Hemel Hempstead Town 1-1 Slough Town

[Chris]

Phhhhhheeeeeeewwwwwwwww.

 

Talk about get out of jail free card. Our worst 90 minutes of the season where we did not create that much. First-half was pretty even, but thought we just shaded it. Second-half they were the better side and we struggled to create chances as said earlier. It was never going to be an easy game against a team in a league above us.

 

Having said that this team are a strong unit and don't cave in easily as we have done in recent seasons. Header by Nathan with almost the last touch of the game after good play by Keano and a cross by Sincs (I think!) and cue celebrations at the end. We've let in about eight 90th minute goals in the last 2 seasons, so to finally score one at the end is about time. Great stuff!!

 

Will be a very difficult match Tuesday though as Hemel proved today they have some decent players.

 

Good banter at the end as well with those three Hemel fans who piped-up when they went 1-0 ahead getting it right back at them! ;-)

[Chris]

Oh, and also hope that lady taken to hospital is OK. Hemel lads and everyone helping did a fine job and hats off to them.

[charlie]

That's a bit harsh to say it was our worst 90 mins Chris. I thought we looked pretty good in the first half - but I agree we massively faded in the second. Thank god the players weren't willing to roll over and die after that penalty. Here's hoping I can get out of work early on tuesday and cheer the boys on at Beaconsfield.

 

On a slightly different note - thought the Hemel fans were good fun and they've got a great little ground setup there. Best of luck to them for the season - after losing on Tuesday of course!

[Chris]

Don't get me wrong Charlie. I thought we were OK. Just over the 90 minutes as a whole I thought it was our worst performance of the season (yet we still did ok). We've had far worse half's ie Leighton first-half and Burnham second, but just as a whole 90, wasn't meant to sound like I was slagging them off...

[Tom]

Brilliant end to the game with Big Nathan scoring. Put that Hemel fan right in his place, he soon left after that goal.

 

I think we lost a bit of momentum when DJ and Hayes were taken off, although I still don't think Hayes offers that much up front to cause a threat. Hemel are a league above and the team more than held their own and that's something to be proud of and take forward. Hopefully they can go on to finish the job midweek.

[Radford]

Thought we were ok today without being as sharp as we have been in recent games. Jordan and Sealey weren't as impressive as last weekend which was a shame although once again every player put a shift in, which is soemthing that hasn't happened in recent years, we normally have to carry someone or other.

 

The atmosphere at the end brought back very happy memories of former days of cup runs and big league matches, and the covering really helped, keeping the noise in brilliantly. Hopefully we can shoot towards the bar in the second half on Tuesday to try to use a similar factor then.

 

Well done lads, keep it up!!!

[Martin]

Throughly enjoyable game. First half thought we shaded it in terms of possession and tempo but they had the clearer opportunities.

 

Second half they controlled the game more but thought we still posed a threat when we could get the ball out wide. DJ and Hayes faded in the second half after holding the ball up in the first half and I think that was why we faltered. No criticism of Elliot or Martin though as they just didn't have the service.

 

Great moment seeing Big Nathan rise and bury that header just as it was turning into a carbon copy of last year. Thought we've deserved that draw just for the way things have been for us over the last couple of years. Really looking forward to Tuesday - could be a close one again.

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

i think the result today was just about right, though we did leave it a bit late, my dissapointment though was that we were playing the game hemels way instead of our own there were more kick and hope balls today than in all the other matches played so far where was our passing game it only showed itself very briefly but when it did we were all over them, nevertheless it was a good performance today and here is looking forward too tuesday.

Edited September 12, 2009 by HEAVY TRUCKER

[Bernie Gogan]

Think we can credit the oppo for limiting our game e.g. doubling up on the wingers. This is in a small way a compliment to us as they are the higher league outfit.

 

Great finish though!

[Stuntman Mark]

I would personally like to thank the Hemel Fan who found the courage to start chanting at the Slough end on about 92 minutes. You made my day.

[chris sliski]

Tough game today, but a god gauge of how far we have come from last season...it was never

a classic, but we did not deserve to lose thats for sure, they had some very good chances

in the first half, but we kept going and showed strength in that... I was on my pray mat

in the last 5 mins....and for a change we got a last minute repreive ...nice...

 

come on you rebels....see you all tuesday !

 

chris sliski

[Matt]

I can't agree with most of the posters on Hemel's forum, who say they deserved to win. I don't think either side particularly deserved it. We didn't create much but that's because they defended well and doubled up on our wide players - obviously this was correctly identified as a threat. But what did they create? About as much as us, and went ahead with a penalty. True, they'll be disappointed about the late goal but we've suffered enough with those over the years. That's football.

 

It had to be 'Big Nathan' though, after the stick he was getting from those unfortunate chaps on the side. It was poetry in motion when he rose to head that ball home from a wonderful Sinclair cross.

 

I'd like to think we can finish the job on Tuesday, though it won't be easy. I think Hemel surprised a few of their own fans by not losing today, but in truth they did not look a bad side.

 

Two games out of two at Vauxhall Road where something interesting has happened at the end!

[BFR]

Hemel missed two or three guilt-edged chances in the first half, and will be bitterly disappointed at the late equaliser. That said, Greenie getting a strop on at the end was priceless. I think we are fortunate to still be in the competition and will expect a better performance on Tuesday night.

 

The only Slough supporter who wasn't happy with the climax was my boy. The noisy celebrations scared the hell out of him!

[hemelite]

Never a dull moment sometimes, oh well.

Hemel played some pretty football at times, but we never really threatened much, Slough much the same i thought. But we all know how dangerous NBH is in the opposition box, and we were screaming at our own players when they were time wasting - So obvious what was going to happen - We saw him do it to other teams often enough over the last three years to know what was coming.

I thought the referee had a strange game at times, but dont agree he was biased. Just Hemel fans on the forum venting on "Someone" if you know what i mean. Amusing to see SB's reaction to our song "Your too early" when he made the subs just after the hour. At Hemel he was noted for doing nothing until smack on 75 mins.

I hope the lady who collapsed is OK. Puts things into perspective when something like that happens and everyone at Hemel sends their very best wishes to her.

I will be at Beaconsfield Tuesday, but you must be favourites now, Our away form is desperate to say the least, its like watching a different side altogether. See you then...

[Reading Rebel]

I can't agree with most of the posters on Hemel's forum, who say they deserved to win. I don't think either side particularly deserved it. We didn't create much but that's because they defended well and doubled up on our wide players - obviously this was correctly identified as a threat. But what did they create? About as much as us, and went ahead with a penalty. True, they'll be disappointed about the late goal but we've suffered enough with those over the years. That's football.

 

It had to be 'Big Nathan' though, after the stick he was getting from those unfortunate chaps on the side. It was poetry in motion when he rose to head that ball home from a wonderful Sinclair cross.

 

I'd like to think we can finish the job on Tuesday, though it won't be easy. I think Hemel surprised a few of their own fans by not losing today, but in truth they did not look a bad side.

 

Two games out of two at Vauxhall Road where something interesting has happened at the end!

 

 

I thought Hemel certainly created the better chances in the first half and deservedly took the lead in the second half. I thought DJ and Thommy Hayes had relatively poor games by their recent standards because they didn't control and hold the ball well enough when it was played into them. They also showed today that they do lack that vital bit of pace that makes someone like Craig O'connor a more dangerous proposition.

 

Having said that we stuck at it, got out of jail and we live to fight another day on Tuesday.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Couldn't make it today but delighted that we managed to hold Hemel today. Hoping to make it to the replay on Tuesday instead.

Up the Rebels, let's finish the job!

[GarySTFC]

Video "highlights" uploading now and should be ready in a few hours. Most likely will be online tomorrow morning.

[Reading Rebel]

Video "highlights" uploading now and should be ready in a few hours. Most likely will be online tomorrow morning.

 

 

Blimey. I've just been onto the Hemel web site and there are some bitter and twisted Hemel supporters (especially Steve) sticking the knife into Steve Bateman and some of our players.

 

They are saying that Paul Edgeworth was anonymous and played as if he didn't care and Bowden-Haase didn't look much and that you could see why he didn't make it at Histon.

 

I've got news for you Steve, NBH was the class act on the pitch today and never made it at Histon because of the travelling involved.

 

Also, if ever some comments were tailor made to fire players up, then you've just made them.

 

Roll on Tuesday.

[Reading Rebel]

Never a dull moment sometimes, oh well.

Hemel played some pretty football at times, but we never really threatened much, Slough much the same i thought. But we all know how dangerous NBH is in the opposition box, and we were screaming at our own players when they were time wasting - So obvious what was going to happen - We saw him do it to other teams often enough over the last three years to know what was coming.

I thought the referee had a strange game at times, but dont agree he was biased. Just Hemel fans on the forum venting on "Someone" if you know what i mean. Amusing to see SB's reaction to our song "Your too early" when he made the subs just after the hour. At Hemel he was noted for doing nothing until smack on 75 mins.

I hope the lady who collapsed is OK. Puts things into perspective when something like that happens and everyone at Hemel sends their very best wishes to her.

I will be at Beaconsfield Tuesday, but you must be favourites now, Our away form is desperate to say the least, its like watching a different side altogether. See you then...

 

Hemelite, good to hear a common sense view off the game.

[brighton_rebel]

Very enjoyable day out, even if the football wasn't that great. Good crowd and great atmosphere in the sunshine - would love to have to big covered terraces behind both goals at Arbour Vale. I think we deserved a draw - well I would say that. I hope we can get back to the level of bigger crowds and better stadiums soon, and with this crop of players we have our best chance in a long time.