Hempnall FC

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Hempnall travelled to Sprowston Wanderers looking to pick up a much needed 3 points to get their season back on track.

Changes were made with Kristian Jones and Kelvin Willimott called up to the first team. Matt Cawston and Gavin Whitting started in their places with Emmett returning to the bench at the expense of Ling. Spurgeon was among the substitutes for the first time this season.

The game kicked off and Hempnall tried to play their usual football game. Something which was difficult with the robust challenges coming in from the opposition. After only a few minutes of the game Matt Cawston received the ball midway inside the Hempnall half only to be greeted with a two footed tackle over the ball high up into his shin. Something the referee described as a fair tackle.

This set the tone for the half as most Hempnall's attacks were broken up with fouls, Lee Barrett and Ross Jones getting particular attention down Hempnall's left. Despite this Hempnall were still on top and Gav Whitting and Ross Potter both went close with close range efforts.

The Sprowston attacks were based around long balls in behind the Hempnall back line which weren't causing too much danger until Beetensen missed his kick when trying to clear and Sprowston tapped into an empty net.

Hempnall drove forward looking for an equaliser and after foul after foul the ref began to book the Sprowston players. One of these fouls produced a great opportunity for Hempnall to equalise with Marc Garrod driving a free kick goalwards from the edge of the box only for a Sprowston player to charge the direct free kick down roughly 3 yards from the free kick.

Hempnall finished the half frustrated but confident as they were on top plus a lot of the repetitive foulers on the opposition were on 'last warnings' going into the second half so it appeared Sprowston wouldn't be able to continue to break the game up in the way they had the first half.

HT : 0-1

The second half began with Hempnall on top with JD and Lee Barrett causing the opposition problems down the wings and Marc Garrod beginning to get on the ball in midfield.

Suprisingly the Sprowston players who were on their final warnings continued to foul with JD and Marc Garrod both having to ride two footed tackles. From one of the resulting free kicks Hempnall equalised as Marc Garrods long range free kick was deflected up over the goalkeeper into the goal.

The game at 1-1 was there for the taking for Hempnall, they drove forward and Matt Cawston had a great opportunity to put Hempnall in front only to blaze his shot over the bar from close range. Then against the run of play from a Hempnall corner Sprowston broke away. JD managed to get back and tried to clear the ball only for it to go up in the air on the edge of the box. A miscommunication between Beentenson and Talbot resulted in Talbot heading over the top of Beetenson and into the goal.

Something which visibly deflated Hempnall as there had appeared to only be one winner in

the second half. Despite this Hempnall drove forward and Cawston had another chance only to miss the target.

Sprowston continued to commit foul after foul and with about 15 minutes left Lee Barrett was brought down on the left and as he tried to get to his feet was kicked by an opposition player, the referee blew his whistle immediately so it was clear he had seen the incident. To Hempnalls amazement the referee decided to brandish a yellow card rather than a red. This didn't help the mood of the game as it then deteriorated into a kicking match as it

was clear no one was going to be sent off something confirmed minutes later when a Sprowston player chased the referee and shouted as loud as he could you're a 'C***'. This was also deemed to be a yellow card offence as the referee said both incidents were bourn out of frustration!!

Right to the end Hempnall tried to equalise and in the dying seconds Potter shot straight at the goalkeeper when he should have scored.

FT : 1-2

Once again a very disappointing result in a game which Hempnall should have won comfortably. It is very frustrating to find yourself losing / drawing so many games you know you should have won.

We are not far off, something demonstrated by the fact that we have a 0 goal difference when most of the league is in minus.

This game was particularly disappointing as good football wasn't able to be played due to the disruption caused by so many fouls and because we conceded to goals through bad mistakes. From my report it might read that I have an issue with Sprowston's style of play, this is not the case as if you are able to get away with it why would you not play in this way.

In my opinion it is the referees responsibility to protect players from two footed tackles to ensure the safety of the players and to ensure football is the winner by booking players for repetitive fouling.

I am amazed that in some games this season some players can commit over 10 fouls in the first half without getting booked and that Clitheroe the least aggressive player in our squad has been banned for 3 games and received a large fine for being sent off for an innocuous looking incident when the clear cut ones in this game were left unpunished.

Having said all the above I will not lose the faith in the brand of football we are looking to play, we will look to be competitive but will continue to attempt to play football. Keep the faith boys, keep listening, learning and training hard and we will start getting the rub of the green soon!!

UTH!!