Hempnall FC

Hempnall met top of the league Mulbarton Wanderers Reserves in their final home game of the season.

Without a couple of regulars, Hempnall still managed to field a good squad.

Mulbarton brought with them a good number of supporters expecting their high flying team to outshine Hempnall.

Hempnall started badly, with a tackle adjudged to have been a foul, the Mulbarton player stepped up to power a free kick past the Hempnall keeper for a goal after 30 seconds.

We thought it might be a rout, but quite the opposite happened.

Hempnall picked themselves up, and we were treated to both Hempnall’s best performance of the season, and a very good game of football in the evening sunlight.

It was Hempnall that, in truth, played most of the good football, and the Hempnall forwards were causing all sorts of problems, Cattermole having his best half for some time, and Lekanyang running riot with his speed.

Hempnall were pressurising to gain a quick equaliser, with a good cross shot just intercepted by the stretching Mulbarton defender preventing Hanwell from tapping in.

The defence were generally intercepting well, a few hesitations though gave Mulbarton half chances which were not taken. 

The midfield, as always, were working tirelessly, Watts, Herbert, Gent and Lake ably backed up by the wing backs, Kelly and Shingles, were keeping the pressure on the Mulbarton defence.

More last ditch defending from Mulbarton again prevented Cattermole from scoring, then the excellent Shingles powered forward, his surging run ended in a shot that didn’t trouble the keeper.

Hempnall were looking by far the more likely to score, and a shot from the, as usual, hard to control Herbert, saw the keeper save with his legs.

More close calls, with Gent unable to control his shot, then more havoc from a corner saw the defence just manage to clear.

Another corner saw the ball being kept out by Mulbarton legs before Lake had the final say by crashing the ball into the net for 1-1 at half time.

The ever dependable Shaun Kelly had to go off with a knee injury. His importance to Hempnall can’t be overstated, but it was fortunate that Hempnall had occasional player Steven Blake to replace him, and the defence remained largely very secure.

Hempnall had by far the better first half, and on another day, would have secured three first half goals.

Half time talk – ‘more of the same’.

That is what we were provided with. 

Mulbarton woke up a little and had a few decent attacks that weren’t finished off, but Hempnall were looking superb up front, with the defence again unable to cope with Lekanyang. 

Hempnall’s several corners came to nothing, but the pressure was maintained until Lekanyang controlled the ball, turned and thundered an unstoppable shot into the net for 2-1.

The upset was on, and Hempnall fully deserved their lead.

The game was end to end, still Hempnall looked the better team, coming close on several occasions, but a lapse allowed a Mulbarton player to rifle in a fine finish.

In the descending gloom, luckily still cloudless, the light just about sufficient to see the game out.

The score did not reflect Hempnall’s overall dominance against the top team in the league, and Hempnall can consider themselves very unfortunate not to come away with all three points.

There were some superb performances tonight throughout the team, but for his performance both defensively and in attack, and his ever running and combative play, MOM goes to Craig Shingles.

A word for the referee – another good performance from Mr. Shepstone.