Hempnall FC

Hempnall met second from bottom Scole Utd Reserves at Bungay Road, and after a decent run of form, were confident of victory.

Perhaps too confident, as missing only a couple of players, Hempnall started badly, and despite going one up through Jordan Orford following a run and excellent cross from the Jack Herbert after only a few minutes, they were, for the first twenty minutes, playing possibly their worst football of the season so far, and it was during this period that Scole equalised after some sloppy Hempnall play.

Whilst Hempnall had a few half chances, Scole could have taken the lead, and were probably unlucky not to.

Hempnall did start to play a little better, Billy Kelly and Jack Herbert both went close, and a beautiful cross saw Herbert finish well for 2-1.

Again, Scole came close, but Hempnall were looking, overall, the more likely, and it was Edward Lake that brought a fine save from the Scole keeper.

Hempnall were benefiting from excellent wing back play from Kelly and Etherington, and piling the pressure on, and one good move saw a thunderous effort from Herbert nestle in the back of the net for 3-1.

Just before half time, the hardworking Hempnall number 9, New, slotted in a good finish for number 4.

The second half saw Hempnall improve their overall play, with thrusting runs galore, notably from Kelly and Etherington, and a cross saw Lake head into the net for number 5.

Hempnall’s number 10, Orford, came close with another decent effort that sailed past the upright, then Etherington had a shot saved and couldn’t keep the parried effort down and the ball sailed over – not his day for goals.

Hempnall were attacking freely now, Cattermole couldn’t finish a chance, then somehow the ball sped across the goal with nobody able to apply a finish.

Again, Etherington was denied and again was unable to finish the follow up, before a goalmouth scramble from a corner saw the Hempnall number 9 have a header saved.

Still Hempnall applied the pressure, still Etherington tried but failed to finish; on another week he’d have scored a hat-trick.

Hempnall’s sixth came from Cattermole – was it  cross, was it a shot? Whatever, it eluded the unfortunate keeper.

Scole immediately relied, and from the kick off, their player scored from the halfway line with the Hempnall keeper perhaps a little far out and not expecting the shot.

A Hempnall free-kick just outside the box saw Marjoram crack a good shot which the keeper saved in fine fashion, before a Scole defender unluckily thundered in an own goal for Hempnall’s seventh.

Herbert then came close to scoring his third but the ball just went past the upright.

A good passage of play resulted in Hempnall’s eighth from Marjoram.

All in all, a good result from Hempnall who were not at their best today.

A word for the referee, Mr. Apostoaie who I thought had a fine game, and refereed in the fashion we all like to see.

There were a number of decent performances, but this week, the stand out man was Jack Herbert who has been close to MOM most weeks this season.

The club would like to congratulate Billy Kelly and Chelsea Davison on the birth of their daughter, Bobbie Grace.