Hempnall FC

Hempnall met D2 Mulbarton Wanderers Reserves in round 4 of the Norfolk Junior Cup. The game was held on 3G at The Nest.

Hempnall were without a few players for various reasons, so the task was always going to be made even more difficult.

From the off, Mulbarton looked strong, their fast attacks were causing some discomfort for Hempnall, who were struggling to get into the game, and fairly early on, Mulbarton went 1-0 up, and fairly soon after 2-0.

Mulbarton stretched their lead to 3-0, and it looked as though Hempnall were going to struggle to keep the score down, but came well into the game through improved play all over, and they looked much better going forward.

They got their reward from an excellent corner, met by an equally excellent header from Shaun Kelly.

For a while, the game became fairly even, both teams had half chances, Hempnall’s Etherington did find the net but the goal was ruled out for a foul.

Half time 1-3.

After half time, Hempnall looked to get further into the game, going forward with purpose, and it was an unfortunate Shaun Kelly that stormed forward with the ball, and a bad touch enabled the defender to reach the ball first with Kelly committed, catching the player and receiving a straight red, much to the bemusement of the Hempnall players – from the sidelines, we’ve seen them given, we’ve sometimes seen a yellow. The referee’s decision made the task even more difficult.

Worse was to come when the stand in centre half, Womack, got the wrong side and the referee adjudged a foul and a penalty, prompting foul language from Womack and another straight red and a well taken penalty for 1-4.

Another goal came for 1-5, and we thought it might be a rout, but Hempnall were determined to save face, and Etherington scored against the odds for 2-5.

That’s how the game ended, a number of bookings, a sin bin, four opposition bookings makes it sound like a disciplinary nightmare, but far from it, it was competitive, Mulbarton easily the better team (a division above) but I think we are all surprised at the number of cards, but that’s football.

Well done to an excellent Mulbarton side, they fully deserved their victory and best of luck in the next round.

Today we have decided no man of the match, there were no stand out performances.