IPSWICH WANDERERS 1 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN 1

FA CUP 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND

SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2005

Torrential morning rain had done the pitch nothing but good and the sun was shining, albeit through grey clouds as the two teams walked out to do battle to the raucous noise of Hemel’s colourful supporters. Radio Suffolk were in attendance, as well as the man from the Daily Telegraph doing the ‘Wembley to Wembley’ feature, published in the next Monday’s paper.

After 5 mins Jamie Stannard was forced to tip Carney’s shot round the post, this after Keith Hetherington had been in a good position at the other end. 3 mins later, Ricky Martin was through on Smith in the Hemel goal from Marc Lowe’s pinpoint pass but he only managed to chip it into the ‘keepers arms from close range. On 23 mins Jamie Stannard blocked a shot at the feet of Hale on the edge of the 6yd box, his first action for a number of minutes. Wanderers had been busy at the other end but had produced no threat to trouble Smith until, on 28 mins, Ricky Martin’s took the ball across the edge of the area to set up Jorrell Hurd who easily shot beyond the reach of Smith. Hemel began to lose patience in midfield as their attack struggled against the Wanderers back line but a break for treatment to an injury and drinks calmed things down.

On 38 mins, Jamie Baker’s corner was finger-tipped off the head of Keith Hetherington and then Carney turned Jason Dozzell in the Wanderers area but completely missed his shot with just Jamie Stannard to beat. In the last few seconds of the half, Mark Goldfinch got in a timely tackle to deny Hale in the act of shooting. Hemel had not got their attack working throughout the half and they needed to do so if they were to get back into the game.

Ipswich Wanderers 1 Hemel Hempstead Town 0

A verbal dressing down and the introduction of Thomas up front changed Hemel’s fortunes after the break when it was all one way traffic, with Hemel making up for lost time and attacking at every possible opportunity. In the first minute Jamie Stannard had to pluck the ball from the air from Valenti’s corner and this was the first of many attacks that he had to deal with. A rare Wanderers breakaway saw Keith Hetherington’s clever play take him into the area but Jorrell Hurd was narrowly wide with his swivel shot.

It took Hemel 16 minutes of the second half to get the equaliser, Jamie Stannard having to be alert to Carney’s close range shot and then Heywood headed powerfully home in a crowded area from the resultant corner. Rene Swann was introduced shortly afterwards and he found room up front on the couple of occasions that Wanderers broke from defence but it was still Hemel in attack, with substitutes Thomas and Yoki causing problems.

On 76 minutes Chris Tracey went close with a diving header, taken from the clutching hands of Smith and then Rene Swann’s cross from the byline was plucked from the feet of Hurd by the ‘keeper. Then Rene Swann was through on goal as Wanderers got back into the game in the last 10 minutes but his shot was narrowly wide. Glynn’s free kick was curled round the wall and Jamie Stannard brought off a full length diving save and to round of the 90 minutes Thomas had two chances in the dying seconds but the referee’s final whistle signalled the necessity of a replay on Tuesday 13th with the scores standing at one a piece.

Ipswich Wanderers 1 Hemel Hempstead Town 1

Read all about it as reported by the Daily Telegraph's man Tony Francis