Debutant Daniel Nkrumah left the Bev bouncing after his two goals granted Hampton & Richmond Borough all three points over Horsham on Saturday, the 2-0 victory all but securing another season in the division.
Nkrumah only had to wait until the 50th minute to open his account for the Beavers. The striker received the ball with his back to goal, rolled his man along the edge of the box and slipped the ball past the keeper’s near post.
Only 20 minutes later the new signing doubled his lead, this time midfielder Max Kretzschmar cutting the ball back from the byline for the lurking Nkrumah to slot home the chance putting any doubt about the result out of the question.
HRBFC sat in the driver’s seat for the majority of the game, with the visitors unable to create any real chances. Their only real opportunity came half an hour in from a corner, which was spectacularly saved by goalkeeper Marcus Dewhurst, who earned his second clean sheet for the club.
The Beavers’ cool display matched the crisp air and clear blue skies of the game. Horsham were unable to really provide any challenge to the defensive back three of Alan Massey, David Longe-King, and Luis Fernandez.
Composure remained the key theme of the day defensively, with every half chance stopped and cleaned up. Possession was somewhat easy to come by for the home side as it never took them long to regain the ball, in part thanks to their defensive competence.
Whilst the on-pitch performance remained cool and calm, the off-pitch performance was much more lively. The Bev faithful gathered behind the goal to provide the afternoon’s soundtrack. The metronome of drums paired with youthful signing helped create a complete spectacle for all in attendance.
On a different day, it could have been three to the Beavers. Luis Fernandez had put the ball in the back of the net in the 20th minute, but the linesman's flag went up and the goal was overturned. Horsham took the free kick immediately, looking to catch HRBFC off guard, but captain Massey was on hand to deal with the danger.
Seven minutes after the second goal, HRBFC had a muddle of chances to score, with the ball whipping across the six-yard box twice in the space of 30 seconds. Any contact goalwards surely would have been a third, but no one was on hand.
Pressure was constantly on the visitors right from kick-off, with Horsham being unable to clear their lines for any longer than 30 seconds at a time. HRBFC dominated the territory in the game, and even when the visitors could stop an attack, the ball was quickly recycled and rarely left the final third, let alone the half.
Wing-backs Leone Gravata and the returning Kai Innocent looked to be the focal point of danger for Horsham, but could never create anything of real substance for the visitors. Gravata went down in the box with 15 minutes left of the game, protesting for a penalty, but the referee awarded a corner and had no interest in overturning his decision.
Overall it was a brilliant advertisement for Non-league football from the pitch, to the stands, and everything in between.
The Beavers are back in action this weekend on Non-League Day as HRBFC travel to face Dagenham & Redbridge.
They are back at the Bev on Good Friday April 3rd to face Farnborough, tickets for that one are HERE!
And if you can't wait 'til Thursday to get your HRBFC fix, be sure to head down to Bedfont Sports Club this Thursday March 26th to watch the IYL U18s take on Northwood FC U18s in the Middlesex Senior Youth Cup!
Up the Beavers
By Jake Holmes