On Friday December 26th Hampton & Richmond Borough travel to Hampshire to take on Farnborough.
Last time out the Beavers earned a point at home to Maidstone United in the final home match of 2025, earning Alan Dowson his first point in his second stint as HRBFC manager.
It was goalkeeper Matt Rowley’s third clean sheet in nine games, a very impressive record especially in light of recent results.
Our Boxing Day bout comes against a Farnborough team who were soundly beaten last time out, losing to an in-form Worthing side. They did suffer from serious illness within the squad and put out a much-weakened side.
They currently sit three points above ourselves in 18th, but we have a game in hand.
Their heavy defeat was not an anomaly as Boro have conceded the most goals in the league, shipping 43. They have conceded five on two occasions and three or more a further five times.
Despite this, they have achieved some impressive results. Before defeat to Worthing, they hadn’t lost since the 25th of November, earning a pair of draws against Ebbsfleet and Chippenham before emerging victorious over AFC Totton 4-2 and Salisbury 1-0.
Earlier in the season they recorded impressive wins and clean sheets over Dorking and Maidenhead too.
The Yellows’ have two very capable strikers up front. The first is Rakish Bingham. The summer signing has seven goals in eighteen starts and is a former National League South Champion with Ebbsfleet United in 2023. He made 157 appearances for the Fleet, scoring 55 times.
His long-time strike partner Dominic Poleon joined him at Farnborough and has netted ten times in 23 appearances. In that same 22/23 campaign he was named the National League South player of the season. He left Ebbsfleet this summer to join Farnborough after an equally if not more impressive record of 81 goals in 167 games across four seasons.
He is a St Lucian international, scoring a hat-trick in his second cap against Saint Martin in September 2023.
They both have scored against the beavers in the past, including in a 6-2 at the hands of Ebbsfleet in the 22/23 season. Poleon scored a hat-trick and Bingham added the fourth in the heavy defeat.
But HRBFC have some newfound firepower of their own, with attacking midfielder and assistant manager Max Kretzschmar anticipated to make his debut, as well as other new signing Brendan Kiernan looking to make his second consecutive start since his return.
It will be a good contest on the pitch, with Boro unbeaten at home since the 5th of November, and off the pitch, thanks to Guinness, visiting fans could be in with the chance of claiming a free pint of Guinness! Details Here.
The beavers will return to the Bev in the new year when we host Chesham United on January 3rd. Secure your tickets HERE!
Up the Beavers!