Written by Allan Mitchell
Hemel Hempstead Town FC 4 - 2 Bath City
Hemel extended their unbeaten start to the season by beating a decent Bath City side at the Focus Arena and it's fair to say that it was an incident-packed game, with both teams being reduced to ten men in the first half.
It was the visitors who started the brighter and they really should have gone in front when Billy Philips found himself in acres of space in front of goal but he skewed his header wide.
City were made to pay for this miss when Chris Smith got onto the end of a corner at the back post and he made no mistake, burying his header into the back of the net.
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
Hemel could have gone further in front when Ricardo German broke into the box on 20 minutes, he had Trae Cook-Appiah to his right but decided to take the shot on and a defender was able to cut across and block the effort.
On t he half hour mark it was Cook-Appiah who was able to break clear down the right, he looked favourite to win the ball as the Bath keeper raced out of his goal, Appiah, got there first but was caught just below his knee as he attempted to go past. The result was a horrific injury and a dislocation which saw Wiles-Richards see red and the unfortunate Trae off to hospital.
With no keeper on the bench an outfield player had to don the keepers jersey and the Tudors took full advantage, scoring three more goals before the interval.
That wasn’t before the referee evened things up on the pitch however when Brandon Barzey also saw red for a high elbow challenge in the 37th minute.
Alfie Cerulli doubled the Tudors lead with a fine strike from the edge of the box on 46 minutes, then Kyle Ajayi buried a header at the back post before Cerulli added a fourth in injury time with a fine chip over the stand in keeper.
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
The second period saw Hemel take their foot off the pedal somewhat and Bath managed to control most of the half with Billy Gilbert once again guilty of missing a couple of decent chances before they finally reduced the deficit when they were awarded a penalty just after the hour mark. Latrell Humphrey-Ewers sent Kingy the wrong way from the spot and they added a second in the 71st minute after Hemel failed to clear a corner, the ball falling to Kieran Parselle who drilled it into the top corner.
You felt that a third goal would start to cause a few nerves but Hemel regrouped and saw the rest of the game out comfortably with manager Bobby Wilkinson reflecting after that his concerns and thoughts were with Trae Cook-Appiah and that the result was almost irrelevant. He said that it had affected the players on the park too so whilst being pleased with the three points his thoughts were with his injured player.
Attendance: 709
Mitch's Man of the Match; Alfie Cerulli
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Hemel Hempstead Town FC 4 - 2 Welling Utd
The Tudor Army chant of “we are 01442” was never more apt as Hemel won their second home game on the bounce 4-2, a result that propelled them into top spot and with Slough losing on Tuesday they stay there, two points clear.
It’s the Slough up next for The Tudors, never a happy hunting ground for us and the Rebels are unbeaten at home for over a year so it will be a huge test on Saturday.
As for Monday’s game, played in front of 833 fans at The Focus Community Arena it was another impressive performance but not without its moments as Wellings pacy attack caused problems throughout.
Hemel took the lead in the 8th minute, somewhat against the run of play when Alfie Cerulli scored his third goal in three games. What a goal it was too, he received the ball on the edge of the box before cutting onto his left foot and drilling it into the top corner.
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
There then followed a period of Welling pressure and Craig King had to be at his best to thwart Elliot Long at his near post and the Hemel goalminder saved twice more in quick succession as the visitors piled forward. TJ Bramble was sent through the middle but King quickly closed him down and blocked his effort and he then tipped A Taylor- Crossdale effort over the bar.
The Tudors started to create chances of their own as the came became more ‘end to end’ with Ricardo German, Cerulli and George Williams all coming close before the interval.
The second half saw Welling come out of the blocks much quicker and they were rewarded for a period of pressure when half time substitute Anointed Chukwu took advantage of some slack marking at the back, racing into the box before planting the ball past King to level the scores in the 54th minute.
Booby Wilkinson saw that his side were struggling to get a foothold in the first 15 minute of the second half so he made a triple change, bringing on Kai Wollard-Innocent, Bayley Brown and Sydney Ibie and the result was almost instantaneous when Ricardo German got onto the end of a cross from George Williams and he made no mistake heading across goal to restore the Tudors lead.
A couple of minutes later it was 3-1 when Ibie won a ball down the left, he threaded it though to Cerulli who played a deft back heel to German who tucked it away for his second of the game.
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
There were more chances at both ends before Hemel effectively put the game to bed in the 84th minute when Connor Kurran-Browne slotted home from close range after his initial shot had been blocked on the line.
Gene Kennedy scored a late consolation for Welling and Craig King had to thwart Elliot Long once more as the clock ticked down but the Tudors held firm after this and managed the remaining minutes well to take the points and extend their unbeaten start to seven games.
Attendance: 833
Mitch's Man of the Match: Craig King
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