Hempnall FC

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Hempnall welcomed unbeaten Attleborough to Bungay Road expecting a tough encounter but confident after their recent good run of form.

Emmett replaced Talbot at left back and M. Barrett returned in midfield but other than that the team was unchanged from the previous weeks heroics. Ling and Pointer returned to the bench with D. Gray at work.

The management asked for a quicker start than the previous week and duly got it as Hempnall were straight onto the front foot. Hempnall created a few half chances only to fall behind against the run of play when Attleborough broke from a corner and after Garrod slipped at a vital moment and Potter deflected a through ball into the path of the Attleborough player who slotted past Beetensen.

This goal seemed to rock Hempnall and Attleborough began to attack on a regular basis particularly down the wings with Hempnall having to ride the storm. The game swung back Hempnall's way in a crazy 10 minute spell where two Attleborough players saw red.

Hempnall seized the initiative and piled forward looking for an equaliser. Kristian Jones duly obliged when he picked up the ball on the left, drove forward and struck a shot into the bottom left hand corner.

HT : 1-1

Hempnall's half time team talk centre around remaining calm and trying to use the extra men to their advantage. JD replaced the unfortunate Emmett who was sacrificed due to the booking he had picked up in the first half and the Hempnall management concern that the ref may look to even things up a little if he was to commit another indiscretion.

Attleborough reshuffled themselves at half time which caught Hempnall on the hop a little. Attleborough worked extremely hard all over the pitch making it difficult for Hempnall to pass the ball. Hempnall resorted to always playing forwards despite the guidance being given from the sideline.

Despite this, a quick free kick allowed Lee Barrett to stroll forward unopposed to drive the ball home from 25 yards. This should have settled Hempnall down but still they made some wrong choices and had to survive a few nervy moments as Attleborough threatened.

Hempnall needed a 3^rd to make the game safe and this goal came when JD got away down the right and cut the ball back, the first shot was blocked but Andy Clitheroe was there to slot home to seal the game.

FT : 3-1

There was a lot of post match discussion after the game about the reasons for us not being able to use our extra two men, but as we have all seen right up to the top level that teams sometimes struggle to make use of their extra players. I will prepare us better for this next time but am unsure whether we will play against 9 again as like Dave Hyett pointed out, he never has before.

Nevertheless, this is another fantastic 3 points for the team and continues our good recent form. We have now played 3 out of the top 4 sides in the league at fortress Bungay Road and have a record of two wins and a draw.

Although we had a poor start I have said all along that we can beat all the teams in Division 2 if ourselves and the firsts have settled sides.

I would like to place on record my thanks to Clarkey who has worked hard with me to strengthen the playing staff and has tried where he can to ensure we are strong for the big games we have had the last couple of weeks.

Cheers Clarkey.

UTH!!!!!