A late Dean Inman strike ensured the Beavers did not go home empty handed after a tight affair in Dartford
Both teams had their moment to win the game, but in the end each side had to settle for a point in this early season clash. Three previous Hampton players in Block, Miller-Rodney and Barzey lined up in the Darts Starting XI.
It was Block who reminded Hampton & Richmond fans of why he was so popular in his short time at the club, with a beautiful whipped cross requiring a clearance from Luis Fernandez. The visitors were quick to respond, Wishart, with a superb interception, charged upfield before laying off Rob Hall, whose cross was headed out for a corner. Fernandez was involved again when he timed his challenge on Coulson to perfection to break up a dangerous counter-attack.
Adam Desbois made the save of the night when Barzey controlled the ball inside 10 yards. The winger struck the ball well, and somehow at point blank range, the former Brighton academy 'Keeper got a strong enough hand on it to tip it over.
Just minutes before the break, Desbois' efforts would feel wasted, when Bradbury headed home from another delightful Tommy Block cross to send the hosts in front.
After the break, it was Dartford with most of the chances. Barzey, Miller-Rodney and Bradbury all having a go at being saved by Desbois and missing the target. The Beavers looked to try and build momentum, but the hosts cleared up well whenever they were dispossessed.
It took until well within the final minutes for Alfy Whittingham, Ruaridh Donaldson and Isaac Pitblado to enter the fray. Until the last ten minutes, it looked like Dartford were destined to hold out or even add another to seal the points.
Step up Dean Inman. A corner from Rob Hall was poorly dealt with, and after what felt like an age of failed clearances, the ball pinged to our number four, just ten yards out. There was plenty of work to do with numerous shirts of all colours standing between him and the back of the net. Under pressure from multiple sides, Inman got his shot away as he fell to the ground, and the net bustled moments later with the visitors back on level terms.
Brandon Barzey was shown a straight red for a rash challenge on Ruaridh Donaldson, and in added time, the Beavers will feel unlucky not to have won it. Mason Bloomfield received the ball in the box from Whittingham, and saw his shot saved by McIntyre as the referee blew for full time.