everything he touched turned to gold.

We now look forward to this Sunday we host Silver Fox.

The reverse fixture saw us lose 4-3 in very dubious circumstances.