MATCH REPORT | Hemel FC 5 - 0 St Ives Town F.C.

Written by Ollie Heathcote & Aryan Jolly

Hemel Hempstead Town beat St. Ives Town five-nil on a hot Saturday afternoon in mid-July. A crowd of 300 fans were in attendance for the Tudors’ second game of preseason.

After a slow start to the game, the Tudors took the lead in the 12th minute. Steve Arnold’s long ball

was pounced upon by Kareem Isiaka who drew his opponent into making a foul. Finley Wilkinson

took the resulting free-kick, which was headed in at the far post by the trialist. The visitors had their first chance of the game in the 22nd minute. Smith whipped a ball in to the near post but the St. Ives striker failed to properly connect with the ball as Steve Arnold comfortably gathered his shot.

Photography by Jemma Sear

A couple of minutes after the players took a much-needed drinks break, Isiaka was involved again.

The attacker beat his man and put in a dangerous cross from the left-hand side which fell to the feet of Finley Wilkinson, but his shot was blocked by the opposition defender.

The Saints had another chance soon after. The Tudors defence partially cleared a St. Ives cross away before the ball fell at the feet of the opposition attacker who flashed his shot wide of the post.

Isiaka had his first chance of the game after Rio Deall and Wilkinson brilliantly worked a short corner before crossing the ball into the box. Unfortunately, the attacker failed to find the target with his headed effort.

Wilkinson had a good chance on the verge of half-time but his low driven shot was tipped onto the post by Taylor in the St. Ives goal. Shortly afterwards, the visitors put the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out by the linesman for offside.

Photography by Jemma Sear

The second half saw the Tudors begin to attack with purpose, finding an instant reward of a second goal through Ade Azeez. After the ball was worked down the left channel, persistence from Darion Dowrich led to him keeping the ball in play, before a low cross found the feet of Azeez. He unleashed a clever finish into the bottom left corner of the goal to double the lead.

In the 63rd minute, the lead extended with a third goal from another trialist. The second phase following a set piece saw the ball find the feet of the trialist, who worked the ball onto his left foot and fired low into the corner of the goal.

Just a minute later, Ade Azeez slotted in his second goal of the game. It was another well-worked piece of play as Azeez was slotted through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and made no mistake in rifling his effort into the back of the net.

After those minutes of intense action, the Tudors remained in control of the tempo of the game, continuing to create chances. A shot from the trialist forced Taylor into a good save to prevent a fifth goal in the 78th minute.

In the 85th minute, the fifth goal was confirmed as the trialist was able to score his second of the game. He received the ball on the edge of the area before a low driven effort found the bottom corner to round off a dominant day for the Tudors.