Hemel Hempstead Town 3
Whittaker 9′, Judd 85′, Brown 87′
United 2
Jenkins Davies 67′, Marshall 84′
In a closely fought encounter, it was two late goals in quick succession that saw Hemel Hempstead run out 3-2 winners at the Focus Community Arena on Saturday afternoon.
It was the home side who struck first on 9 minutes through Tarrell Whittaker before an action-packed second half saw four goals. Will Jenkins Davies was quickest to pounce on a rebound to level on 67 minutes, before centre-back Ross Marshall headed United into the lead with six minutes of regular time to go. However two goals in quick succession by Myles Judd and substitute Bayley Brown saw the home side come out on top.
United Manager Gary Johnson made three changes to the starting eleven that progressed in last week’s Emirates FA Cup Qualifying fixture at Wimborne with Mark Halstead coming back in between the sticks in place of Rhys Lovett, and Lewis Collins and Shaun Donnellan coming in for Jack Stobbs and Ryan Hanson respectively.
Following an evenly-battled opening to the game, it was when the first corner of the game came to the hosts that they took the lead. After Marshall had made a goal-line clearance, the ball could only fall into the path of Whittaker, who fired Hemel into the lead with 9 minutes on the clock.
In the 16th minute it was Hemel Hempstead goalkeeper Craig King who denied Gary Johnson’s side a leveller. Lewis Collins picked up the ball on the left flank before passing two defenders and making his way to the byline where he squared the ball for Brad Ash. His near-post strike was just kept out by The Tudor’s number one. One minute later the men in yellow continued to press, this time, Brett McGavin fired from the edge of the box, only to see his effort deflected wide.
On 30 minutes it was King who sprung into action again, this time to deny Shaun Donnellan. A corner from Will Jenkins Davies found United’s number 16 who rose to flick his header goal-ward, where again, King denied the leveller with a save at the near-post.
Following some pressure in the closing stages of the opening 45 from United, the hosts saw themselves enter the halfway stage with their 1-0 lead. Following the restart, Gary Johnson’s side continued the second half in a similar style to how they’d ended the first. Four minutes into the half United saw an effort go into the side-netting. From a free-kick out on the left, Jenkins Davies looked for the run of Donnellan, with the ball going on to find the side-netting of the near-post.
On 54 minutes Collins made his way down the left before his cross was half-cleared, but fell into the path of Ash, whose half-volley was just wide. Minutes later however, Arj Krasniqi found himself in a dangerous position, but could only fire wide.
It was in the 67th minute that the men in yellow found their breakthrough, with Plymouth Argyle loanee Will Jenkins Davies registering his first goal for the Club. After Collins dashed into the Hemel Hempstead box, King did well to smother his effort from close quarters, but Jenkins Davies was quick to react and pounce on the rebound, 1-1.
With the scores level, both teams continued to play a patient game and hunt for a winner. On 84 minutes Ross Marshall headed United ahead. A cross from the right by Dan Martin found Marshall, who coolly planted his header into the back of the net, 1-2.
Just as it looked as if United were going to see the game out and take all three points, two goals in quick succession for the hosts saw the points stay in Hertfordshire. With less than five minutes of regular time to go, a low cross into the box was met by Judd at the far-post to equalise, 2-2. Moments later, in a similar fashion, another low cross was met by substitute Brown who made it 3-2.
In the eight minutes of additional time indicated, United went in hunt of a leveller once more, but the home side’s defence held firm to secure all three points.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN: 1. Craig King, 2. Montel McKenzie, 3. Josh Williams, 4. Kyle Ajayi, 5. Josh Hill (c), 7. George Williams, 8. Alfie Matthews (26. Bayley Brown 72′), 19. Tarrell Whittaker (11. Bilal Sayoud 83′), 20. Tyrelle Newton, 22. Myles Judd, 23. Arj Krasniqi (14. Joe Re 76′).
SUBS: 15. Finlay Corrigan, 21. James Taylor
Yellow Cards: Whittaker 61′ Matthews 63′, Ajayi 66′
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie, 6. Ross Marshall, 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Lewis Collins, 11. Brad Ash (19. Luke Pearce 64′), 14. Brett McGavin, 16. Shaun Donnellan 18. Will Jenkins Davies (7. Ryan Hanson 68′), 21. Dean Moxey (c) (3. Dan Martin 81′), 23. Ollie Tomlinson.
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 24. Calum Thomas
Attendance: 1,077