Written by: Allan Mitchell
Hemel Hempstead Town 0 Bishops Stortford 1
FA Cup Cup Second Round Qualifying 14/09/24
The Tudors haven’t had had too much in the way of luck in the FA Cup since reaching the First Round proper some ten years ago when they faced the then football league side Bury, losing 3-1 in a much closer game than the result suggests. Many supporters still talk about the tie to this day and how much they’d like to have another good run in this competition.
Once again it wasn’t to be and Manager Bobby Wilkinson reflected afterwards that the better team won on the day despite his side having 70% possession and creating a number of chances in the game.
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
Stortford came with a typical game plan, keeping it tight at the back whilst looking to catch Hemel out on the counter.
Wilkinson had been hampered in his team selection with a number of injuries, having to name just four subs and also lost first choice keeper Craig King with illness overnight but he still felt the side he selected had enough about them to beat their Southern League Premier Division opponents.
The first half was a forgettable affair with neither side really getting into their stride. There were a few chances at either end with The Blues missing a couple of decent opportunities, firing high and wide on both occasions when well placed to test Stand in keeper Harry Seaden.
Up the other end Alfie Cerulli was put in by George Williams but his shot was too close to Charlie Binns in the Stortford goal and just before the interval Chris Smith had probably the best chance of the game when he found himself unmarked in the box as the ball was driven in from the left but he could only direct his header wide of the post.
The second half saw Hemel step the pace up somewhat and they dominated the early exchanges but just couldn’t find that final pass or finish. There were chances for Williams, Connor Kurran-Browne and Bayley Brown as the visitors defended with their lives but continued to threaten on the counter.
As the clock ticked down the Tudors fans started grumbling about the prospect of a trip down the M11 on Tuesday evening for a replay but that was put to bed in the 90th minute with a sucker punch of a goal for The Blues. Hemel carelessly lost possession down the right and sub Fabio Virciglio wasted no time in driving forward into a gap, he cut inside before firing in a shot from just inside the box that Seaden looked to have covered but it took a wicked deflection off Kyle Ajayi who was trying to block the effort and spun into the opposite corner to effectively win the tie for Stortford.
Credit: Club Photographer, Jemma Sear (@_photosbyjem)
Hemel had five minutes of injury time to try and salvage the tie but despite some late pressure the visitors held out to take the tie and move into the next round, leaving Hemel fans scratching their heads as to why we just cannot get a run going in this competition.
So the unbeaten run comes to and end and its back to league action next week, on the plus side it has still been a superb start to the season and we remain three points clear at the top of the National League South, as Bobby said post-match “ let’s put this behind us and move on”
Hemel: Harry Seaden, Jack Davies (Max Hemmings) Kai Woolard-Innocent, Kyle Ajayi, Ben Tompkins, Chris Smith, George Williams, Teddy Howe, Connor Kurran-Browne (Nathan Jeche) Alfie Cerulli, Kyran Wiltshire (Bayley Brown) Sub not used: Max Drayton.
Attendance: 780
Mitch's MOTM: Chris Smith
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