Dyer and Wilson on target in Hemel win

Goals from Jordan Dyer and Scott Wilson gave City a much-needed 2-0 victory over Hemel Hempstead at Twerton Park this evening.

A early shot from Ewan Clark that flew narrowly wide set the tone for the opening exchanges as City took the game to the visitors. And this pressure told after 16 minutes when Jordan Dyer reached a Clark free-kick ahead of keeper Macaulay to loop a header into the unguarded net. As the half progressed the Tudors began to enjoy more possession and it took a great block from Will Buse on 25 minutes to deny Folivi after he broke clear. Three minutes later City were desperately unlucky not to double their lead when Wilson’s shot through a crowded penalty area hit the inside of the post. Hemel ended the half in the ascendancy but City reached the break with few further scares.

The second half began in a similar fashion, Hemel’s Smith sending an early shot wide and Fonkue tamely shooting straight at Buse when well-placed. City responded with a Wilson shot that Macaulay got down well to block but on 68 minutes the keeper gifted the Romans a second goal. He slipped as he came out to field an overhit pass which allowed James Alabi to steal in and roll the ball across for Wilson to fire home his first goal of 2024. The game began increasingly scrappy after this with players from both sides going into the referee’s book for minor infringements. And in stoppage time this saw City reduced to 10 men when Tom Smith received two cautions in the space of six minutes. This was too late to affect the outcome though as moments later the final whistle signalled an important win for the Romans.