Hempnall FC

Hempnall welcomed bottom of the table Bradenham Wanderers Reserves to Bungay Road.

Without Shaun Kelly who had an injured wrist, Hempnall had to re-arrange their defence in a hurry. 

Bailey came in to the Hempnall goal in place of Davis.

Hoping for an easier game than of late, Hempnall were possibly a little over confident.

Starting well enough, Hempnall soon started playing the wrong ball to let the opposition in on the break, and whilst Hempnall always looked the better team on the whole, Bradenham were not playing like a bottom of the table side.

Hempnall though were intercepting well, the back four looked comfortable, though the opposition number 10 was causing a little consternation at times.

The midfield were working hard, Watts showing his normal endeavour, and Junior Bennett is growing up quickly to become an indispensible part of the team.

Hempnall dominated possession though were, frankly, somewhat wasteful in front of goal, and the front players could probably all have done a bit better with better touches, but we thought it was only time before Hempnall netted one of their chances.

Finally, Marjoram slotted in and we thought the floodgates would open.

We were wrong, and Bradenham kept their heads up and caused a few problems of their own. They should have scored when the ball eluded Bailey and hit the upright, a very close call which may have woken Hempnall up.

In all honesty, whilst Hempnall were the better team, their wastefulness could easily have penalised them, and we were a little fortunate to go into the half time break in the lead.

Hempnall’s second goal came from Bennett with a fine angled finish, Bradenham did then look jaded and Hempnall kept up the attack, and a third came from the excellent Steven Blake.

It only seemed a matter of time before Hempnall really turned the screw, but again, wastefulness in fron of goal kept us frustrated and Bradenham took advantage of some sloppy, overconfident play, to score themselves. 

Hempnall kept going though, Watts missed a couple he’d normally back himself to take, as did Kelly, and this, aided and abetted by some last ditch defending from a Bradenham side still competing well, meant Hempnall couldn’t again find the back of the net until finally, substitute Matt Hartle, back at the club after his recent transfer, slotted the ball into the net, and it was a comfortable 4-1 scoreline.

Still Bradenham didn’t collapse, and Bailey had to make a fine save.

Hempnall will have to finish better, and pick better passes, if they are to maintain their lofty, second placed position, but the boys worked very hard despite their profligacy in front of goal.

There were some good perfomances today, the defence was generally sturdy, the midfield worked hard, and as always, Womack showed great endeavour up front.

Tricky decision between Watts, Bennett and Edwards, but for his good overall performance and his stand out 40 yard pinpoint crossfield ball to the feet of Womack, Junior Bennett is my MOM.

Again, we had an excellent referee (Paul Wilson) at Hempnall; he let the game flow, but always had things under control.