Hempnall FC

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At Blofield on Monday we tumbled to what on paper looks like a one sided thumping, but I don’t think any of it can be attributed to our fitness which in the main looked pretty good.

Our downfall I felt was more down to our Achilles heel of not taking the chances we did create and some weak refereeing, where some decisions seemed more about not upsetting the home crowd/management than actually giving a correct decision.

I suspect I will get the ‘sour grapes’ accusation thrown at me but a post match chat raised by my counterpart Paul Nash confirmed my thoughts re a massive non decision on an incident early on, which potentially was ‘big turning point’ in the game.

After 15 minutes with the score at 0-0 Neil Renaut powered through, glided past the last defender only to have his leg clipped on the edge of box. My only thought at the time was whether it was inside or outside the box and would the player see red!?

To most of the grounds amazement although the whistle got to within an inch of the referees mouth, he at the last moment waved play on. My view, I think he realised it would mean red and a quick stock take of where he was, meant he didn’t have the conviction to blow.

We were then at fault as the concentration lapsed and that was enough for Blofield to go immediately to the other end for Crawley to head home the opener.

Worse from our admittedly biased view point was to follow when Ironically Blofield were then awarded a free kick on the edge of our box for what appeared to be exactly the same foul (but with plenty of cover around, so no question of red) and Neil Hurren punished us to the maximum driving in an exquisite free kick with more bend than a banana.

I felt we played some good football throughout the half, carving open several half chances but as has been the case this season, we couldn’t finish.

So halftime came with disappointment and a feeling of being harshly treated but with optimism if we could produce more of the same there was still a chance of getting something out of the game.

Unfortunately Lee Devlin who had been outstanding in games before the enforced winter break had to leave the field of play suffering from post Flu symptoms & his normally high energy levels being absent.

Ben Nichols was the replacement and it was quickly evident he also was suffering from similar ailments, as within a minute of the restart we were opened up down the left, Danny Brown turned a slipping Craig Hunter in the box to knock home the 3^rd.

This effectively decided the destination of the points.

When a 4^th was added by Sean Brown we could have easily folded given the feelings of injustice but I was pleased with the lads continued solid approach.

Further chances came and went at both ends with Neil Renaut hitting the bar and Ali Shearer being foiled by keeper Woodcock in a 1 on 1 for us.

Ben Cudden also produced 2 or 3 good saves.

So in the end a 4-0 reverse and we were well beaten but much of the post match conversation and thoughts were of what might have been had the early ‘big decision’ been made.

Tom Halliwell secured our man of the match with defenders Hunter & Hunting both putting in good performances to secure an equal second.

Also a mention of Neil Renaut who covered every blade of grass.