Hempnall FC

Hempnall came into this match against UEA confident that, despite seven of their squad missing through a variety of reasons, they would have enough in their fairly strong team to beat a young UEA side.

The pitch was again hard and bumpy, (the drought has a lot to answer for) but it was the same for both teams. 

Hempnall though seemed to be the ones unable to play their football, and from the off, looked unable to string two passes together, allowing UEA to readily attack with little real obstacle.

This was easily the worst Hempnall performance seen at Bungay Road this season, at least for 70 minutes it was.

UEA’s first goal came from a misunderstanding between the keeper and a defender, the ball should have been cleared but was instead nodded back for a UEA player to pop in and score the first. 

This more or less set the pattern for the game, Hempnall succumbing after every minor incursion they made into the opposition final third, allowing UEA to break and attack, outnumbering a depleted defence, making mistakes t give UEA ample opportunities, three of which they took without reply.

It was almost unbelievable given the possession Hempnall had, how many times have we said that this season?

Hempnall had their moments through Ringer and Kelly particularly, but each 50/50 ball ended up at the feet of a UEA player; when your luck is down, as Ringer so aptly put it, nothing goes your way, and we were resigned to a heavy defeat

The first 70 minutes were a performance best forgotten.

However, the last 20 minutes or so was a different story. Hempnall suddenly came alive, playing the football we know they are capable of.

The introduction of Leather seemed to spark something, Kelly showed renewed vigour, firstly earning his side a penalty, duly despatched by Ringer, Watts, (who had an excellent all action game) buried the second, and Leather the third, all in the space of three minutes.

UEA were falling apart, Hempnall hit the bar, the keeper pulled off a barely noticed save that saved his team. 

Hempnall attacked to the final whistle but couldn’t score the fourth that would have seen them earn a point.

If Hempnall could play the first 70 minutes as they played the final 20, they would easily be towards the top rather than languishing at the bottom.

A word for the referee, Carl Thompson – he was excellent, allowing the game to flow where he could allowing us all to enjoy the game without fretting about unwarranted bookings.