Match Report
Windsor & Eton 2-0 Hemel Hempstead Town
Posted By: Malcolm Wiliams
On: 11th January 2011
Comp: Southern Football League Premier Division
It was an unhappy return to Stag Meadow for four of Windsor & Eton's title winning side as Hemel Hempstead went down 2-0 in the Red Insure Cup.
Steve Butler, Ryan Wharton, Ryan Parsons and Scott Thomas all left the Royalists for the Tudors in the summer and would have been hoping to get one over on their former employers.
The night couldn't have started any worse for them as they were soon behind when Adam Bernard's low cross was fumbled by Dominique Jean-Zephirin allowing Dave Pearce to knock the ball in.
Pearce could have had a hat-trick in the opening ten minutes had he not sent a further two efforts wide of the post as Hemel struggled to deal with Windsor's pace.
Hemel should have soon drawn level when Scott Thomas slid the ball through to Ryan Ashe but he was denied by a fine save from Rob Bullivant.
Windsor continued to pile on the pressure and managed to double their lead when Jake Parsons picked out Michael Chennells at the far post and the Windsor striker headed back across goal into the top corner.
A third almost came immediately after when Jean-Zephirin flapped at a Pearce cross but was thankful to see Chennells shot then blocked.
Hemel were given chances to get back into the match but Dennis Fennemore hit straight at Bullivant and Jake Gilbert fired over after Windsor failed to deal with a corner.
As the half drew to a close Windsor almost bagged a lucky third when Dwane Lee's shot from outside the area hit a bobble and ballooned up over the bar off Jean-Zephirin.
The second half was more about changes than chances but it was Windsor who again edged the chances.
Late in the half Dave Pearce managed to weave his way through a crowded area before seeing his effort saved by Mike McEntegart.
Leon Soloman then managed a curling effort from just inside the area but that cannoned off a Hemel defender and over the bar.
Hemel could have pulled a goal back in the final few minutes when Fennemore crossed leaving Denilson Vicente what looked like a tap in on the line until Dave Woozley's out-stretched leg managed to guide the ball back to Bullivant.