Hempnall FC

After an excellent performance the week before, Hempnall were looking to repeat their effort against Weasenham to ensure their season gets off to a flyer.

With just a couple of changes to personnel, Hempnall started off confidently, but so did Weasenham, and the match was looking to be a close encounter.

Hempnall were looking perhaps a little over confident, and to the frustration of the management, some of the decision making in the final third in particular could have been better.

Weasenham were encouraged and with Hempnall giving the ball away, the counter attacks meant the Hempnall goalkeeper needed to be alert, and he was off his line quickly to make a couple of good interceptions.

Amini was looking strong, winning everything in the air, and generally, Hempnall looked quite comfortable and new boy Payne was settling in well.

One attack led to the first decent shot on goal from Keane, though the keeper comfortably saved the effort, and shortly after, Keane somehow failed to convert, the ball flashing across the goal. Head in hands time. He wasn’t put off, though, another effort stung the keeper’s hands, and the Hempnall player manager then had an effort pass the crossbar, with Hempnall well on top but still prone to the counter.

From a corner, Payne couldn’t cnvert his header.

Hempnall were piling on the pressure, another Keane effort looked bound for the net, but the ball hit a Hempnall player instead.

The sprightly Wheeler was causing problems, his shot though didn’t trouble the keeper, and then efforts from Riches and Keane were close, before the Weasenham keeper barrelled into a Hempnall player in the area, the referee giving a penalty which Cullabine duly converted.

We went into half time one up.

The second half largely followed the pattern of the first, Hempnall attacked well, with the opposition looking to counter swiftly.

It was still a close game, though I never thought Hempnall looked in much danger.

Jordy Batterham was overlapping as much as possible, and came close to scoring on one of his forays. He was, as always, working hard.

Weasenham had a few half chances, but Hempnall looked the better bet, and a second goal came from a fine finish from Keane; much deserved.

Hempnall were awarded another penalty following a foul on Keane, this time it was taken by Wheeler but not his best, and easily saved.

Cullabine was again looking very lively, and threatening the Weasenham goal on more than one occasion, but it wasn’t until the 90^th minute that Hempnall scored their third, another fine finish from Keane.

A very watchable game played in a good spirit, Hempnall didn’t play as well as their previous game but nevertheless, deserved their vistory, and they can be pleased with their first two league matches, sitting at the top of the table.

There were a number of good performances, but my two stand out players were Amini and Keane, the latter shading it with his two fine finishes.