The highs of the previous week quickly came down to earth for many at the club with the realisation that the Cup final was on Easter Monday Morning. For the likes of Ben Player, Tom Halliwell, Rob Connelly and I, what should have been an event to look forward to and not seen by Hempnall for 20 years is now a demoraliser.
Despite Secretary Ray Youngman’s request for a different date the League are standing firm, and the show goes on at Wroxham, with the County Cup final at Carrow Road the very next day. This again seems a strange venue what with Watton and ourselves in the final , surely there would have been a closer venue available as was organised last year (Holt) for Gayton and Dersingham.
To assist our cause a little bit, Watton and ourselves are trying to get the Saturday fixtures pulled, so most players don’t have to play two big games in three days, what with league leaders Wroxham Reserves being our scheduled Saturday game.
We are hoping for a little bit of flexibility from the league but at time of writing no news on this either.
On Saturday, a hard fought draw was secured with 2nd place Norwich Union, when they pegged us back twice in a 2-2 result.
Sam Wenham (ill) & Adam Solley (injured) were rested to the bench in an attempt to buy some recovery time for their ailments. Tom Halliwell had to call off at the ground after some tragic family news. Our condolences from all at the club go to him and his wife’s family.
So in came Ben Lydka and the cup tied Ben Cussens.
With both sides competing hard, emotions were running high both on and off the pitch as the battle for midfield supremacy ensued. Barnes and Pitcher found their way into the referee’s book.
We slowly got on top and after 19 minutes, an excellent move between about five players, that started down our right flank, culminated in Mark Way coolly steering home his shot on the far post.
Both sides were creating chances in a good end to end game. From one such attack from the visitors, Cudden pulled off two excellent saves to maintain our 1 goal advantage which our play just about deserved.
The first 20 minutes of the 2nd half saw Norwich Union take the upper hand, and a goal looked like it was coming, and so it did. Lee Cosgrove broke down the right and from the narrowest of angles squeezed the ball into the net with a little bit of a deflection of sweeper Tim Downs, leaving Cudden helpless.
Norwich Union continued to dominate, despite man of the match Ben Player covering every blade of grass. A tactical change saw the emphasis switch back to us. The mercurial Sam Wenham “R & R” was curtailed as he took his place on the left, and Rob Browne joined Franklin and Way up top.
Two or three chances went begging until Sam drove home a rebound from the keeper after the ‘I couldn’t hit a barn door’ Player had actually found the target.
For a while, we looked in control, and on our way to 3 points, but back came the visitors, a driven cross was met by the head of Soanes who had looked a threat all day and although some 15 yards out, the execution of the header was perfect, and left Cudden with very little chance.
Although the game was a robust, hard fought affair, I thought the attitude of both camps was first class after the game. All issues that had gone on in the game were left on the pitch and good conversation followed.
The result, I felt we may have shaded on points, but was a fair one.
Our thanks go to Leanne Whitmore for taking up the role of ‘char ‘lady (as called by the chairman) in the continued absence of Mrs Youngman.
Also to Terry the Land lord of the “Three Horseshoes”, the food supplied after the game was first class and well appreciated by all.
I did visit our local rivals Long Stratton after the game to glean more information on our cup final opponents whom they had played on the day. Despite losing 3-2, Lloyd Douglas did ask me to mention he had an excellent game!!