Hempnall FC

Hempnall met Poringland Wanderers in the Cup, knowing a win would take them into the quarter finals.

With a few players unavailable, Kourosh Amini, Jack Timson, Jamie Bennett and keeper Macauley Ryan, were brought in from the Reserves.

Amini slotted in at right back alongside Kelly, Way and Edwards; Miller took up a midfield position with Watts, Blake, Bennett and Timson, leaving Womack as the lone striker, meaning a lot of work for him.

From the off, Hempnall meant business, and Womack had an early shot, then Miller, but the keeper was not really tested.

Jamie Bennett won a corner, Edwards contested well but was unable to finish, then Watts had a go, and Womack was looking very dangerous and causing no end of problems for the defence but could not convert.

Poringland were limited to a half chance, but Hempnall were easily the better side in the early stages.

Another corner led to a fantastic header from the excellent Edwards, and the ball nestled nicely in the net for 1-0.

Hempnall had a couple of free kicks in shooting distance, but neither troubled the keeper, thenMiller had a good shot pushed around the post by the keeper.

Hempnall piled on the pressure, and a corner somehow stayed out with neither Watts or Way quite able to provide the final touch, but the pressure eventually told, with Womack fouled inside thearea, and up stepped Miller to take the penalty and make it 2-0.

Still Poringland were limited to half chances.

The Hempnall keeper, aided and abetted by Timson, made a brave interception, and then Amini made a remarkable goal line clearance to maintain the 2 goal margin.

Kelly injured his back, and on came Dowling, his first contribution was a free kick which sailed into the keeper’s arms.

Blake was playing well in midfield against his old team, the team looked balanced and well in command up to half time albeit Poringland had a few close chances.

The second half was a different story.

Whether Hempnall thought they had it won, we shall never know, but Poringland came back into it, and the game was going towards Poringland, though chances were made at either end.

Hempnall were, for some reason, not able to recover quickly enough after a Miller shot which was beaten out, the ball went to the other end and Watts, unable to divert the ball away, finished off the move by netting in his own net for 2-1.

From there, in fairness, the team most likely looked to be Poringland.

The Hempnall keeper made a great save to keep Hempnall in front, Poringland went close, but so did Hempnall, and after a couple of Poringland corners, the referee (who was, by the way, very good), blew the final whistle.

I think Poringland will be disappointed not to draw, Hempnall’s first half dominance was just enough.

A very enjoyable game, with a number of decent performances. The reserves players played their part, the keeper again looked good, and there were a few candidates for MOM, but for his excellence up front, working hard, holding the ball up as a good centre forward should, and causing havoc in the Poringland defence, my MOM is Justin Womack.