TUDOR TALK

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Tuesday 13th November
Southern League Premier Division
Hemel Town 1 Hitchin Town 1

In recent matches, top of the table Hemel have shown an unerring ability to make ordinary sides they've played look like top of the table material, whilst making Hemel themselves look like possible relegation fodder. Unfortunately the trend continued in this match, as Hemel's inability to pass to a team-mate gave Hitchin the ball so often, the home fans began to wonder if their side had developed an allergy to the colour red.
The first ten minutes or so flattered to deceive as Hemel actually started quite brightly - but in the end without testing visiting keeper Ricky Perks, aside from an angled shot by Chris Dillon that was blasted straight at him.
At the other end long forward balls were being pumped into the home box, and both Tyrone Sealey & Ex-Tudor Richard Pringle found the space to shoot goalwards, albeit weakly. But the casual attitude of some of Hemel’s play now began to give more of the ball to the Canaries, and most of the action that followed in the remainder of the half happened in the home third of the pitch, though fortunately for Hemel, Hitchin proved wasteful around the box.
The next opening of any note for the home side eventually came on thirty three minutes when Drew Roberts sent his effort from eighteen yards wide of the post, but against the run of play, it was the home side who took the lead with five minutes left to the break.
Josh Sozzo worked his way into the right hand side of the box before pulling a low pass back towards Roberts on the edge of the area. Roberts swung first time at the ball - but completely missed it - allowing it to run out to Steve Sinclair twenty five yards out, who then hit a wickedly dipping shot with his left foot over Perks (who had strayed off his line) and under the bar.
It was to prove to be the one moment of true quality in the whole match.
Hitchin (although deserving of an equalizer) finally scored themselves following a moment of controversy.
Sinclair tackled Moses Olaleye fairly and began to run towards the other half. Sozzo - fifteen yards away in an offside position - ran back into his own half with his hands in the air, clearly indicating that he was not interfering in play as his team-mates surged forward in the other direction. The linesman however stopped play with an offside flag, which earned him a tongue lashing from Sozzo (booked), and so infuriated were the Hemel bench that the match was held up for a while whilst referee Richard Kendall from Luton “had words” with them.
From the resulting free-kick, Ryan Frater slapped the ball long into the home box, where Olaleye was fouled, and Mr Kendall added insult to injury by racing twenty yards to award the penalty which Shane Hill then converted (Ollie Burgess then booked before play could restart as he too discussed with officials their capabilities)
On the hour skipper Paul Edgeworth headed Roberts’ corner kick just wide as a now incensed Hemel at last seemed to up the tempo a little, but again it didn’t last long, and at the other end Carl Williams twice had long range shots at keeper Ian Brown as the home defence sat off him.
Out of the blue the Tudors nearly won it on seventy two minutes - a diving header from Sinclair that rattled the left hand upright, and shortly after Sinclair again had a good chance, but skied his half volley from twelve yards well over the bar.
With Mr Kendall and his assistant now routinely getting decisions wrong (what is it with Luton referee's at Vauxhall Road?) the home crowd were starting to get rather restless, and Hemel didn’t help by continuing to play cluelessly.
Bateman (unable to contain his growing displeasure) at last fell victim to a red card with three minutes left - yet another incorrect call by the officials going against his side - and the match finally drizzled out to a tame draw that everyone will want to forget in a hurry.
With another long trip to Clevedon on Saturday looming, many of the increasingly worried home fans wondered aloud whether their side could still stay top for long if they continue to play like this. But at least Hemel should be prepared for the Seasiders style of play - this being the third meeting between the two sides in as many weeks.

Hemel Town:
Ian Brown, Simon Sweeney, Mark Coulson, Adam Martin (Dean Cracknell), Yiadom Yeboah, Chris Dillon, Ollie Burgess, Josh Sozzo, Steve Sinclair (Matt Gearing), Drew Roberts, Paul Edgeworth. Subs (Not Used): Dwain Williams, Kameron Abbassi & Robbie Kean.

Hitchin Town:
Ricky Perks, David Deeney, Mark Duckett, Ryan Frater, Lance Gentle-King, Carl Williams, Tyrone Sealey (Ricky Miller), Shane Hill, Richard Pringle (Phil Jackson), Wayne Mills, Moses Olaleye. Subs (Not Used): Matt Childs, Nick Mountford & Colm Kierans.