Hempnall FC

We all know that, with teams regularly folding, it is difficult to maintain a reserves side, and we are no different to most clubs in this respect.

Manager Cranmer, though, has worked exceptionally hard to attract new players to his depleted squad, and he managed to secure several lads to play for the club, and we welcome those who have made Hempnall their club for the rest of the season, and hopefully for the long term.

So it was a much changed side, and a full complement of substitutes, that took to the Bungay Road pitch.

With the manager keen to give all the lads a game, the rolling substitute mechanism was a great advantage, but with so many new players, and stalwart Batterham feeling ill, the team would find it hard to gel in the short term, and this was probably the main difference between the sides – one who had played together for week on week, the other an essentially new side.

However, for a large part of the game, the lads did play some decent football, and could have, and probably should have, scored another couple.

For much of both halves Hempnall competed well, and the game was much closer than the 2-7 score suggested.

Hempnall had a few chances and half chances themselves, a headed effort from Bristow, shots from Murray and Wright, and a missed penatly from the manager.

Whilst the opposition’s long ball game found Hempnall lacking for, on occasions, pace, it was never a five goal gap in quality between the teams.

Bristow and Wright scored Hempnall's two goals, Thompson hit the cross bar with an excellent free kick.

All in all, a promising performance, if the players turn out week after week, performances will improve.

Secretary’s MOM is Bristow.