Friday, May 18th, 2012
Hemel Hempstead at Home Saturday 20th August
With an impressive return of 4 points from the first two League games from the REDS, it was Hemel Hempstead who were the visitors to the Valley. Three changes were made to the starting line up, that featured against Bedford Town, with Craig Milligan, Ryan Howell and Joe Harris all making the first 11.
It was a blistering start from the REDS who totally dominated the game early on.
From a Blenkinsopp cross it was Brown who found himself in front of goal with just the keeper to beat, his shot was saved by the legs of the keeper resulting in a corner to the REDS. The resulting corner saw Brown again climb the highest only to direct his header over the visitor’s crossbar.
Hemel offered very little in terms of their attacking play, and never really posed a threat on Dean Coleman’s goal.
After 16 minutes a Phil Green cross was met with a speculative scissor kick from Blenkinsopp on the edge of the box, with the keeper stranded, the ball only just clearing the crossbar.
With the REDS in total control, playing with good energy and aggression, coupled with some excellent football it was surely only a matter of time before they took the lead. Sure enough on 26 minutes, from an inswinging Green corner, it was the impressive Brown who s near post run losing his marker headed to notch his second goal of the season, it was no more than the REDS deserved.
On 30 minutes following a foul from Howell, it was Hemel who were presented with a free kick 25 yards out. It was a tame effort from Fennimore which hit the REDS wall. Summing up, the visitors lacklustre showing in the first half.
With 8 minutes before the break it was nearly catastrophe for the REDS, following an Alex Hickman back pass, Coleman totally miss kicked his clearance, but managed to scramble back and rescue the situation.
Second Half
It was very much a case of carrying on where they had left off, with the REDS starting the second half again very much in the ascendency.
On 50 minutes a dazzling run from Green, saw him go past 3 defenders before unleashing a powerful shot which the keeper could only manage to parry away.
Howells free kick on 53 minutes goes well wide, then minutes later Joe Harris tested the Hemel keeper with a low shot which was well saved down to the keepers near post.
After some neat approach play from Hemel, it was Coleman who came to the rescue with a great save in a 1v1 situation.
The game was delicately poised, with the REDS only having a one goal lead to show for their total dominance throughout the game.
The turning point came in the 75th minute, following a Hemel free kick, Coleman could only manage to parry the shot, with the keeper on the floor, it looked like the simplest of tasks to score from the rebound, but to the home fans relief, the shot was skied well over the bar.
The REDS showed grit and determination to hang on to their narrow lead, making it 7 points from their first three games, taking them to 7th in the league.
