Tudors fight back to bag the three points at Bishop’s Stortford

Oliver Hawkins was on target for Hemel. Picture (c) Cameron Maclean - CM Photography

It was something of an FA Cup hangover for Hemel in the first half following their heroics against Nuneaton Town on Tuesday night, but an excellent performance in the second period saw the Tudors earn three much needed points.

Ryan Melaugh put Stortford ahead after 11 minutes, but a sleepy start to the second half from the hosts saw Oliver Hawkins head home a leveller for Hemel.

The hosts created some decent chances, but it was Hemel who took theirs in clinical style to secure the win.

Dean Brennan’s men grabbed the lead through substitute James Simmonds with 70 minutes on the clock and they wrapped up the win with a goal from another sub, James Potton.

Hemel could have been forgiven for taking their eye off the ball with a mouthwatering FA Cup first round clash against Bury looming next weekend, and it was Stortford who looked brightest early on.

The opening goal came from a sweeping move which saw Sheldon Sellears cross for Ryan Melaugh to poke the ball home.

Lewis Toomey fired wide at the other end, but chances were few and far between for the rest of the half.

Hemel’s leveller came four minutes after the interval when a free-kick was swung in to the back post, where big centre-forward Hawkins headed home past David Gregory.

Laurie Walker was called into action soon afterwards to deny George Sykes, while Toomey sent a looping header over the Blues crossbar at the other end.

Stortford pressed in search of a second goal, but it was Hemel who went ahead when Simmonds’ shoot looped up and over Gregory and into the net with 20 minutes remaining.

At the other end, Scott Shulton was denied by Walker from point-blank range as he slid on to the end of a cross at the back post.

Rod Young wasted another good opening for the hosts, and they were made to pay for their profligacy when Potton smashed home a loose ball to wrap up the three points for the Tudors.