Hempnall FC

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On the back of 3 poor results, we made the long trip to Thetford in what we hoped would be the start of another winning streak for us.

Once again, the team was disrupted by a number of changes, with unavailability, first team call up and injuries being the causes. However, on paper, we actually managed to field what looked one of our strongest line-up of the season.

In came Hyett, Clitheroe and Nichols (back from first team duty) and Elliott Lythgoe, however we were missing Kristian Jones and Gav Whitting (both Injured) with Marc and Ian Garrod both with the first team.

We started the game very brightly, with our very quick front 3 causing our hosts problems. With his strong running and workrate, Sam Page in particular was proving a real handful for them. Playing with the slope, we were controlling the game, and deservedly took the lead when again breaking at pace down the left, a cross was met by our opposite winger, Clitheroe, to poke the ball home from a few yards out. We continued to press and dictate the game, Thetford proving no real threat at this early stage with the backline dealing comfortably with anything that came their way.

We increased our lead, when a run and cross from the right from Clitheroe found Moseley in the box, only for he to be upended by the Thetford centre half, resulting in the referee pointing to the stop. Up stepped Clitheroe to coolly slot the penalty home.

We really looked very bit in control at this stage, with further goals for us looking the only real outcome to be honest. However, Thetford did seem to up their game though from this point and finished the half more strongly. That said, we felt pretty confident 0-2 up going into the dressing room.

The only real criticism, during the team talk was that perhaps we played the ball forward a bit too quickly, running away from us down the slope. However, going up the hill in the second, we hoped this would not be an issue.

Given that they had looked stronger in the last 5-10 mins of the first half, we had to be very wary of the fact that Thetford now had the slope in their favour.

Nevertheless, the last words before we left the changing room was that we do not now give away this 2 goal lead.

It is from this point that things went wrong.

From very early on, it was apparent that we would not have things quite such our own way, and that we would have to work vey hard for the next 45 mins.

Thetford pressed us very well, using the slope to their advantage. Our play in the final third seemed to dry up as possession was given up to easily. That said, the back line protected Beetenson quite well, with him only having to deal with a couple of overhit passes.

We had a glorious chance to increase our lead further, when a one on one chance was well saved by their keeper, going out for a corner. Unfortunately, only 2 minutes later, what perhaps should have been 0-3 was actually 1-2, when a through ball caught our otherwise good line slightly ragged, leaving their forward free to rush in on Beetenson and finished into his bottom corner.

This did deflate us somewhat, and we remained second best. As the pressure increased, mistakes crept in and cheap free kicks given away. It was from one such mistake which allowed Thetford an unnecessary free kick, which it has to be said was met excellently and headed into Beetenson’s top corner, leaving him no chance and taking the game to 2-2.

The game continued in a similar fashion, Thetford’s tail now well and truly up. However, fortunes appeared to change into our direction, when a good throughball from midfield released Lee Barrett on goal, only for him to be brought down by the keeper. Whilst I would never be one to request a sending off, as the last man, without a defender within 10 yards of him, surely the referee has to do what is correct and produce a red card. I do not think even a yellow was shown !!!

Nevertheless, this gave us an ideal opportunity from the spot to take all 3 points. Again up stepped our Matt Le Tissier, Andy Clitheroe, to put away his second penalty of the day (his third on the spin), to give us a 2-3 lead and him a personal hat trick.

With time ticking away, we defended with our lives to hold onto the points. However, with second remaining, Thetford were awarded a corner kick. Before the kick was taken, the referee’s watch beeped signalling full time. When this was pointed out, he said he would just allow the kick to be taken and then blow up. How costly was this to us !!? From the resultant kick a scramble inside the box ended with a Thetford shot on goal which was cleared from the line by Moseley with his hand, the referee pointing to the stop and showing a red card to the big man. This was an incredibly cruel twist for us, as Thetford dispatched the penalty, and the referee blew for full time immediately after the centre kick was taken.

All the lads were desperately disappointed with the result and second half. We did not play well in that second period but whilst mistakes were made, I could not question the desire each of them showed.

Should we have done more with the possession we had in the first half ? Should we have taken the chance we had at 0-2? Should we given fewer cheap free kicks away ? Should we, on the sidelines, have made the decision to change to 4-4-2 sooner ??? The answer to all of these questions is probably. However, they go to show that results are never as a consequence of just one person’s error. This is a team game, and we are all in it together.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda are the wise words of a fool, and this is never truer than in this case. We have to look forward and learn from these results rather than dwelling on them and who was to blame for them.

The sad truth of it is, we have gained 2 points from the last 12. However, genuinely without a bit of luck going for us – a disallowed goal 15 mins from time against Wortwell, a bad first 5 mins against Sprowston, 2 bad decisions against Hellesdon, and the timing issue of this week, and we could so very easily have been sitting now on a 12 game winning streak !!!!! That is honestly how fine the line is !!

As I have said previously, the team spirit, attitude, commitment and desire we have had in our dressing room over the last season and a half, from every one of the lads who have been in it at any point, has been excellent and as good as I have experienced. We cannot always play well, but as long as that continues, no one can ask any more.

We are still in a good position in the league, so whilst the title might now be out of the window, a top 4 finish is still within our grasp, so we should not be too downbeat. Lets get back to the enjoyment that comes from winning games and strengthening our league position !!!!!

UTH.