Hemel thread

[Luton Roman]

Exiles may well form the bulk of the away fans tonight given the difficulty of travelling from Bath on a midweek date to Hemel which must be as far away from a railway station as any club in this division.

Hopefully we can look forward to an attack minded City tonight as given the infrequent clean sheets (0 in last 7 games, only 3 in 19 league games this season) we may well need to score 1 or 2 to get any points. Reports indicate Ebanks is improving with every game as he gets to know the team and pattens of play, but it is the midfield that need to step up with goal contributions to plug the gap left by the absence of Cooke and Fletcher. Hayfield, Spokes, Frear and Smith have amassed 3 league goals between them this season, simply not enough by any measure.

[2weirdtown]

Anyone know what Cooke's injury is and when he is likely to return?

[comrade powell]

Exiles may well form the bulk of the away fans tonight given the difficulty of travelling from Bath on a midweek date to Hemel which must be as far away from a railway station as any club in this division.

Eastbourne's is nearly a mile further!

Please give my apologies tonight - afraid I've had enough of all these midweek fixtures!

[LB]

Anyone know what Cooke's injury is and when he is likely to return?

Jerry said in a post match interview a couple of weeks ago that it looked like Cody has a hernia, but on Friday he said that Cody is having another scan today so hopefully more will be known after that.

[2weirdtown]

Oh dear, that would need an op followed by up to 6 weeks rehab

[Luton Roman]

In summary we huffed and puffed, especially in the 2nd half but didnt have the required quality to stick the ball in the net, indeed, to get past the numerous blocks that defenders seem to get in on our shots. Consequently, the keeper was only forced into a few direct saves.

We started brightly, moving the ball slickly on the 4G, getting wide, establishing position in the final third, but, in a recurring theme, never getting in a position to get a shot off. Forced to move sideways or backwards the penalty area saw little action. Gradually Hemel came into the game, grew in confidence, and involved their speedy right wing who was at the heart of their good moves. Greenslade played him well and tightly, but eventually Hemel caused a ball to drop kindly, and the evergreen Romain tucked it away late in the 1st half. There was still time for Ebanks to win a flick and the ever-willing Mannings to fire against the keeper's legs.

City were better in the 2nd half, more urgency, increased tempo, more balls in the box, but, as JG has said in the post-match interview, not enough devilment to make things happen. Ebanks looks a handful, got many flicks, held the ball up well and certainly gave their defenders a physical night. We created more in the box, Frear hits the bar from an Ebanks tap back, Smith scores but is offside. keeper saves a couple with his legs. Hemel were hanging on for most of the 2nd half, managing the game, slowing it down, so credit to City but goals win games. 1 in the last 3 winnable games, no clean sheets, 1 point.

Greenslade, Mannings and Ebanks stood out, Frear and Wilson ineffective. Great noisy travelling support that deserved better in the 273 crowd.

[pete mac]

Yes the 20 or so including the exile veterans made a lot of noise. Almost got the team over the line second half.

[Sponsored content]