Highlights ¦ Hemel Hempstead ¦ National League South ¦ 13.01.18

Hemel Hempstead 1-2 Hungerford Town Vauxhall Road Att: 449 Goals: Bignall, Hopper On a bitterly cold day at Vauxhall Road, we produced a composed and spirited display to earn all three points against the play-off hopefuls, but there was little between the two sides and the home side had goal-scoring chances without being able to take them and were no doubt disappointed not to improve their play-off hopes. We were set to play up a considerable slope from the kick-off. The home side gained an early corner which Marcus Beauchamp punched out but David Moyo failed to get his shot on target from the clearance. The home side had more of the play but our defence stood firm and Alex Osborn shot high and wide with another half-chance. but we did well to reach half-time with the score-sheet blank. Having defended well when the Tudors had the advantage of the slope, it was a set-back when we conceded a goal only 3 minutes after the re-start when a corner from Jordan Parkes beat Beauchamp as it dipped in towards the near post. However, we still continued to play with confidence and Nicholas Bignall was unlucky when his attempted shot at goal was deflected off his knee and flew wide but he continued to look dangerous and headed the equaliser in the 58th.minute. We now began to look the likely winners and eventually took the lead when Meechan chested down a cross from Ritchie Whittingham and Luke Hopper scored with a simple tap in at the far post after 64 minutes. The game still flowed from end to end, but we seldom looked like conceding another goal and even with 6 minutes of injury time the home side could not break through, to the delight of a good number of our supporters who celebrated at the final whistle. Team;Marcus Beauchamp, Rhys Tyler, Diak John(Paul Stonehouse)James Rusby, Matt Williams, Ritchie Whittingham(Anton Rodgers),James Clark, Louie Soares, Luke Hopper, Nicholas Bignall(Ian Herring), Tom Meechan, Subs; Jamal Lawrence, Gary McDonald.