Hempnall FC

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After the slip ups of the previous 2 weeks, we were keen to make amends, and prove the team of the month (Nov & Dec) award we were presented with before the start was not in any way a poisoned chalice.

Once again we faced a number of changes to the starting line up, welcoming back Barrett brothers Matt and Lee, Kristian Jones and Ross Potter both fit to start and Ben Nichols back from First team duty, with Sam Page also making a rare appearance for us. To offset that though, we lost Mark Moseley, Matt Cartledge, Dave Hyett, Andy Clitheroe and Elliott Lythgoe, from the previous weeks starting 11 – the massive number of changes again being a continuing disrupting feature to us.

The team however started brightly, getting off to a great start, when after only 2 minutes, Lee Barrett collected the ball on the edge of the area, cut onto his right foot and curling an excellent finish into the bottom corner. This was just the start we needed to settle us down.

Playing with the wind, they worked hard as requested to by the manager, giving Hellesdon little time on the ball. Defending very well as a unit, the back 4 protected Beetenson in goal very well, giving him little to do.

Whilst our final ball at times was a little rushed, we nevertheless looked the better side, and the team more likely to score.

We did indeed extend our lead when after a corner, a Hellesdon clearance only managed to find Ian Garrod on the edge of the box who struck it first time into the bottom corner of the net to give us a 2-0 lead. The rest of the half then played out in much the same manner.

Whilst happy at the lead and overall performance of the first half, the management stressed the need to improve our final ball a little, and also as we were now against the wind to continue to pressurise the opposition in order to stop their outlet balls over the top and into their wide players.

Unfortunately, we found ourselves with our backs against the wall from very early on. With nothing now to lose, Hellesdon upped their tempo and with the increased wind, we struggled to deal with them, as they started to look dangerous, something they had not in the first half.

However, it still took a massive slice of good fortune for them to get back in the game. Through on goal, Beetenson rushed out to get there first, and when he did he cleared the ball only for it to hit the forwards raised arm (protecting his face) in a blatant hand ball, which resulted in him then being through to finish into the open goal. Whether it was deliberate or not is irrelevant, in that surely if such a blatant handball creates a goal scoring opportunity it has to be called back ?!

Our protests, more of which were to come later in the game, were waved away by the referee and the goal awarded.

With there tails now up, Hellesdon pressed further still, and levelled the game with a poke home in what was scrappy goal we will be disappointed to concede.

It was now vital we knuckle down and shore ourselves up. We continued to break on the counter attack, but did look much more solid as a defensive unit and unlikely to concede further. However, worse was to come for us.

With only 8 minutes left on the clock, Hellesdon were awarded a corner. Swung in, after a bit of a scramble, the ball fell to a Hellesdon forward about 8 yards out, and clear to all seemingly except the Referee, he nudged the ball forward with his hand onto a fellow attacker to prod the ball home.

The home linesman clearly flagged, having a direct view of it, but to no avail, as when the referee consulted with him, he was told he himself had a clear view of it, and that because the player hands were by his side, it was not deliberate and so the goal would stand.

Quite how this is fair, as again, deliberate or not, a hand ball, 8 yards out that directly creates a goal, has to be penalised.

Not good refereeing on this occasion, as in our view, the assistant was well placed but the referee was not (the conversation between referee and assistant after the game is best left to the imagination). So, we ask ourselves, is the assistant there merely to see the ball in and out of play and interpret the offsides, or there to assist a poorly positioned referee with crucial decisions? 

Anyway, unable to break down the visitor’s defence for the last 5 mins, the game finished 2-3 to Hellesdon.

Not in any way to justify our second half performance, which was not good enough, and I am sure all the players will be disappointed with, but to concede the winning goal in such a fashion leaves a very bitter taste.

This is now the second game in 3 that refereeing decisions have directly cost us points – firstly at Wortwell, now here, and regardless of performance, that really hurts. I would ask for nothing more than a fair and honest decision, and when that happens but it goes against us, whether we like it or not, we can only accept the ref’s decision in what is a very tough job.

We must now look to up our game significantly, after 3 very poor results and performances overall. Having got ourselves back into contention, we now are very much up against it. The same level of commitment and desire shown to start our winning streak back in October, is now required to ensure we finish the season strongly and make sure we show ourselves as good as we possibly can. They are a great bunch of lads with loads of quality between them, and so lets roll up our sleeves, and between now and the end of the season, show what a good side we are !!!!

UTH