On Saturday August 16th, Hampton and Richmond Borough travel to Dorking Wanderers for their first away fixture of the season.
The Beavers did well to come away with a hard-earned point at home to Salisbury in the opening match of the season.
The match was played at a high tempo for much of the first half with lots of pressing and play on the transition from both teams, but in the hot August sun, the game eventually settled into a rhythm which saw Salisbury dominate possession. Despite this, Hampton and Richmond defended well, with the back four of goalkeeper James Holden and centre-backs Alan Massey, Harry Thomas and Charlie Sayers particularly impressing.
Naturally, there was space on the counter which produced notable opportunities for the Beavers. Ten minutes into the second half, a searching channel ball forward from Sayers found left wing-back Craig Fasanmade. His cross almost caught the Salisbury ‘keeper Will Buse off guard and luckily for him, it grazed the crossbar and went over. There were further opportunities most notably for midfielder Harry Gardner on two occasions.
In the 73rd minute Paul Field threaded a ball through to Ronan Silva, who rolled his man superbly before playing in Gardner who saw his low shot blocked by the feet of Buse. In the 85th, Gardner was brought down in the box to massive appeals form the home supports, but referee Kai Morgan had adjudicated that Hampton and Richmond old boy Mike Atkinson had timed his challenge well.
In the ninth and final minute of added time, Salisbury forward Ollie Bray had the 3 points on the leather of his boot as he fired a wicked shot towards the bottom corner. Goalkeeper Holden pushed in around the post at full stretch to ensure Hamptons defensive efforts on the day were to be adequately rewarded and ensure he finished with his first clean sheet of the season.
Dorking Wanderers opened their account for the 25/26 season with a 2-2 draw away from home at Chippenham Town. Last season’s sixth placed side found themselves two-nil down at half time.
Only six minutes in Chippenham Town capitalised on a defensive error as a Dorking full back let the ball run. The winger played it across to striker Harry parsons who lashed home a wicked half volley. Only fifteen minutes later, Dorking’s goalkeeper came out to head a long ball and got it all wrong sending it straight up in the air. A Dorking defender tried to rectify the situation, but did the same thing, and with the goal gaping Parsons made no mistake in doubling the home side’s lead.
The second half started uneventfully, but Dorking halved the deficit from a corner as defender Brennan Camp rose highest to tuck it home with 63 minutes gone.
Chippenham had two further chances to secure the win from a goalmouth scramble on 90 minutes and then a counterattack a minute later, but were denied by two good stops from goalkeeper Will Henry.
In the 98th minute, the equaliser arrived from Rutherford who smashed home a driven cross from close range to salvage a point for the visitors.
Manager Mark White spoke to his club’s media post-match stating, “We afforded them [Chippenham] too many turnovers trying to carry [the ball] on a difficult pitch,”
“We were wasteful in the first half, but to go two behind with the wind blowing a gale, on a very difficult day to get the ball down, on a hard summer’s pitch, I thought we[‘ve] done really well to come back and get a point.”
Hampton and Richmond last travelled to Meadowbank Stadium on April 18th of this year where Dorking came away 4-2 winners after a hat-trick from Charlie Carter in the opening six minutes.
It is sure to be a tough test for Alan Julian’s men, but they can feel galvanised by a good defensive showing against Salisbury and will look to take their confidence to their matchup against the Surrey side and bring three points back to Hampton.
If you want to support the Beavers on the travels to Dorking this Saturday, the 16th of August be sure to buy your away tickets here.
Our next home fixture is the 23rd of August when the Bev welcomes Dagenham & Redbridge. Get your tickets for all home fixtures here.
Up The Beavers
By Jack Lonergan.