Following our first victory of the season against Slough Town, we travelled to Hemel Hempstead in search of our first away victory of the season, however our hosts were able to win 2-0 and take the three points.
One point separated the sides ahead of kick off, and the game opened in an end-to- end manner, as both teams searched for the opening goal.
Jason Prior had a header cleared away from a corner, before Millar Matthews-Lewis saw his drilled effort blocked for the home side, also from a set piece. Our hosts had started the season in a positive manner and were unbeaten in their first three games, also defeating Slough in their run of fixtures, however we edged the opening moments of the match, with various efforts coming from corner routines.
Dennon Lewis drilled a low effort into the side netting after cutting inside from a short corner and Charlie Carter saw a low effort deflected wide as he arrived onto the ball from the following corner.
However, Hemel Hempstead winger George Williams has featured for the Fulham first team, and it was his experience that helped put the home side ahead as he arrived in the right position at the right time to tap the ball home, past Harrison Foulkes, from a Millar Matthews-Lewis low cross.
Following the opener, we continued to have chances from set pieces, and Charlie Carter became the latest to test Michael Johnson, however his header from a Dennon Lewis free kick was comfortably saved. George Williams continued to cause issues throughout the first half, seeing a drilled cross turned away from near the goal line, before the follow up from the home side was comfortably gathered by Harrison Foulkes.
Our best chance of the half also came via a free kick, after the ball pinged around in the box and Alfie Rutherford drilled a right-footed effort towards the bottom corner, which was saved well by Michael Johnson with his feet.
Throughout the first half, it became evident that Wanderers forward Jason Prior was having joy in his aerial battles, a theme which forced another chance in additional time, whereby James McShane saw a half-volley blocked by the defence, before Prior himself headed over the bar in an effort to find the equaliser.
The opening exchanges in the second half were a fairly quiet affair, as a Jack Bateson last ditch tackle proved to be the most notable action following the break, up to the hour mark.
Soon after, however, Charlie Carter had goalkeeper Michael Johnson scrambling to ensure that he had his left-hand post covered, as Carter’s curling effort went just wide after good footwork to create the chance.
We had another long-range effort with twenty minutes of the match to play as James McShane followed up a dribble with an effort into the hands of Michael Johnson, before Hemel Hempstead substitute Ade Azeez flicked an effort onto the crossbar. Wanderers substitute Josh Hebert also saw an effort saved as Hemel goalkeeper Michael Johnson stood firm, gathering the Frank Vincent effort from the following corner.
In the final stages of the match, we continued to have chances, including an Alfie Rutherford header flicked just over the bar, however it was Isiah Noel-Williams who was able to drive the ball home from the edge of the box to the right of Harrison Foulkes, and seal the 2-0 victory for the home side.
Following today’s match, we have the opportunity to put things right quickly as we host Tonbridge Angels at Meadowbank on Monday.