Hempnall FC

Hempnall came into this match on a run of four defeats. With two players calling off due to illness, Manager Bunn had to call himself up as substitute.

Bad to worse, Marjoram turned his ankle after 30 seconds and had to go off to be replaced by Leather who, unusually for these days, was sent up front. Marjoram was able to return later in the game, but unfortunately, his ankle issue saw him have to leave again late in the game. Hopefully, it won’t be a bad injury as he is rapidly becoming indispensable to the team.

Both teams started brightly, with chances at both ends, Kelly just failing to beat the keeper for what would have been a start Hempnall haven’t seen for some time.

Hempnall again came close through Jordan Dale.

As is standard at present, Hempnall more or less presented Waveney with a goal, after such good work it is irritating to see mistakes let the opposition in.

Leather came so close to latching on to a Kelly cross, but then he did win the ball and plant a fine strike into the net for 1-1.

Hempnall were looking promising, but so were Waveney, and it was dawdling on the ball that saw Waveney respond for 1-2 in the final minute before half time, the keeper being confused by the chipped finish to see the ball hit the back of the net.

The second half saw Hempnall still looking lively, probably their most promising performance of recent times, but we were seeing the ball just eluding the attackers, with Leather just unable to bury the ball, with a few other decent, probably half, chances, eluding the team, we thought Hempnall heads might drop. 

Not a bit of it, and when Marjoram went off, the manager came on for the last ten minutes, and his pass saw Kelly run and feed Womack, who in turn fed Herbert to finish in fine fashion – Hempnall at last showing the quality football they are capable of.

Hempnall could have won it in the last throes of the game, but the opposition keeper was secure – in fact, he looked secure all game, as did Davis in the Hempnall goal, good handling and athleticism, both having to save or clear the ball on more than one occasion.

I think a draw was a fair result.

Hempnall were generally secure at the back, marshalled by the excellent Shaun Kelly who today is comfortably my MOM.