Hempnall FC

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I think if you were a betting man the money for this fixture would have been on a low scoring draw. The fixtures are always tight & both sides have better defensive records than attacking.

The odds did look to have swung in Spixworth’s favour when a look at the team sheet revealed the recent arrival of Danny McKail & Matt Eves but our defensive record since the turn of the year has been at its most impressive.

We had the luxury of an unchanged side & a strong looking bench, whom I would like to particularly make reference to. Their attitude, maturity & commitment to the ‘team’ cause was first class.

In a 0-0 draw it is difficult to pick out many highlights but overall I think we played fairly well considering the difficult bobbled surface which had dried out remarkably quickly and the competitive nature of the game.

I felt we were nudging the proceedings with the majority of the half chances coming our way with Shearer, Mills & Chrystal having opportunities, although Cuddy had to use the whole of his big frame to push a rasping shot from Gashut round the post for possibly the clearest opening.

Halftime was a reminder of playing % football and reassurance if we kept it tight we would get a couple of clear openings.

With minutes ticking away that prophecy seemed unfounded until with 15 minutes to go Ali Shearer had his best run of the game. The quick striker got clear down the right before pulling the ball back for the inrushing Ben Player to strike a decent shot which Bilham did well to save. But his parry pushed the ball into the path of Chrystal who look odds on to score but again Bilham was quick to react to get a 2^nd block on the ball.

The game started to flow from one end to the other in the most open it had been all day.

With seconds remaining Shaun Flint burst through facing a 1 on 1 with Bilham, which again the keeper came out on top of.

So with the final whistle the honours for the 2^nd time this year finished even, which I felt was about right.

This week we travel to North Walsham for a 3pm kick off.