Hempnall FC

Hempnall Reserves welcomed Castle Acre Reserves to Hempnall for the semi-final of the League Cup. Prior to the match, the Club held a 1 minute silence for our much respected former player, supporter and life member, Peter Downing, who sadly passed away recently. We were very pleased to welcome Peter’s partner, Christine to be amongst us.

The League was represented by Mick Utting, Deputy Secretary. Thanks to Castle Acre who respected the minute silence with us.

Hempnall were without one suspended and three injured players, and with Cup rules in place, Hempnall were down to a squad of 12.

Despite carrying an injury, Simon Cullabine was able to return and take his place in the back four, and the team looked balanced.

We were looking forward to a hard game considering the circumstances and Castle Acre’s elevated position in the Division, and for the first twenty minutes, the sides were evenly matched. The Hempnall defence were having to show a lot of resilience, and the back four were called into action on more than one occasion, with last ditch tackles and the keeper having to be smartly down though not really tested. All of the team were working extremely hard, urged on by the personnel on the line and Hempnall were growing into the game.

A good move saw Hempnall’s Daniel Mann fire in an excellent shot which the opposition keeper saved superbly, tipping the ball over the bar.

After a few minutes, another good move led to Ross Joy hitting a too hot to handle shot which put Hempnall 1 up.

The game was end to end for a while, before a Hempnall corner saw Simon Cullabine power in a rocket header for 2-0.

Hempnall then dominated, and a free kick awarded 20 yards from goal was hit beautifully by Hanwell into the net with the keeper stranded, and we were in dreamland, 3-0 before half time.

More was to come though, and with the defence sniffing out Castle Acre half chances, the Hempnall midfield were dominating, and a lightning fast run from Ryan Cullabine saw him power in a shot again too hot to handle, and Hempnall went into half time 4-0 to the good.

Pretty well game over, and whilst we were hoping for more goals second half, none arrived, the game was far more even but Castle Acre couldn’t make the breakthrough .

A great game of football witnessed by a number of  former Hempnall players.

Every Hempnall player played their part, all put in a great shift against one of the better teams in the league, with great goals, great defending and a midfield the best we’ve seen all season.

For me, the stand out performance today was from Simon Cullabine, I have not seen a better centre half performance this season, and to top it all, he scored a brilliant headed goal.

So it’s into the final for Tom and the lads.