Hampton & Richmond v Aveley Match Report

By Jon Harland

Hampton & Richmond secured their fifth consecutive win after defeating Aveley 2-0 at the Beveree Stadium, as the Beavers moved four points off the play-off spots.

James Roberts had a penalty saved in a fairly uneventful first half, but Kristian Campbell and Mike Atkinson each scored a screamer after the break.

This fixture marked the club’s Movember celebration game, and before kick off, everyone in the Bev took part in a minute’s ‘non-silence’ where fans were encouraged to clap, cheer, and chat with the person next to them. The aim was to celebrate everything Movember stands for; to reach out, speak up, and make some noise.

The Millers started the brighter of the two sides, pressing aggressively and forcing some smart blocks from the home team’s defence.

David Kawa went down in the box within the opening 10 minutes, but the referee waved away the Aveley appeals for a penalty.

It was a blustery, wet afternoon in TW12, impacting the play as crosses and clearances looped erratically, disrupting the rhythm of the early exchanges.

Hampton & Richmond grew into the first half after a cagey start and began dictating play with some tidy passing.

The game’s first opportunity went to Jake Gray who picked the ball up in a good position and shot just wide of the post after 23 minutes.

The Beavers were awarded a penalty in the 35th minute after Gray’s corner kick struck the hand of an Aveley player.

Roberts stepped up to the spot and aimed for the bottom right corner but couldn’t claim his ninth goal of the season after Carey Bloedorn pulled off a spectacular save.

Hampton & Richmond exploded out of the blocks after the interval, with Alfie Williams’ wicked ball across the six-yard box a sign of things to come, albeit not met by a teammate.

Campbell put the Beavers 1-0 up with a sensational effort early in the second half, curling the ball into the top right corner, clipping the post on the way in.

Gray and Campbell came close to doubling the lead shortly after, while ex-Beaver Razzaq Coleman De-Graft volleyed just wide at the other end.

Kawa nipped into the box in the 70th minute to meet an onrushing Curd, who smothered the ball and was hurt in the process, but the Chelsea loanee was able to continue.

The chances kept coming for the home side, as Mauro Vilhete forced a save from Bloedorn in what was a dominant second-half display.

Atkinson unleashed a bullet of a strike from 25 yards past the helpless Aveley keeper to put the Beavers 2-0 up in the 75th minute.

Alan Julian made use of his substitutes, and as the weather conditions worsened, his side continued to cause issues for the Millers until the final whistle.

Hampton & Richmond move up to 10th in the National League South after marking their fourth league win on the bounce and fifth in all competitions, while Aveley remain second from bottom.

The Beavers have the opportunity to extend their winning streak on Tuesday, 26 November when they head up to 12th-placed Chesham United.