Team: First-Half – Taylor, trialist, Wilkie, Putman, Wiles, Pullella, Brunson, Trujillo, Wright, Neill, Sutton
Team: Second-Half – Fittall, Friel, Agbude, Akindileni, Street, Dyke, trialist, Kennedy, Pearman, O’Brien, Scarlett
I can’t believe it was my first trip to Hemel. The last time we played there was during the pandemic.
The game was played behind closed doors, but Hemel streamed the game. I remember Stephen Duke-McKenna scored a brilliant 25 yard free kick.
Team sheet revealed two new names, both trialists apparently.
The first-half was decent with two teams playing good football, but it was 0-0 at the break.
Second-half saw a completely new select X1, and Hemel also made a plethora of changes which included seven trialists.
We took the lead on 53 minutes when Leon Scarlett found the top corner from 20 yards and two minutes later it was 1-1.
On 58 minutes we took the lead again. Rocco Friel got into the box, but was tackled, and during a huge scramble it appeared that a Hemel defender had the last touch, and the ball ricocheted off his boot into the bottom corner.
Two-one became three-one on 76 minutes, when Kobe Agbude finished off a great move after the keeper had made a decent save.
Then Rico Kennedy scored twice on 84 and 86 minutes with two great finishes.
No sign of 18-year-old Cory Adjetey-Brew? When I asked one of the parents, I discovered that he was travelling with the first team for the trip to Austria, so well done Cory.
Good to see ex-QPR Academy player Isaac Pitblado at No.3 for Hemel, who are managed by Marc Bircham’s brother, Lee.
A decent ground and facilities and staff who were very welcoming.
No programme issued, just the team sheet.
Good luck to the Tudors in the National League South this season.
Chris Hewitt
After Sammy had collected Chris and I from Park Royal, we made it to the Focus Community Arena in good time.
The first goalscoring opportunity fell to the hosts in the 4th minute after Jesse Effa had been put through, but the Tudors No.11’s attempt flashed just wide of the post.
Rangers began to grow into the game and after Ashley Trujillo had been fouled, the resulting free kick ended up being grabbed by Michael Johnson.
At the other end, Devante Stanley’s shot from close to the bye-line was knocked behind at the near post.
Then, Michael Johnson just managed to smother the ball as Ashley Trujillo was about to shoot.
Charlie Rowan cleared Josh Wright’s attempt off the line, and the resulting scramble left the keeper in need of some attention.
After being grounded, Kalen Brunson had to be helped off, but he was able to continue shortly after. Half-time: 0-0.
Rangers took the lead on 53 minutes when Leon Scarlett curled the ball past the trialist keeper and into the top corner.
However, the Tudors equalised a minute or so later when Leo Cole squared the ball to one of the trialists who did the rest.
The away side re-took the lead five minutes later, after the ball appeared to come off a Hemel defender.
Alfie Fittall did well when he successfully knocked the ball to safety from just under the crossbar.
Rangers went further ahead on 76 minutes when Kobe Agbude was well placed to slot home from the keeper’s initial save.
Rico Kennedy scored a brace in the closing stages to complete the scoring.
I have to say that there was some confusion with the way that some of the players were numbered on the team sheet?
Amongst those looking on were Kevin Gallen and Andy Sinton.
Thanks to Sammy for the lift.
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Chris Hewitt for the above photo)