Hempnall FC

Hempnall welcomed local team Long Stratton Reserves to Bungay Road, hoping to extend their recent form against a team who in recent times have shaded matches through fortunate goals.

On a flat pitch, the recent rain saw the pitch cut up fairly quickly, and good football was difficult, though it was an entertaining enough game.

Hempnall were without regular keeper Davis, though Lewis Bailey stepped in and proved to be a worthy deputy, making a couple of good saves and interceptions, and at the other end, the Stratton keeper did likewise.

Neither team dominated, cancelling each other out for the most part.

Choudery had the best of the forward runs, one of which saw him upended in the penalty area, and up stepped Womack, though his effort was too close to the keeper who palmed the ball around – a sign of Hempnall’s lack of fortune against this side.

0-0 at half time.

The second half saw the strong 45 degree cross wind favouring Stratton, but Hempnall looked the team more likely to break through, and a pull on Mortimer in the penalty area saw another penalty awarded to Hempnall, this time Mortimer despatched it for 1-0.

Unfortunately for Hempnall before really getting their heads together, a long throw (remember Delap?), aided by the wind, caused havoc and an unfortunate touch by a Hempnall defender saw the ball creep in for 1-1.

A short time after, the same Hempnall defender was first to a low header, normally would have been a superb brave defensive header, but the wind whipped the ball off the side of his head and past a stranded Bailey, for 2-1. Unlucky is not the word.

Hempnall kept pressing, the substitutes made a difference, the Stratton keeper was brave on more than one occasion, and Stratton held out for a very fortunate win.

Difficult to pick a MOM today, but for a couple of good saves, coming in for a difficult game and doing a good job overall, Lewis Bailey is my MOM. Well done all the lads.