Hempnall FC

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Hempnall welcomed Harleston to Bungay Road for the mid week game, in what has long been foreseen as a key, very tough and important encounter in our title run in.

The team was without Gavin Whitting (injured) and Matt Barrett (watching Donny Osmond live in concert) and preparations were also slightly disrupted by the non appearance of Kristian Jones. A quick reshuffle by the management team saw Lee Emmett start at Left back, with Matt Cartledge moving into a more advanced roll and Lee Barrett starting up top with Kingo. This left skipper Dom Jones, returning from injury, and Matt Cawston taking up positions on the bench.

The game kicked off in brilliant sunlight on a very hard and consequently bumpy pitch. It was Harleston that took to the tricky conditions much the better early on. Despite the management emphasising the need to start quickly and give no time to the opposition, we once again were slow out of the blocks. In fits and starts we played some nice football, with the pace of King, and his link up play with Lee Barrett some causing problems to the Harleston back line. However, for the most part it was Harleston that controlled the half, playing some nice quick football and being given a bit too much time to do so. It was they being the ones winning and picking up the second ball. Despite their possession however, they created very little by way of attempts on goal, as Hempnall’s back line protected Motteram very well, allowing very little to pass through, meaning he actually had a quiet half.

As half time approached, and after a little bit of pressure, Hempnall managed to win a corner. Continuing his excellent delivery from the previous few weeks, Ian Garrod floated the kick to the back post onto the head of Potter, who headed back across goal onto Kingo, for him to head home bravely from a few yards out. In truth this was against the run of play, but it gave us that lift we needed going into the second period, and would hopefully leave Harleston a little deflated.

HT – Hempnall 1 – 0 Harleston

Unfortunately, the second half started much like the first, with Harleston again in the ascendancy, but with Hempnall holding firm. With about 15 minutes gone and after a mis-timed high clearance, Potter jumped to head clear, only to be met by the knee of the on-rushing Harleston midfielder, leaving him flat on the floor (it later transpired that this resulted in broken ribs !!). Unable to continue, Dom Jones entered the fray (slightly earlier and in different circumstances than he had hoped) in centre midfield with Marc Garrod dropping back to centre half. What resulted was a bit of a war of words between the 2 camps, which both seemed to unsettle and then inspire Hempnall into life. However, first the initially unsettling. With a minute or so of the re-start, Harleston found themselves level, with Hempnall somewhat out of sorts, allowing the right winger time and space to hit a very well struck shot across Motteram into the corner of the net to take the game to 1-1.

With Harleston back in the game, a few worried faces appeared in the crowd. However, they need not have worried, as for the next 15 minutes Hempnall were inspired. Within a couple of minutes of conceding, Hempnall were back in front.

After a bit of pressure, excellent work from Cartledge down the left resulted in him crossing, just evading the head of Lee Barrett, but onto Andy Clitheroe at the back post. He then delivered an excellent cross picking out the late run of Dom Jones, for him to volley home into the roof of the net from 15 yards with one of his first touches, inspiring the start of an onslaught and sending the players and crowd into delight.

After a further 5 minutes, Cartledge again played a big part in Hempnall increasing their lead. A ball down the line found his feet. From there he beat 2 defenders and continued his run across the penalty area, and just as the ball looked to be getting away from him, it was met with another excellent run from centre midfield, this time Ian Garrod, who struck the ball sweetly into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, and continue his excellent scoring record of late, making it 3 in 3 for him.

Once again a further 5 minutes down the line and Hempnall took the game to 4-1. A clearance out of defence found Lee Barrett, who deftly flicked it on to King, for him to rush in and strike at goal. The keeper did make a hash of in truth, however it mattered not, as the net bulged and with it King took the plaudits.

The game as a contest was really over at that point. Harleston continued to pressure, but without creating a single notable chance !!

FT – Hempnall 4 – 1 Harleston

At the final whistle, the players, management and fans were thrilled with the result and a massive 3 points in the hunt for the title, against, who are a very good side.

Credit must go to the back line, who protected Motteram to such a degree that, the goal apart, he did not have a single save to make, with special mention to Man of the Match Ross Jones, who despite struggling with a hamstring injury all week, was faultless at the back, not putting a foot wrong all game. Also to JP in stepping down from the first team and giving his usual 110% performance, and to King for his 2 goals.

This result left the team needing 7 points from their final 3 games to clinch the division crown. First up is Easton at home on Saturday. UTH !!!!