Written by: Ollie Heathcote.
Hemel Hempstead Town 4 (Smith 12, Cerulli 45+1 45+8, Ajayi 45+6) Bath City 2 (Humphrey-Ewers 66, Parselle 69)
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
Saturday’s fixture saw Hemel Hempstead Town defeat Bath City 4-2, in what was an entertaining affair at the Focus Community Arena.
After two red cards, six goals and a spirited battle between both teams, goals from Chris Smith, Kyle Ajayi and a brace from Alfie Cerulli secured a vital victory for the Tudors, who moved up to second place in the table, whilst maintaining their unbeaten status.
The first half started with the visitors in control of proceedings, with Grimes heading wide after being found unmarked in the box. However, Hemel took the lead in the 12th minute after a fantastic corner from Dan Wishart found the head of Chris Smith at the back post, who was unmarked and headed home in front of the vociferous Tudors crowd. Things were to get worse for the visitors after goalkeeper Wiles-Richards was sent off after a foul on Trae Cook-Appiah, resulting in the striker being stretchered off the pitch. T
empers flared as Hemel’s Brandon Barzey was shown red after clattering into Grimes in front of the visitor’s dugout, leaving both teams with just 10 players each on the field. With eight minutes added on at the end of the half, Hemel were able to increase their lead to 4-0, as Cerulli finished well inside the box and Kyle Ajayi produced a replica of the opening goal. Just before the break, Cerulli was able to use his body to shield the ball, with his audacious chip finding the back of the net to leave the Tudors with a comfortable lead as half time approached.
Following half time, the visitors came out with nothing to lose and threatened the Tudors with some promising chances, as Billy Phillips in particular came close, bending his effort past the post. Both Phillips and striker Wanjau-Smith looked threatening and came extremely close to making the game a closer affair. On the other hand, German forced Raynes into a save. 2 minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty, after Jack Davies pulled his man to the ground inside the penalty area. Humphrey-Ewers converted, giving the Romans a glimmer of hope of getting back into the game.
Bath were setting up a blockbuster ending after a fantastic strike from captain Parselle, who found the top corner. However, the hosts were able to break up play well and slow any Bath City momentum created after the half time break.
The closing stages of the game saw the home side control the tempo of the game well, keeping their shape and remaining disciplined as the game drew to a close.
Hemel Hempstead Town 4 (Cerulli 8, German 65 70, Kurran-Browne 83) Welling United 2 (Chukwu 54, Kennedy 85)
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
Hemel Hempstead Town secured successive 4-2 victories, defeating Welling United in front of a buzzing Focus Community Arena.
Goals from Alfie Cerulli, Connor Kurran-Browne and a brace from Ricardo German meant that the Tudors kept their unbeaten status at the start of the National League South campaign.
With both teams facing a quick turnaround in fixtures, the opening exchanges started evenly as both teams looked to gain control of the game. However, the deadlock was broken in the 8th minute as George Williams found Alfie Cerulli on the edge of the box. His left footed effort found the top right hand corner in spectacular fashion as the striker took his record to 3 goals in 2 games.
The visitors were almost level straight from the kick off as Tudors goalkeeper King was forced into three saves from Long, Bramble, and Anthony Grant’s efforts, tipping his Grant’s shot onto the crossbar and over. Despite this, the tempo started to drop throughout the half as both teams felt the effects of Saturday’s fixture. Just before the half time whistle, the Tudors almost found their lead doubled, with Kyran Wiltshire’s shot being parried away from danger from Lovett in the Welling goal.
The second half started with the visitors applying a huge amount of pressure on the Tudors, in an attempt to bring the scores level. In the 54th minute, the Wings got their reward, as a powerful strike from Chukwu nestled into the back of the net. The Tudors looked vulnerable, but looked to pick their moments. A Tudors breakaway saw George Williams cross the ball from the right hand side, finding an unmarked German at the back post. His low header found the back of the net to put the Tudors back in the lead.
Just 5 minutes later, Hemel created the important two goal cushion, as some well-worked interplay saw Cerulli flick the ball into German, who slotted home coolly. The lead was further extended as German’s substitute Kurran-Browne tapped into an empty net, following a goal-mouth scramble. However, the visitors reduced the deficit with Kennedy powering his effort home. The Tudors were able to control the closing stages, as Hemel emerged victorious, winning 4-2.
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