Hampton & Richmond stormed out the blocks against Farnborough, taking a dominant 2-0 lead within the opening 20 minutes in an eventual 3-1 victory for the Beavers at the Bev on Friday.
Striker Daniel Nkrumah opened the scoring just 12 minutes in, heading home a cross from midfielder Max Kretzschmar before Kwaku Frimpong wrapped his foot around the ball from just outside the box and caressed it into the top right corner just four minutes later.
The home support, who had rallied the team onto the pitch, erupted and created a cauldron for the rest of the game.
Taking a 2-0 lead,HRBFC settled into the game. The passing became crisper, movement became more assured, and the defence looked more comfortable. Centre backs Luis Fernandez, Aaron Lacey, and captain Alan Massey never looked troubled in the first 45, dealing with all chances easily.
When Farnborough did win the ball, they couldn’t keep it, leading to some head tennis and the ball ping-ponging between the two sides before HRBFC eventually took control of possession and started to play through the lines again.
Farnborough just couldn’t get a foothold in the game, and changed tactics in the first half, switching to a back four having started with a back three.
Their halftime substitutions of captain Ollie Robinson and Wes Fonguck coming off for Rakish Bingham and Connor Cullen highlighted the gap between the two sides.
Initially, the changes worked well for the visitors who took control after the break.
Hampton & Richmond had to take a back seat as Farnborough got out to a good start, with Bingham proving to be a handful for the defence.
The tide was turning.
For all the visitors’ efforts, HRBFC remained the better side. Lacey knocked home a cross from Kretzschmar on the stroke of the hour, but the referee blew and prevented the Beavers from taking a three-nil lead, for all of eight minutes.
Nkrumah popped up again to provide the third goal of the day for HRBFC, all but securing the three points for the Beavers. Strike partner Brendan Kiernan played through the new signing who placed the ball into the far corner.
Bingham responded instantly, wrong-footing goalkeeper Marcus Dewhurst and slipping the ball through a mix of bodies to get a consolation goal for Farnborough just two minutes after the game had seemingly been put out of reach.
Spirits remained high, but the goal served as a good reminder not to get too carried away. A calm, measured approach took over HRBFC who tried to retain possession for the remainder of the game, knocking the ball about with purpose and refusing to overreact to Farnborough attacks.
The wind played a factor in the last 20, with Massey’s clearances getting held up in the air and goalkeepers struggling to distribute the ball. This may have inspired a little more head’s tennis as the ball pinged between the two sides.
In the closing moments, winger Hakeem Sandah burns down the right-hand side and is taken out in the box by Lacey, the referee instantly awarding the penalty. Dewhurst collects the ball, but fullback Toby Bower takes issue with this and gets physical to relieve Dewhurst of it.
Dewhurst goes down and requires some medical attention before the penalty can be taken. The ‘keeper returned to his feet to face Bingham’s strike. Dewhurst launches himself into the air and pounds away the penalty to stop Farnborough getting a second.
The defence jump on the goalkeeper in celebration, who turns to the fans, equally as riled up in euphoria. The full-time whistle goes and it secures the three points for the Beavers. The day ended with Eduino Vaz, Daniel Nkrumah and a host of others dancing in front of a jubilant home end.
What a day at the Bev, and the next one proves to be just as good!
We face Chippenham Town at home on the 11th of April, secure your tickets for that one HERE!
By Jake Holmes