Hempnall FC

Well, what a transformation in a team. With Chris Everard and Sam Browne returning to the back four, and up front, Radvilas and Etherington also available to replace other regular but injured front players, plus Stangroom returning to the midfield, the side started extremely well, and for the first 20 minutes, by which time they had scored 3 goals through Etherington (twice) and Radvilas, the football played was easily the best we’ve seen at Bungay Road for many a month.

Bellingham and company in midfield were winning and distributing the ball very well, Etherington and Lambe causing problems wide, and had the fourth gone in when the side were so confident, Acle would have had no way back.

It’s funny how doubts can creep in when confidence is lacking, having lost in recent games when playing pretty well, the players did go into their shells a bit to let Acle back into it.

However, the back four generally looked good, and the fight in the players clear for all to see, so the sizeable support on the sidelines was far happier with the level of perfomance.

The 3-1 half time scoreline was a fair reflection, something we haven’t been able to say in recent times when Hempnall have been chasing the game.

The second half was a more equal affair, with Acle pushing forward, the Hempnall goalkeeper making a rare error of judgement in coming but not getting the ball, allowing Acle to score a second, resulting in a very tense last 15 minutes.

The strain though was getting to Acle who committed a number of fouls, arguing many of the decisions the ref gave, though we on the sidelines thought the ref had a very decent game and from what we could see, the decisions seemed perfectly justified.

Both teams were presented with a number of decent chances, but neither side could put them away. Hempnall’s best probably fell to their most consistent performer, Bliss, who blasted his chance over the bar, though Etherington almost planted a superb rocket diving header into the net, only to see the crossbar save Acle. Pity, as it would have been goal of the season and Etherington’s first hat-trick for the club. 

All in all, a well deserved victory easing Hempnall up the table. Perhaps this will give them the confidence they have been lacking, to get the results their play in recent weeks has deserved.

MOM is difficult to determine – Etherington and Radvilas were clearly up there, though Secretary’s MOM is Browne.