On Saturday February 14th Hampton & Richmond Borough welcome the Clarets of Chelmsford City.
The Beavers made it four games unbeaten midweek as they left the Focus Community Arena with all three points after a Brendan Kiernan brace and Nana Boateng goal were more than enough to see off seventh-placed Hemel Hempstead Town.
But in the National League South, there is no time to dwell on past successes as the next challenge is always right around the corner, and this weekend it comes in the shape of 13th-placed Chelmsford.
The Clarets’ league position is deceiving as they have only played 27 games, and if they were to win all their games in hand, they could climb as high as fifth.
Their recent form is good reading for Saturday’s away fans too, as they have four league wins from their last six. However, Chelmsford is yet to play a match in February as all three of their scheduled fixtures in recent weeks have been postponed.
In January they recorded wins against Weston-Super-Mare, Horsham, and Tonbridge Angels, but in their most recent outing they fell 5-0 away to Slough Town.
Out of the top thirteen teams, The Clarets have scored the joint fewest goals as well as conceding the joint most, but it is worth remembering they have contested the fewest matches of those thirteen.
Their top scorer is former longtime Championship striker Lyle Taylor, who has eleven goals and two assists in all competitions. Most recently he scored the winner against Tonbridge Angels but was not in the Clarets squad on the 31st of January against Slough.
Midfielder Jason Adigun scored an excellent backheel for the only goal of the reverse fixture this season, and has five goals in seventeen league appearances since joining Chelmsford from National League North side Kidderminster Harriers.
It will be a reunion for centre back David Longe-King who of course joined Hampton and Richmond Borough from Chelmsford in January after appearing nineteen times in the league for the Clarets.
It is worth noting midfielder Taylor Clark will most likely not be allowed to face his parent club this weekend.
There are plenty of interesting narratives going into this one. The Beavers are in their best run of form since the beginning of the season as they search for five unbeaten, Chelmsford have not played since the last day of January, and it will be the Luis Fernandez’s second home debut after his spectacular return and great performance away to Hemel.
You don’t want to miss it! We can’t guarantee the late late show, but Chelmsford have contested the joint-fewest amount of draws in the league, so that is another sign we could be in for a cracker!
Come and show some love to your local club and get yourself down to the Bev this Valentine’s Day. Pints are reduced until 14:30 and season ticket holders bring a guest for free! Grab your ticket HERE!
Up the Beavers!
By Jack Lonergan