Hempnall FC

Hempnall met lower mid table FC Steamers in D3, determined to repeat their previous week’s performance level and maintain their second place position in the division.

With Swatman still injured, Lewis Bailey once again stepped in between the sticks.

Despite the injuries, Hempnall fielded a strong squad, and started brightly enough, and not long into the game, Hempnall forced a corner, Shaun Kelly rose highest to plant a fine header against the bar, and the ball nestled nicely into the keeper’s hands to keep it at 0-0.

Hempnall kept the pressure on, and a fine free kick from Jack Herbert saw Daniel New sink a fine header into the new for a deserved 1-0.

With Hempnall looking good going forward, the final ball was off, leaving the opposition to enjoy their own interceptions and forays forward, and despite us wondering how a couple of Hempnall’s chances didn’t increase their advantage, Hempnall decided to go to sleep, could not clear the ball, and four corners in succession finally led to a superb corner which eluded Bailey and went straight in.

Another goal followed, and Steamers were indeed living up to their name, though Hempnall came back into it and somehow a goal eluded them.

However, Kelly, again rising highest at a corner was pushed in the back, and Hempnall were awarded a penalty, beautifully despatched by Jake Gent.

We went in 2-2 at half time, and we thought Hempnall were still well in the game and hopefully going on to win, but without a bit more luck and tightening up, the score could be virtually anything. 

So, a change at half time saw Jordan Dale come into the fray, and gradually, Hempnall took control, pummelling the Steamers goal but Hempnall did indeed go to sleep, and went 2-4 down, though still we were confident. 

An (almost) superb diving header from Shaun Kelly ruffled the outside of the net, before another Hempnall corner was superbly taken by Gent and mirrored the Steamers first half goal to soar over the keeper’s head and directly into the net for 3-4.

Game on!

Hempnall were looking far more confident and playing some excellent attacking football, and another attack saw the extremely hard working Dan New react to tap in for 4-4.

With 20 minutes left, there had to be more goals in the match, and there were.

Kelly was causing havoc at corners, a couple of near misses, before a cross shot from Dale made it 5-4, and a final flourish saw Dale smash a beautiful finish for 6-4.

That’s how it finished, a very entertaining game, Hempnall I think deserved their victory despite the unbalanced, mistake ridden performance.

No man of the match was voted for, several overall decent individual performances though.

A word for the referee, Paul Stevenson, who I thought was excellent.