It was another clean sheet but a share of the points as Hemel held out with 10 men to frustrate the Fleet in the first game back at the Morrow Stadium this league season.
Josh Wright made two changes to Saturday’s winning side with Camron Gbadebo and Harvey Walker coming in for Finlay Barnes and Will Tizzard.
The opening stages were slow and the first chance didn’t come until 10 minutes were on the clock. Josh Passley ran into the area but saw his effort deflected out for a corner.
Jake Vokins whipped the ball into the area, picking out Ben Chapman who attempted the spectacular with an overhead kick but goalkeeper Michael Johnson gathered.
Chapman was back in the action minutes later with a low shot from distance leaving Johnson stranded as that effort whistled past the woodwork.
A good stop by Fleet keeper Will Buse denied Remaye Campbell who had found himself one on one with the Fleet man but somewhat pulled his shot towards the far post.
There were huge shouts for a penalty minutes before half-time as Passley ran through on goal and was brought down as he lined up a shot but, only five yards away, the referee waved away the Fleet’s confident appeals.
The home side had kept Hemel on the back foot and had James Vennings to thank for his busy midfield performance, but neither goalkeeper had much to do.
That didn’t change much in the second half, although Fleet were soon handed an advantage when Hemel were reduced to 10 men. Less than 10 minutes were on the clock when an incident down the right involving Passley and Marshall Francis spilled out of control, the two players tangling on the floor before Francis reacted with a kick and push on his Fleet opponent. It took the officials several minutes to sort out, with Francis red-carded and Passley seeing yellow.
Hemel immediately brought on Mauro Vilhete and dug in deep to frustrate the Fleet. Wright brought on attacking players over the next 15 minutes as his side pushed Hemel back but never managed to unlock a way to goal.
There were several good opportunities as Chapman and Passley continually played balls from the right, while Toby Edser and Lennon Peake had late efforts high or wide, but Johnson wasn’t properly tested, allowing him to run down the clock from goal kicks.
EUFC: Buse, Passley, Gbadebo, Nelson, Vokins (Peake 75), Vennings, Edser, Kennedy (Barnes 78), Chapman, Walker (Oteh 62), Samuel (Appiah 62). Subs not used: Ogunleye, Tizzard, Box.
HHTFC: Johnson, Rowan, Longe-King, Williams (Ramirez-Espain 70), Campbell, Cook, Steele (Vilhete 58), Green, Francis, Parkes, Stanley. Subs not used: Agbontohoma, Tabor, Effa, Phillips, Taylor.
Attendance: 1,208
Photos: © EUFC/Dave Plumb
