Hempnall FC

Hempnall Reserves welcomed Hockering Reserves to Bungay Road for this league game, a win would see Hempnall cement their top half league position.

Their start could not have been better, with newly transferred player, Daniel Mann, scoring after 45 seconds of his return to the club. Hempnall kept up the pressure, with Goldie, Elton, Cullabine and Orford all having early shots, but then a defensive mistake allowed Hockering to steal in and score an unlikely leveller.

This didn’t deter Hempnall though, and they continued to look the better team overall, and it was only the Hockering keeper who was superb on the day, keeping the score down.

Hempnall continued to take the game to Hockering, and their endeavours finally paid off when Ryan Cullabine crashed home a second to make us feel more secure.

The Hempnall keeper had to be on his toes on a couple of occasions, though generally, the defence coped easily enough, with Simon Cullabine able to make some excellent runs to add to the Hempnall attack on more than one occasion and Jordie also tearing down the wing in his normal fashion.

That said Hempnall were somewhat wasteful on occasions, shooting from distance rather than passing.

2-1 at hallf time, but could probably have been more.

The second half began brightly, Cullabine was unlucky on a couple of occasions, scooping one over the bar, Herbert went close though the keeper was again brave, before Orford smashed an unstoppable rocket from outside the box, giving the keeper no chance.

Shots were now raining in from all angles, Goldie, Elton and Cullabine going close.

Then a sequence of shots and saves that showed the excellence of the opposition keeper, a shot from Herbert looked goalbound, was pushed out, he had another go, then another, all foiled by the keeper.

Mann had another shot which the keeper comfortably saved, Herbert had another shot tipped around for a corner, more half chances were not converted, until up stepped the skipper Simon Cullabine to hit a good shot which was heading for the corner, the keeper saved it but Elton was on hand to score from point blank range.

Hockering, to their credit, never gave up, and themselves had a few attacks, dealt with by the Hempnall keeper if the defence didn’t, but Hempnall were by far he better team, both Cullabines, Orford, Mann and probably others had efforts either saved or wide, and then, to equal Orford’s finish, Mann got in on the act and unleashed another thunderbolt, the keeper again stood no chance. That made it 5 and the goal difference was certainly reflective of Hempnall’s dominance.

That’s about it really, a good game from Hempnall but they will be disappointed not to have scored more.

Some very good performances today, but the stand out player for me was Jordan Orford who is my MOM.