Hempnall FC

Comment on this article

I am not sure this is the most appropriate place for a message of condolence but I feel I wish to express both my and the rest of the clubs support to Marty Fuller. Marty is an absolute ‘top man’, who during yesterday’s game received the distressing message his father had died.

For me it placed some of the petty gripes, concerns and frets around football totally in to perspective.

Typical of Marty, his concern was that everything else would be in order before he departed. We politely told him to just drop everything and go.

At times like these it is difficult to know what to say, other than, ‘Marty we are all here to support you if and when needed, in what ever shape that support may be’.

Onto more minor things such as the game, it is difficult to write with any real passion about what was a tremendous performance and result against what was a good Wroxham side.

Carl Harwin returned to the starting line up and David Bloomfield kindly helped out by joining the squad.

We started brightly with Franklin and Browne causing the home defence some discomfort but without creating a real opening. This was the pattern for the first 20 minutes with continued probing but no real chance.

This all changed on 20 minutes when Wroxham scored with their first real chance. Bulman made a powerful run straight down the middle and despite being surrounded by 3 defenders he coolly curled the ball into the bottom corner with Cudden rooted to the spot.

Rather than dishearten us we rallied and stepped up the tempo, Browne again causing problems and only last ditch interceptions, some legal and some not prevented him from drawing us level.

This caused the pacey striker some frustration and he unfortunately found his way into the book after getting to the end of his tether on one particular challenge from Banham.

On 30 minutes he did break the ‘shackles’, the home keeper rushed out into no mans land and Browney pulled for Franklin to tap into an empty net.

Smith atoned for his error minutes later when a great run and strike from Mills looked goal bound until the young keeper dived full length to turn it round the post.

Halftime arrived with us feeling we had more of the possession and a little unfortunate to be only level. More of the same was called for and the feeling was goals would come.

The prediction didn’t take long to materialise as within 2 minutes Wroxham were carved open down the right and a great cross from Mills found Browny unmarked. With a bit of work still to do, he pulled the ball down and tucked his shot past the keeper.

The next 20 minutes or so saw us run the home side ragged, Wenham and Browne were pairing up well down the left and they duly provided the cross and opening for Mills to head home number 3.

The pressure continued with the game now being virtually 1 way traffic, Greg Devlin and Player were now governing the middle of the park with Hunter playing his part perfectly.

Mills added number 4 as he pounced on a ‘spill’ from Smith to tuck home before the keeper could react.

Franklin was continuing to cause problems and Maxey ‘took a booking’ to end one run. He did look like he had added number 5 when a ‘deft’ header went past Smith only for a defender to run back and clear off the line, with some claims that it had gone over.

With the 3 goal cushion the game was over as a regards a contest other than a comeback of ‘Fulham’ proportions but Wroxham had enough quality on the pitch to reduce the arrears.

They did appear to have done just that when a free kick somehow found its way through a ‘ruck ‘of players into the net. However the officials ruled it out on the basis it was indirect and hadn’t touched anyone, which did cause some ‘debate’.

The clock was successfully ran down with no further goals.

Millsy won the man of the match vote but the real winner was the team, when everybody played their part.

From a managers point of view the discipline to the game plan was first class and pleasing.

From a players point of view the way the guys worked tirelessly for each other must have been very satisfying and a joy to be part of.

Good to see the Chairman make the trip and I hope he enjoyed himself?

Tom Halliwell & JP should be back for selection next week.