MATCH REPORT | Hemel Town 1-1 Weston-super-Mare (5-6 on Pens)

After Hemel Hempstead Town and Weston-super-Mare were unable to be separated after a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of football, the visitors were narrowly edged out on penalties, losing 5-6.

It was a tense battle throughout the game, with both teams going toe-to-toe in front of 2357 in attendance at the Focus Community Arena. With a game of fine margins at times, it was penalties which decided the outcome.

Photo credit: Jemma Sear

It proved to be the same outcome for the Tudors as the last time they made the playoffs, competing for 120 minutes of football and narrowly losing after a penalty shootout, also bringing back the feeling of what could have been in this year’s FA Cup first round away to Wigan Athletic.

The opening stages of the game epitomised the magnitude of the occasion, with a tense and cagey battle between the two teams. The Tudors looked to be a threat from corners as Kyle Ajayi met George Williams’ inswinging delivery, diverting the ball across goal but to no avail. Corners seemed to be a recurring theme for the home side as Remaye Campbell was able to hook the ball towards goal, which was eventually cleared off the line by a Seagulls defender.

Whilst Hemel had started to gain control of the game, it was the away side who had the first crucial chance of the game as Luke Coulson backheeled the ball into the path of Ollie Dewsbury, who struck his effort over the bar from close range. This seemed to give Weston-super-Mare confidence as they ended the half the better of the two teams; however, the deadlock remained intact as the half time whistle blew. 

The second half started with the Tudors having a fantastic chance to take the lead inside the first five minutes. Williams was able to combine with Devante Stanley on the right-hand side before delivering a threatening cross into the area. The ball found the head of Mauro Vilhete, who could only head straight into Max Harris, who parried the ball before the visitors cleared the danger.

Photo credit: Jemma Sear

After fantastic defending from Louis Lomas to deny a tap-in from close range at one end, the Tudors broke as Vilhete was released down the right. Baring down on goal, the winger forced a good save from Harris to push the ball away for a corner. However, a smart reverse pass into Dom Bernard saw him square the ball across goal, only to be smothered by Michael Johnson. 

The visitors kept their momentum up and eventually in the 75th minute, a free kick found an unmarked Louis Britton, who headed the ball past Johnson to break the deadlock. This goal changed momentum in the favour of the visitors, who pushed for a second. Ollie Dewsbury latched onto a cross before poking it over the bar.

The Tudors responded with some chances of their own, as substitute Jack Lorentzen-Jones found his low shot towards the near post held by Harris, followed by heavy spells of pressure. Despite this, the Seagulls defence continued to remain organised and repel any threat towards the goal. 

After a lengthy break during added time, the visitors were unable to clear following a Lorentzen-Jones free kick as Joe White was able to poke the ball into the net from a yard out to send both teams to extra time. 

The first period of extra time summed up the game, with the match being decided by individual battles. The biggest chance of the period came as Trae Cook-Appiah beat his man and sent a low cross to Isiah Noel-Williams. He came agonisingly close to taking the lead as his shot was cleared off the line by a Seagulls defender, proving to be the only key opportunity before the interval.

Photo credit: Patrick Dodge

After half time of extra time, the game continued to be fiercely contested as momentum remained in the balance between the two teams. Whilst Cook-Appiah continued to utilise his pace down the right-hand side, Weston-super-Mare continued to remain organised as a breakthrough was unable to be found at the end of extra time after Britton volleyed comfortably wide with the final kick of the game.

After four perfect penalties, Hemel were the first to blink as White’s penalty was saved low by Harris before Tommy Backnell finished his penalty coolly. After both Cook-Appiah and Chamberlain’s penalties were finished well, Lorentzen-Jones dealt with the pressure and fired into the net. With captain Emlyn Lewis to step up to potentially send the visitors through, Johnson was able to send the tie to a sudden death.

Jet Dyer was composed, striking his penalty into the right hand side of the goal before Leo Pecover followed up with a goal of his own. However, after Louis Lomas penalty wide of the goal, Dan Martin was composed and sent the visitors through to the semi final.