Hampton & Richmond Borough 2 – 1 Wealdstone

Hampton & Richmond Borough

2 - 1

Wealdstone

KO: 0:00 | Sat 16th Apr ’05

Up until half time Hampton failed to threaten Wealdstone in this match, their only real efforts being a shot across the front of goal and a couple of corners, as Stones playing 4-4-2 with Brian Jones wide on the right took the game to their opponents who are almost certain of a play-off place.

Jolly saw an early header pushed away by the home custodian, and McKeown hit a volley from 30 yards only just wide as Stones pushed forward at every opportunity.

A free kick on 36 minutes was swung in by Brian Jones and met by Robin Tucker who steered the ball into the net to give Stones a deserved lead, and two minutes later, he met a corner at pace, his header only inches over the bar, but as it was the score remained 1-0 at half time.

The second half started in similar fashion, though chances were at a premium, but a double substitution on 57 minutes changed the game. Gardner and Fontana came on for the home side to replace the ineffective Paquette and Lewington and this brightened up the home side who had their best spell of the match. Their equaliser however was fortunate – Stones were on the attack from a corner and Tucker was bundled off the ball almost in the corner by the Hampton goal-line. A quick ball forward as no free kick was given wrong footed the Stones defence and Godfrey broke free to beat Andy Carter from close in on the hour.

The game remained even though, and Stones could have retaken the lead had a Brian Jones effort after good work from Carter and Jolly hit the mark, and Jolly himself saw a good effort saved. McKeown also went close, his shot just curling wide. With Martin Carter as a makeshift forward it was unfortunate that a lot of the lose balls broke to ‘his’ side rather than Jolly’s but that is the way of the game…

On 85 minutes Hampton made the best of a poor ball from Dave Ryan and Gary Burrell being caught in possession as they broke again, this time Fontana got behind the defence and he too made no mistake with a shot from 10 yards. It was hard on Wealdstone who had deserved a draw at least, but a worrying run of seven games without a win, despite a good performance, now leaves them dangerously close to relegation with only two games to go.