Hempnall FC

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Hempnall welcomed something of an old foe to Bungay Road this week, that being Foulsham, in what was a battle of last season’s run away top 2 in Division 3. As always, we expected a thoroughly tough battle against a good side.

The squad for the game looked very strong. Although missing Matt Barrett through a suspension received in Sunday football (!!), we did welcome back Matt Cartledge to compensate. Into the starting line up came Ben Nichols, Dave Hyatt, and Andy Clitheroe. The squad was also bolstered by the morning signing of Danny Gray from Sprowston Athletic, in what should be an excellent addition to the side adding real pace and quality. He joined JD and Lee Emmett in what also looked a very strong bench.

Manager Potter called for desire, passion and commitment however this appeared to fall on deaf ears, as the team again started very sluggishly. Against a side that plays very quickly, we found ourselves chasing shadows and with our backs very much against the wall. Foulsham looked very inch the quality team we expected and began to threaten very early on. Their delivery from wide area’s, particularly the left (a feature throughout the game in fact), was excellent time and again. But for a number of superb last ditch interceptions, particularly from Potter himself, we could have seen ourselves out of the game before we got started. Again as no surprise, we fell behind after about 20 minutes. Starting from the left, a midfield runner was left untracked in the box, enabling him to finish into Rob Beetenson’s bottom corner.

This seemed to be the kick that the players needed however, as from then on we started to get into the game, to the point that we dominated the last 20 minutes of the half. Marc Garrod, criticised by management the week before, started to show his form of the start of the season, being ably assisted by both Dave Hyatt and Matt Cartledge. We gained control of that centre field and started applying pressure on Foulsham’s full backs, an area the manager had highlighted before the game as a weakness for them but a strength for us. It worked wonderfully well, with Marc in particular playing a number of quality balls wide for both Andy Clitheroe and Lee Barrett to go past their full backs on a number of occasions.

It was the latter that scored the equaliser for us, continuing his excellent scoring record of late. Starting on the right with a ball into the box, Barrett got control of the ball and found a pocket of space big enough to get a strike on goal which found its way into the bottom corner. Now we were really playing very well.

Shortly after we took the lead. This time down the left, a great cross from Barrett found its way to Andy at the far post, leaving him an open goal to head into. Particular satisfying to see the 2 wide players combining in a way that the manager has asked.

We did have one small scare with the opposition's call for a Red Card for Nichols because of a deliberate hand ball in the centre circle, although if they are being honest, it would have been an incredibly harsh decision.

We did not hnat the half to end as we were threatening on each attack. When it did, the management team asked for more of the same. We had to ensure that we continued to dictate the tempo, not Foulsham, as they had in the first 20 mins. Due to the quality of their delivery, one word of warning was to get closer to the wide men and stop the crosses where possible.

The second half did indeed continue where we left off. We were winning our battles all over the pitch, with the back line keeping the very dangerous Foulsham forward 4 very quiet. We went further ahead from the excellent Andy Clitheroe, who beat his full back once again and struck a great shot into the roof of the near side of the net.

It was a lead we were extremely good value for.

Half way through the half, whilst putting in a very good 70 mins for us, a tiring Dave Hyatt (his first start for 3 years) was replaced by Danny Gray, Kristian Jones dropping into Midfield, in an attempt to sure up the centre ground but give us an outlet over the top with Danny’s pace. It worked well with Gray going through on a number of occasions to threaten the foulsham goal. A final change was made in a straight swop of JD for Clitheroe. For the last 10 mins, Foulsham did pile on the pressure, their crossing continuing to be dangerous, indeed scoring very late on giving us a few jitters to the final whistle. We did hold on though to record an excellent victory and remain on our good run of results.

Credit must go to all the lads for a very good performance, the first 20 mins apart, that was full of the desire, commitment and workrate asked of them, not to mention there being no shortage of quality also.

Man of the Match was a difficult one for the reporter to decide upon, with 2 players staking claims. Andy Clitheroe, an obvious candidate with 2 goals on a return filled with skill and effort, but also Ross Potter, who possibly had his best game in a Hempnall shirt since returning to the club, making quality interceptions, numerous tackles and yet was controlled in his aggression throughout (for once, is that I hear you say??!).

I will leave it to those that watched to decide !

Attleborough are the opponents this week, in what should be another tough fixture but one the lads should go into with a great deal of confidence, as we are now beginning to show that we are one of the better side in the league, rather than just saying it !!!