This Saturday 28th March, 18th-placed Hampton & Richmond Borough travel to East London to take on 12th-placed Dagenham & Redbridge.
Last time out it was a dream debut for Daniel Nkrumah against Horsham. The striker who joined from Worthing on loan earlier in the week scored a second-half brace in front of over 1,000 at the Bev on a beautifully sunny day to secure a 2-0 win for his side.
The Daggers won their last match against Torquay United at home, but by their lofty expectations it has been a disappointing campaign so far in their first season at Step Two since they were in the Isthmian League Premier Division in 1999/2000.
In recent weeks they have recorded three wins, two losses and a draw but in an effort to salvage their diminishing chances of a playoff spot, they relieved Lee Bradbury of his managerial duties on March 18th.
Marquee summer signing Andy Carroll was announced as interim manager, and the clash with the Beavers will be his second game in charge after that home win over Torquay.
The Daggers will be hoping the former Premier League striker will have a bigger impact on the touchline than he did on the pitch, where he has been restricted to just 12 league appearances due to various injuries and suspensions, despite having a strike rate of a goal every other game.
In front of goal, it has not been a productive season for Saturday’s home side. They have the lowest tally of goals scored of the teams in the top half with just 51, scoring only two more than ourselves despite the five-team, thirteen-point gap.
When they have scored, more often than not forward Joe Haigh has been involved. He has eight goals and five assists in the league so far, most recently bagging against his old side Farnborough in a 3-2 away win on March 17th.
At the other end of the pitch, young Grenadian international Kayden Harrack will be one to watch. Comfortable at either centreback or in midfield, the 22-year-old has been an ever-present for his side, scoring one of his four league goals this season against the Beavers in the reverse fixture.
Our last visit to Dagenham & Redbridge's Victoria Road was during the 1999/00 season. On Friday 12th November 1999, when we were on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline.
Later that season, the Daggers would win the Isthmian League, Premier Division at Beveree Stadium, in April 2000, seeing them return to the Conference.
Last time against the Daggers It was a then-typical late late show early in the season, with Paul Field nabbing a winner in the 97th minute at the Bev back in August.
In a groundbreaking move, this match will be broadcast live on new minority investor KSI’s Youtube channel for free this Saturday.
If you are not travelling to support the Beavers in person, be sure to follow all the action as it happens live on his channel and show the chat and other viewers why Hampton are massive!
Then, get ready to return to the Bev for another tasty clash as we welcome a Farnborough side desperate for some good fortune on Good Friday April 3rd.
Secure your tickets for that one HERE!
Up The Beavers!
By Jack Lonergan