On Tuesday 21st October, Hampton & Richmond Borough host Hemel Hempstead Town to the Bev.
The Beavers will look to bounce back after a heartbreaking defeat last time out after visitors Weston-Super-Mare snatched a victory with the final touch of the match.
It was another good performance but bad result for the home side who created plenty of chances, especially when switching to a four at the back with left-sided centre back Charlie Sayers pushing up to the base of the midfield five minutes in.
This switch gave HRBFC a man overload in the midfield at times and the Beavers controlled the pace of play for most of the match.
Midfielder Mike Atkinson renewed his good relationship with the Beveree faithful, putting in a trademark solid performance in midfield, winning the ball back frequently and turning defence into attack.
The overall midfield performance was very strong for the home side, with second half substitutes Alfie Tuck, Sam Deadfield, and Rohan Ince all impressing when they came on.
In his post-match interview manager Alan Julian said he “thought 'Incey' was outstanding. That’s almost like a new signing for us now.”
The Seagulls were kept in it by their star keeper Max Harris, who made two especially good saves either side of half time, the first to deny Soul Kader from close range, and then tipping a long-range curling effort from Craig Fasanmade over the bar and out of danger in the 86th minute.
Despite the team reacting well to his absence, a large takeaway from the match was the injury to centre-back and captain Alan Massey.
Five minutes into the second half a testing ball over the top was played towards Weston forward Louis Britton. Massey recovered well initially but then crumpled to the ground holding his hamstring. From the looks of it, it seems to be a strain or tear, but there has been no confirmation of the severity just yet.
The team did well to respond to a big moment in losing their captain who has been vital not only in his defensive duties but as a vocal leader from the back.
Harry Gardner was given the captain’s armband and made a good account of himself for the remaining 40 minutes.
Despite the gutting nature of the loss, Julian had a cerebral reaction in his post-match interview saying, “After reflecting, we’ve lost one point. It’s not the end of the world. We pick ourselves up, [and go] into Tuesday.”
Hemel Hempstead are coming off a loss themselves, falling to AFC Totton 1-2 away from home.
Before that loss they were unbeaten in nine matches, winning five with the last three coming in a row.
They sit sixth in the league on nineteen points, three points and four places above our own accounts.
The Tudors have only lost twice in the league and are through to the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in eleven years after besting Yeovil Town 2-1 in Hertfordshire. They will travel to Greater Manchester to face League One side Wigan Athletic.
They have kept seven clean sheets from fifteen attempts in all competitions this season, and experienced National League South goalkeeper Michael Johnson joined in the summer from St Albans City.
At the other end the pitch they have shared goalscoring responsibilities between a few, but 20-year-old striker Millar Matthews-Lewis leads the way for the Tudors with eight goals in all competitions and six in the league.
Two players who used to call Beveree home are now turning out for Hemel in Jake Gray and Mauro Vilhete.
Gray spent six years at the Bev, making over 150 league appearances between 2019 and 2025. In the 22/23 season he featured in every single league match for Hampton & Richmond Borough. He has turned out for Hemel on nine occasions this season, nabbing one assist.
São Tomé and Príncipe international Vilhete spent last season with the Beavers, picking up eleven goals and five assists along the way. He has made seven appearances in the National League South this season.
The overall head-to-head between the two sides skews the way of Tuesday’s away side. Out of seventeen matches played they have won nine and HRBFC have won four.
Last season both ties were won by the away side, with Hemel victorious at the Bev in March of this year 1-2, and earlier that season Hampton & Richmond Borough routed the Tudors at their palace 4-0.
After a disappointing loss this Saturday, Alan Julian will be eager to use that disappointment as fuel to get back to winning ways and recapture the form which had the Beavers flying during the opening months of the season.
Over the last three home matches the average attendance has been 1092 which is amazing. We will need all of you and more Tuesday night under the lights so grab a mate and get your tickets now using this link.
Up the Beavers!
By Jack Lonergan