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Hampton & Richmond 2 Worcester City 2

This game had it all – four goals, two red cards, a penalty, an own goal, an on-field melee, a commanding captains performance from Dean Wells, and an inept referring performance. Sadly though for Hampton the points, like the goals and the red cards, were shared equally as a late equaliser saw Saturday’s game against Worcester City end 2-2.

Hampton had taken the lead in both halves courtesy of an o.g in the first and Michael Lee-Charles in the 2nd, but sloppy defending provided the visitors with a way back into the game as the Beavers failed to win at home again and dropped another two points.

Manager Alan Devonshire unsurprisingly made a raft of changes with the game only 72 hours after Hampton’s battling FA Cup victory at Averley with Elliott Brathwaite, Nathan Collier, Dave Tarpey, Ashley Smith and Lee-Charles all coming into the starting XI to freshen things up.

Any thoughts that five chances would unsettle the Beavers proved unfounded as Hampton took the lead with their very first attack as early as the 3rd minute. Quick thinking by Jamie Collins saw him release Smith inside the covering fullback and the hapless Wayne Daniel turned his cross into the net to give the Beavers the perfect start.

The attack trio of Tarpey, Lee-Charles and Smith were all catching the eye and troubling the Worcester defence with their pace, interchange and movement. Tarps particularly was desperately unlucky not to extend the lead in the 9th minute when the sprawling Ben Hinchliffe in the away goal pawed his 25-yard curling free kick wide.

Worcester while looking to play attractive football were also giving their best ‘Jon McDonald impression’ and causing numerous problems from long throws. In a matter of minutes, captain Dean Wells put his body on the line with two blocks from thunderous goal-bound shots.

As close as Tarpey free kick was, Worcester Rob Davies came even closer with one of his own as the first half ebbed and flowed. With the Beavers defence expecting a cross, Davies curled the ball around the wall and onto the post as the two teams reached the break with Hampton holding a narrow lead.

This advantage though proved to be short lived as two minutes into the 2nd half Worcester hit the equaliser from the penalty spot, and Orland Jeffrey received his marching orders for a professional foul. O.J was harshly deemed to have hauled Marco Adaggio down in the area after the striker got the wrong side of the big defender. As Orlando made the lonely walk the length of the field to the dressing rooms, Adaggio brushed himself down and lashed the spot kick straight down the middle of the goal.

Despite a man disadvantage, Hampton should have really re-taken the lead immediately from the re-start when Lee-Charles controlled a Deano through ball before wastefully firing over from inside the area when faced with the keeper. He didn’t let his chin drop though, and was rewarded with his first goal for the club as the ten men took the lead in the 65th minute. Dave Tarpey the provider with a perfectly delivered free kick to the far post that was met by a sliding Lee-Charles to volley home.

Six minute later the game erupted as a reckless late tackle from Worcester’s Rob Elvins floored Dean Wells, earning Elvins a straight red and provoking a mass brawl between both sets of players as play was held up by a good five minutes. After all the pushing and shoving had been dealt with and both benches being spoken to, referee Coggins bizarrely booked Wells for his ‘role’ in the incident.

More handbags were evident as a flare-up between Tarpey and a Worcester defender earned them both a yellow card, as the referee struggled to keep a lid on what was turning into a niggly encounter. Having seen the numerical advantage now evened out, Hampton sat back and seemed quite happy to get men behind the ball and defend their narrow lead.

Sadly for Hampton this proved to be fatal as a schoolboy error from Jon McDonald gifted Worcester a late equaliser. As a hopeful ball was pumped into the area, Jon hesitated and let the ball bounce allowing Louis Bridges to nip in and beat Matt Lovett to the ball to turn the ball home.

Despite numerous stoppages Mr Coggins inexplicably blew for time shortly afterwards, at least five minutes early, thus ending any lingering hope that Hampton would have had of grabbing a late winner.

While undoubtedly disappointed with the manner of the result, Dev wouldn’t have been too dishearten with the performance of his boys, especially in the light of the numerous changes made. The game also extends the Beavers current unbeaten run to seven games.

Next up for Hampton is the big FA Cup final qualifier against Sutton United at the Beveree next weekend. With the big boys waiting in the following round all Beavers followers will be hopful of progressing against lower league opponents.

Team: Lovett, Harper (Fernandes), Tanner, Jeffrey, Brathwaite, Wells ©, Collins, Collier, Tarpey, Lee-Charles (Yaku), Smith (McDonald)

Goals: Daniel (o.g) 3, Lee-Charles 65

Yellow Cards: Tarpey, Wells

Red Cards: Jeffrey

Man of the Match: Wells

Attendance: 486

wouldnt blame jon for the goal, personally was just poor communication between deano, matt and jon. matt could have come out and caught, deano left it for matt and jon was waiting for the other two to deal with it. silly mistakes costing us key points atm. remember you cant win the title in the first half of the season but you can definately lose it. thought tarpey and charles did well up front and we cant slag off charles for his missed chance as yaks has missed a few of them and he is a fine forward but as sal said he kept his chin up and got a well taken goal.

Sorry but McDonald was at fault for the goal. He was the third man and after the first two failed to clear it he should have got rid of the ball asap and not simply let it bounce past him. A defender playing at this level should no better. Harsh but true.

Deano was class on Saturday again. We have dropped two points at home against a team where we should be getting all three and that is not good enough for a team with aspirations to be at the top end of the table.

The word on the street is that we were crap on Wednesday and got through by the skin of our teeth. I know most people don't like saying it but lets face it we are struggling a bit at the moment and dropping points like that does not inspire confidence.

We've been poor for pretty much the entire season, with a couple of bits of quality flashing up intermitently. McDonald was totally at fault for the equaliser, and I'd say that about any player who failed to deal with a simple ball like that. But IMHO Jon has been particularly disappointing (he's not the only one mind**) this season and it was just the latest in a string of errors. Some have cost us, others he's got away with. He's a reasonable left back with an amazing throw, but he's not a very good CB and is very left footed, so playing at RB is never going to suit him.

** to prove I'm totally fair he's some other observations.

Collins has left me underwhelmed. Came with a big rep and has not lived up to it as yet. I'm hoping it is a fitness/adjusting situation so I'll give him a chance to win me over.

I won't go into every player but it's fair to say that most are falling some way below the standards of the last two seasons (OJ, Scarbs, Harps, Yaks, Franny before his injury, even Lovett is a bit below his very high standards).

From the games I have seen I have been impressed with Dundas, Barrie, Ashley Smith and most of all Marcello. He seems to have got over the fact that he tends to make the occasional blooper and jsut got on with the all action style of his which makes him so popular on the terraces. I've been pleased with Tarpey and Lee-Charles when they have got on the pitch.

There's a long way to go yet, and hopefully Dev can get the players to up their game over the coming weeks, starting with getting to the first round of the cup this saturday.

Jon had a blinder of a game at Bromley away wouldnt have one that without him.
He is a player whos good performances go unnoticed but when he has a poor game people are quick to slag him off.
Recently he has been dissapointing missing two clearences against weymouth i think?
Yes he was at fault for the goal but the other two cannot exactly say it wasnt there fault aswell. Admittedly jamie had a poor start but from beating braintree 4-1 in the fa cup his form has picked up. Still on an unbeaten run lets hope we can have a run of 13 wins on the trot like we did in 06/07 season on the way to winning the ryman league. BEAVERS!

[quote="lewis0071"]Jon had a blinder of a game at Bromley away wouldnt have one that without him.
He is a player whos good performances go unnoticed but when he has a poor game people are quick to slag him off.quote]

I worked with Jon for three seasons at Staines Town and he always gave 100 per cent, whether it was a match or just training. He was one of the most dedicated players i've ever worked with and i can't remember him missing one training night unless he was injured. He plays in a position where when a mistake is made may sometimes cost the team.
It reminds me of when Tony Houghton played for H&RB. Tony was the sort of player who put every ounce and his last breath into playing for H&RB but for some reason was never the fans favourite. Something most of the players & backroom staff at the time couldn't understand.
I'd just like to say well done to lewis0071 for supporting the player and that, to me is what supporters are supposed to do.
Well done that person!

Geoffums, I'm not the sort to needlessly slag off a player. I'm normally the one defending thr lads who are getting stick. And it has to be said that, in general, hampton fans are particularly loyal to the players and will trust the judgment of the manager. I've not questioned Jon's attitude or effort, just that of late he has not been playing very well. Tony Houghton got better but for a long time he turned in shocking performances and kept getting picked. He is not anywhere near the worst players to have played for the club though. Surely that honour is tied between Jamie Horton and Martin Buglione.

The player mentioned above was often refereed to as Tony 'Pony' Houghton by a few of the fans behind the goal.

Linking bad players and the full back position, how about Luke Jolly! Shocking player, and had a Gary Neville annoying type aura around him.... he made Craig Webster look good!

Colin, one of the funniest moments I ever had supporting Hampton involved Martin 'Bugs' Buglione. The FA cup tie with Bognor... he missed a couple of open goals at the Bev, then wasted several golden opportunities in the replay... I think we lost on pens... he probably missed one... and whilst the adults were in the bar, and the players were getting changed, a load of us, kids at the time, were having a kick about on the pitch... Re-inacting Bugs chances, chipping the ball into the box and blasting it wide... just as the ball fell to Michael Taylor, somone did the commentry at the top of their voice "It's Buglione to put Hampton through in the FA cup.... he must score (*Taylor hoofs ball into the stands) OH DEAR!! WHAT A MISS - WHAT A *******************!" And who was standing by the door to the bar?? Yup Martin Buglione... he then went on sat on the coach a good 10-20 minutes before anyone else. It must have made him feel crap, but it was such a funny moment.