Hempnall FC

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Our topsy turvey season continues further still as on the back of a great away win last week, we could only manage a draw at home against the bottom side in the league.

Our side contained only 1 change from the previous week, that being Kristian Jones in for Sam Page in the middle of the front 3.

The pre match team talk was pretty much asking for more of the same. We did everything very well last week, and so the management team were looking for and assumed we would get much the same from this performance, against a side that had struggled all season. We did have a tough encounter with them over at Beccles and so we knew we would have to match their good work rate and desire. But, if we did that, our better quality would shine through.

The game started incredibly well for us, as after 2 minutes, a corner kick from Ian Garrod was met and headed excellently into the net by Ross Potter. A great way to begin and kick on from.

However, from this point on, we could see that this was a game we were not going to get our own way.

Appearing to have a vastly changed and improved side from the reverse fixture, Beccles Caxton started brightly. As expected, their work rate was excellent as they dominated our midfield, something that has rarely happened. We were not making use of our extra man in that centre ground, and so our play was very disjointed. Passing moves ended quickly and we gave the ball away far too cheaply. We did have another excellent one on one chance to increase our lead which should have been put away to make us comfortable, however this was saved by the keeper to keep Beccles in the game.

In order to therefore try and improve things and make a bit of use some width and an extra man through the middle we reverted to 4-4-2, although this did little to improve our play as we continued to look heavy legged. Beccles equalised deservedly to take the game into half time at 1-1.

Getting a bit of a roasting at half time with regard to the quality of their play and also the level of work rate and desire being shown, the players went out looking to turn the tide. Unfortunately, little changed. We allowed the game to develop in Beccles favour, suiting them more by becoming more of a battle. We were extremely lucky that they had a goal disallowed with time ticking down for an offside, something the visiting team were obviously unhappy about, although if they are being honest, was the correct and fair decision. We did however have one great opportunity to score when a ball over the top found Potter in acres of space in Beccles penalty area, only for he to show exactly why he is a centre half.

So in the end, due to the disallowed goal and on the basis of the overall play, this is one of the few games we cannot say we were unlucky not to win, and perhaps in the end turned out to be a point won rather than 2 dropped. Very disappointing considering the side we had out and the league position of the team we were facing.

I do not like writing negative report, but we have to take the rough with the smooth and so I can only be honest about the game and performance, and I am sure all the lads will agree that it was a poor one for us. We do have to look to take the good goal scoring chances we get though however few they are, as they can complete change a game and result – finishing practice is due in training perhaps !!?

Credit to Caxton though, who did look much improved and gave a performance that did not match their league position.

This draws a line over this game, it happens to all sides. We forget it and move on. Acle away is next weeks fixture, and we must now play for our pride and look to finish as high in the league as we can. Given the often changing number of teams promoted in the anglian combination, we can never assume this is out of the window, especially whilst we are still in with a chance of a top 5 finish – something we are definitely good enough to achieve.

UTH