Hempnall FC

I am writing this on Wednesday evening and Man Utd have just gone out of the UEFA League 2-1 to Basel.  A familiar story to those on the bench of Hempnall's First Team.  It shows football, at any level, can be frustrating and if your luck is out it is really out.

Last Saturday, Hempnall started slow, slack marking, loose passes and lack of concentration saw them punished within five minutes and N. Walsham poured on the pressure with a second goal after 9 minutes caused by confusion as a loose pass-back to the keeper was read by the N. Walsham striker who got between keeper and defender, lobbing over Bunny's head.  

Hempnall settled after 15 minutes of passing became fluent and at feet, movement with and off the ball saw chances opening up for Hempnall. JD's one-on-one with the keeper just unable to get the ball back out of his feet, a thunderbolt strike from Haynes curled wide, pressure from Crystal and Didwell squeezed the N. Walsham defence back with Hempnall midfield dominating the centre of the park.  

Against the flow of play, Hempnall conceded a third goal, poor defending from a corner gave Walsham a free header.  

Misfortune continued as Damien Didwell took a nasty fall, injuring his back and ending his game for the day.  Kev Oakley stepped up and gradually made an impact with his solid determination and was unlucky not to net as his stretch for a searching corner drilled across goal.  Chances continued to fall for Hempnall and finally paid off when Haynes switched play with a long diagonal pass to Oakley on the right wing and his cross was neatly put away by Paul Hunter.

The second half began brightly with Hempnall looking sharp and positive, Haynes, Player and Hunter concentrating play in the centre with JD, McFadden, JP and Oakley's use of the flanks creating room for Crystal to get in behind N. Walsham's back four, but to no avail.  With 75 minutes played, Walsham's striker weaved his way through and put away number 4 and in the last 3 minutes their fifth came as a long high ball wide caught out McFadden and Bunny was beaten at his near post. 

Both management and players can't help but wonder what more they must do to score and win these games. My opinion - just keep believing!!  It's all there and once Christmas is out of the way and Drakey has a full squad to regularly choose from week in, week out, the tide will turn.