Alan Julian’s first league match as Hampton & Richmond manager ended in defeat, as Hornchurch scored three times in the second half to turn the game around at Beveree Stadium. 

James Roberts had given The Beavers the lead early on from the penalty spot, but Hornchurch hit back with a blitz of three goals in thirteen second-half minutes, ensuring their first match back in the National League South after promotion ended in victory.  

Hampton & Richmond played some great football and were arguably the better side for the first hour, but Hornchurch’s equaliser on 73 minutes proved to be the turning point in the match. The away side took full advantage of a swing in momentum and went on to win comfortably in the end.

Beavers manager Julian spoke after the game of the good first half he saw from his side, but gave the away side credit for how they changed things after the break.  

He said: “Second half they were putting us under pressure, and when their first goal went in it hit us hard. That’s something we have to learn; you need to roll your sleeves up and come back fighting”.  

Excitement was in the air in TW12 prior to kick-off, with the Beavers faithful hopeful for a positive start to the new season, buoyed by an impressive end to our pre-season fixtures. 

The starting 11 fielded by Julian included nine new signings, but there were no signs of teething problems as the home side dominated large parts of the first half, creating several good openings and limiting Hornchurch to only the rare half-chance at the other end. 

On 13 minutes, The Beavers were presented with the perfect opportunity to take the lead, after a brilliant passage of play culminated in a penalty being awarded.  

Jaden Brissett and Kris Campbell combined down the left-hand side, with the latter finding Beavers captain Odei Martin Sorondo, who twisted effortlessly past two Hornchurch defenders to make his way into the box, before he was scythed down by Charlee Adams. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot. 

Roberts stepped up to take the penalty on the first appearance of his second spell at Hampton & Richmond, and coolly slotted the ball down the centre of the net to open the scoring. 

Hornchurch showed glimpses in the first half, their best chance being when Angelo Balanta struck powerfully from the edge of the box. But loanee goalkeeper Ted Curd was equal to it, with an outstanding save to show just why he was brought in from Chelsea over the summer. 

The Beavers went into the break 1-0 up, a lead which manager Julian felt was well merited: “If you had turned it off at half-time, you would have gone away thinking we would win by two or three. But it is a game of two halves, and credit to Hornchurch”.  

Hampton & Richmond were generally comfortable in the first period, and the second half began in a similar fashion, an even affair with little goalmouth action. 

Hornchurch posed a threat on the break but looked unlikely to get back in the game until less than 20 minutes from time, when Liam Nash broke in behind and finished under pressure from Campbell. 

From there the tide turned. Adams struck from distance into the roof of the net to make up for his conceded penalty and give his side the lead, before Nash finished off the contest with four minutes remaining, sliding home after good work by Sean Scannell down the left. 

Hornchurch were reduced to ten men in the final moments when Nathan Green was dismissed for a second booking in quick succession, but it would be to no avail as the away side held on for victory. 

In truth Hampton & Richmond had struggled to respond after the first opposition goal went in, and Hornchurch created further opportunities late on as the game became stretched.  

The boss conceded at full-time that this new squad still has things to learn: “We’re a very young group, and we have to learn quickly because it’s an unforgiving league. There are things I saw in the second half that we need to improve on, and that’s what our job is to do”.