On Tuesday 19th August Hampton and Richmond Borough travel to Gallagher Stadium to face Maidstone United.
The Beavers will look to continue their good form on the road following an excellent performance and result away to Dorking Wanderers. The 3-0 win was their largest away win since beating Hemel Hempstead 4-0 on the 9th of November 2024, and was the first time Dorking had conceded 3 goals at home since the 19th of October 2024.
Despite the scoreline it was a tireless defensive display from Hampton and Richmond for their second consecutive clean sheet. The home side dominated the ball for the whole match, with unrelenting deliveries into the box headed away or cleared by the centre backs all game. Captain Alan Massey was particularly pivotal as he cleared his lines time and time again and marshalled his team well, making sure the Beavers were not pinned back deeper into their own half as the match went on.
The cast of characters upfront had to work very hard chasing lost causes, fighting for second balls, and pressing a Dorking backline who often ventured forwards and looked to play through the lines. Right back Brennan Camp was the home sides most potent attacking threat in the first half when he marauded forward to combine with forwards Alfie Rutherford, James Prior, and winger Jimmy Muitt.
As they played a high line, there was space to exploit in behind for Hampton and Richmond and they did just that in the 22nd minute when Ronan Silva found space on the right-hand side and drove a low cross across the penalty area looking for his strike partner Craig Fasanmade. The ball was intercepted by defender Camp, but his outstretched boot could only turn it into his own net.
It was the perfect start for the Beavers who defended diligently to head into the break a goal to the good. As Dorking got more desperate in searching for their equalizer, more space opened up in behind. In the 86th Minute, Hampton and Richmond got their reward as a long throw by Nathan Paul-Lavaly put substitute Reece Grego-Cox through on goal. He saw the Dorking keeper off his line and pulled off and audacious lob to all-but secure the three points for the visitors.
Three minutes later another substitute Davide Rodari was played through by his partner Grego-Cox, and he made no mistake as he slipped the ball under the keeper’s legs. A just reward for the good number of travelling fans who made the short trip to Surrey.
Off the back of that performance right wing back Paul-Lavaly was included in the National League Paper’s team of the week, and Manager Alan Julian was too. A great team performance and our second consecutive clean sheet say goalkeeper James Holden appear in the National League team of the week too.
As for our opponents, last season’s 7th placed-side Maidstone United have opened their account with two consecutive draws to Hemel Hempstead and Torquay United respectively.
Maidstone scored within 7 minutes and were only denied their first win of the season by a penalty in the 5th minute of added time against one of the promotion favourites in Torquay.
Manager George Ekolobi in a post-match interview called it a “top-notch performance,” adding “I thought the quality was there [to get the three points]”. He put the late equaliser down to game management, reminding people that Maidstone have a new-look squad with 18 signings being added over the summer.
Despite only having two points, the ‘Stones could have easily won both games being pegged back in added time in each match. They are expected to be a strong side during this National League South season and will provide a stern test for the Beavers on Tuesday night.
If you want to travel with the team to watch them take on Maidstone get your tickets here.
And make sure to support the Beavers when they return to the Bev this Saturday against Dagenham and Redbridge by securing your tickets here.
By Jack Lonergan