Groundhog Away Day blues as City suffer further late penalty heartbreak

City slipped to defeat against Hemel Hempstead Town at Vauxhall Road this afternoon, the only goal coming from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time – the third successive away game in which the Romans have suffered late heartbreak in this manner.

Playing down the consider slope, City began the match on the front foot, winning a flurry of corners in the opening five minutes. They couldn’t fashion a chance from these though and game soon settled down into a more even contest. The hosts were looking slightly more comfortable on the difficult playing surface, not helped by a strong swirling wind blowing across the ground, but it was City who had the clearest chance of the first half on 25 minutes. Brad Ash won possession deep in the Hemel half and squared the ball for Jake Tabor. He laid it off for Will Jenkins Davies but he failed to trouble Johnson in the Tudors goal.

City had an escape two minutes into the second half when Millar crashed a close-range shot against the underside of the bar. Hemel were now beginning to show why they are firmly amongst the early season play-off contenders and it took several excellent stops from Harvey Wiles-Richards to prevent them from going ahead. City were struggling to create anything going forward but looking increasingly assured at the back as chances dried up for Hemel. However, in the final minute of an additional seven City’s hard-work was undone when the referee adjudged Jordan Tillson challenge just inside the box a foul and White sent Wiles-Richards the wrong way to bag the three points.