On Tuesday October 14th Hampton & Richmond Borough travel to northwest London to take on Rayner’s Lane FC in the opening match of our Middlesex Senior Cup campaign.
The Beavers will be looking to bounce back after losing two matches in a row for the first time this season after bowing out of the FA Cup at home to Eastleigh last Saturday.
A positive opening twenty minutes saw on-loan striker Soul Kader hit the post and have further efforts blocked, and a volley from left back Jude Mason was well saved by the opposition keeper Townsend.
In the 27th minute Eastleigh opened the scoring through a wonderful volley from Jake Vokins. A second quickly followed before half time and it left too great mountain for HRBFC to climb in the second half.
Luckily the quick turnaround is an opportunity for Alan Julian’s men to bounce back and get back to winning ways against step 4 side Rayner’s Lane FC.
Rayner’s Lane FC are members of the Southern League Division One Central and have not started their season in good form. After eight games they sit bottom of the table, conceding a league most 24 goals while scoring a league least seven. Their last result was a 0-4 home defeat to Hertford.
This tournament is traditionally one in which The Beavers can rotate their squad and give opportunities to those coming back from injury or who are otherwise struggling for minutes. Figures like Ben Parkinson who returned from his loan at Kingstonian was in the matchday squad both against Slough Town and Eastleigh. The 18-year-old may be in line for a rare start.
Midfielder Rohan Ince was on the bench in the FA Cup and could get some more minutes under his belt as he continues to walk the long road to recovery.
Following on his debut, U18 graduate Finn McGreevy would also fancy his chances of featuring, as well as a few others from the U18s.
The most exciting potential addition to the starting lineup is the (not so new) signing of midfielder Mike Atkinson, who has returned to TW12 following the termination of his contract by mutual consent at Salisbury FC.
Hampton & Richmond Borough have not won the Middlesex Senior Cup since the 2016/17 season, where they defeated Wealdstone 1-0. However, Rayner’s Lane FC have won the last two editions of the tournament on the bounce, beating Hanwell Town and Hayes and Yeading respectively.
Last season The Beavers fell to Harrow Borough 4-5 on penalties, and in the year before Tuesday’s opponents ran out 4-0 victors at the same stage.
Tuesday’s fixture will provide many players with an opportunity to impress the manager and get their fitness back before another tough game at Beveree Stadium this Saturday when high-flying Weston-Super-Mare come to southwest London.
Secure your tickets to the next home match here.
Up The Beavers.
By Jack Lonergan