Hampton & Richmond made it three National League South victories in a row as Hemel Hempstead Town were put to the sword in a 4-0 thumping at The Focus Community Arena.
Top scorer James Roberts bagged another two goals for Alan Julian’s side, with Alfie Williams and Mauro Vilhete both also getting on the scoresheet.
The Beavers move up to 11th in the table after another commanding display both defensively and offensively.
Manager Julian said at the final whistle: “We had a gameplan; they pressed us high and made it hard for us, but we executed what we had worked on and punished them when we got the opportunities.”
The in-form away side travelled to Hertfordshire in good spirits after recent victories over Eastbourne Borough and Chippenham Town and started the brighter of the two sides.
Jack Taylor headed into the side netting at the far post to almost recreate his goal against Eastbourne last time out at The Bev, before Vilhete tried an audacious lob on the half-volley which looped just wide of the backtracking Craig King’s goal.
But on 11 minutes Hampton & Richmond found a deserved breakthrough: after The Tudors were caught on the ball in their own half, Vilhete had the presence of mind to play in the onrushing Williams, who had just the goalkeeper to beat. There would only be one outcome, as The Beavers’ #31 rolled the ball calmly into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
The latter stages of the first half saw few clear-cut opportunities on goal but The Beavers remained in control, keeping the ball well then showing grit with some sturdy defending as the home side pressed forward just before half-time.
As has been the case on a few occasions this season, Hampton & Richmond really turned on the style after the break and had blown away their opponents before the hour mark.
Roberts doubled the away side’s lead just three minutes after the restart, finishing at the second bite of the cherry after King saved his first strike. It was a goal which was all of his own making, as Roberts capitalised on a loose touch to beat the defence and run through on goal. As James said himself during the celebrations, he will be claiming both the goal and the assist for that one.
Just minutes later it was 3-0 and surely another three points for Julian’s boys. It was another defensive error which allowed The Beavers through on goal – a common theme on a difficult day at the office for Hemel – this time Vilhete profiting to find the net. The midfielder showed class to bring down a short back header by the home defence, rounding the goalkeeper with ease to rifle the ball home in front of the ecstatic away support.
Vilhete almost scored his second soon after with a spectacular diving header, King keeping it out equally impressively with a flying save before Archy Taylor fired over.
With 20 minutes to play, The Beavers added insult to injury with a sealing fourth goal. George Hunt played Williams over the top down the left, who nonchalantly backheeled the ball into Vilhete. He in turn squared to Roberts, who rolled in his seventh goal of the season with a style which was reminiscent of the whole 90 minutes.
And that was how it finished, as The Beavers played out the final stages confidently before heading back to TW12 with a third successive victory which puts us just six points off the playoffs.
There was still time for one more nice moment before the final whistle though, as academy product Callum O’Keeffe came on late on to make his National League South debut for The Beavers.
Next up we face Aveley at Beveree Stadium on November 23rd, where Julian’s men will hope to continue this impressive winning streak in front of a packed home crowd. Purchase your tickets for the match HERE.