Hempnall FC

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A brilliant all round ‘Team’ performance gave us our 3^rd win on the bounce and it is difficult to know where to start with so many positives going through my head.

So let’s start from the beginning.

Firstly thanks to David Robinson & Long Stratton for their co-operation in the quick release of Shaun Flint whose return to the club gives us a timely boost; following quickly on the heels of Stu Chrystal’s return, this gives us the much needed cover/depth in the striking positions.

This brings me nicely on to the game where Stu Chrystal played a major part in the victory when a deft near post header on 15 minutes following some excellent work by Tom Halliwell, to give us the only goal on the day. This on top of some consistently high work rate gave him a share in the man of the match award with Tom.

We had the luxury of an unchanged line up but had started very slowly & the goal at the time being some what against the run of play. With games between Mattishall and ourselves always being tight this gave us a major platform to build on.

Ironically, on a day when team performance was the key, a 2^nd incident minutes before that seemed to be the catalyst in getting us going. Some rare cross words between bench & players over a loss of possession ensued, the emotion generated seemed to spark some life into our performance & from there on in we never seemed to look back in terms of control.

The game became a typical Mattishall versus Hempnall affair very little between the 2 sides. Both are well organised, both work extremely hard & compete forcefully but honestly.

Chances are rare & have to be grafted for so this is where I felt the opener was a major key to this and all other games between these 2 sides.

The game I felt was exciting because of its closeness rather than major passages of free flowing football and/or major incident to report. It becomes a tactical war of attrition but it’s a challenge that I know we enjoy & I think so do our opponents but that’s easy to say when you win.

So, why the change in our performances & results over the last few weeks?

I think the performances have mostly been there throughout the season but not so the results.

The change has come about because of 2 major factors, balance & system.

We have found a system that suits the players.

The engine room ( Renaut & Player) are firing on all cylinders plus the defence is looking very solid, having only been breached once in 3 games, the confidence is there that once we get our noses in front we are a very hard nut to crack.

These guys are giving the more creative players of Halliwell, Mills & Hunter a solid platform from which to play with more risk & create opportunities.

These chances that these guys create are now being converted as we now look to have a cutting edge. A fully physically fit & now getting to 100% match fit Ali Shearer working in tandem with Stu Chrystal are scoring goals.

The side looks balanced. So combine this with our all ready good work rate & camaraderie, it’s ‘So simple’, don’t know why ‘we’ didn’t see it before!!!!!!!?

Still should be all ok going forward. You what, 3 of them aren’t available this week!

Bloody hell, Harvs where’s that drawing board gone!!!?

Our thanks to Mattishall for their hospitality.