Players from Hampton & Richmond (in red) and Wealdstone prepare to meet the dignitaries

The Beavers eventually lived up to the pre match tag as favourites, but only when they stopped the long ball game and started playing the attractive passing game we have come to know and love. In miserable, rainy conditions, both sides spent the first ten minutes settling into the game, and there were no efforts on goal until James Simmonds dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area just after the ten minute mark. Wealdstone’s first effort came two minutes later, Tom Pett forcing a good save from Craig Ross. For the next twenty minutes, it was the Isthmian side that looked more likely to score, as they easily dealt with Borough’s long ball game. Scott McGubbin fired over from the angle of the penalty area, and top scorer Richard Jolly had his first sight of goal, but his shot was blocked away for a corner.

Hampton attack down the right

It wasn’t until the last ten minutes of the half when Hampton got the ball on the deck and started to play their normal passing game, and it started to bear fruit in terms of goalscoring chances. Good interplay down the right from Ferrell and Collier ended with Ferrell cutting the ball back to James Simmonds, but his scuffed shot was repelled easily. Dave Tarpey then had two good chances in quick succession in the last five minutes of the half. The first was well blocked, the second from a narrow angle was powerfully driven in, but Wealdstone goalkeeper Ashlee Jones was on hand to beat it away. From the counter attack, teenager Kurtney Brooks fired over. There was time for one last goalbound attempt in first half stoppage time. Karle Andrews hit a sweet shot from just outside the box, which Jones tipped over. From the resulting corner, there was a bit of a scramble, but neither Tarpey nor Esmond James could get a vital touch to the ball. Half Time: Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 Wealdstone FC 0

The second half got underway, and the rain got heavier. Like the first half, it took ten minutes for a chance to be created. Pett drilled a low cross which caused havoc in the Hampton penalty area. The ball pinged around and there were at least two goalline clearances to keep the scoreline blank. On 57 minutes, Hampton were gifted with possibly their best chance so far. Ashlee Jones slipped when taking a goal kick, and the ball landed at the feet of Nathan Collier. He ran down the right wing and found Simmonds. Good play between him, Andrews and Josh Huggins ended with a shot from Huggins that Jones saved to redeem himself.

Wealdstone goalkeeper Ashlee Jones lines up his wall

Collier was starting to impose himself on the right wing, constantly causing the Wealdstone left back Alan Massey problems. On the hour, Borough manager Mark Harper made his first substitution, bringing on young forward Joe Bennett to replace Esmond James. Four minutes later, and Hampton were denied what looked like a clear penalty. Josh Huggins sneaked the ball away from a defender, who stuck his foot out and brought the midfielder down. Somehow, though, referee Steve Woodison waved the appeals away. Two minutes later, and substitute Bennett hit a good shot from the edge of the penalty area, which Jones just about kept out. He could have easily been deceived in the difficult conditions.

By this point, Hampton were dominating, and the chances kept coming. Tarpey had an effort blocked, and Andrews fired narrowly wide. The opening goal did eventually come, however, when James Simmonds blasted in from eighteen yards with sixteen minutes left. The Beavers’ fans went absolutely nuts behind the goal, celebrating with the players, believing that the goal could be the winner. Not long after the goal, and Harper made his second change, taking off captain Lewis Ferrell and replacing him with Joe Turner. This change saw Collier drop back to right back, and Turner play on the right wing. Ferrell has been struggling with a hamstring niggle, so hopefully the change was only precautionary.

Dave Tarpey is mobbed after netting the decisive second goal

With just eight minutes left, Dave Tarpey scored the second goal to put the game to bed, and Hampton’s name on the trophy. Simmonds knocked the ball over the Wealdstone defence, and Tarpey chased it down before controlling it on his chest and then hooking the ball superbly past Jones. It was a fine return to the team for Tarpey, as he has missed the previous three games through suspension. Tom Hickey came on to replace Andrews for the last five minutes, and there was time for one last shot from Tarpey in injury time, but he fired wide when he maybe should have pulled it back to the unmarked Bennett. I’m sure the Hampton fans forgive him though!

The win saw Hampton lift the trophy for the third time, and the first time in four years. This should now act as a springboard for the team to build on in their bid to avoid the drop in the Conference South.

Hampton & Richmond Borough 2
Simmonds 74, Tarpey 82

Wealdstone 0

Hampton: Ross, Ferrell(Turner 77), Johnson, Jeffries, Inman, Huggins, Collier, Andrews(Hickey 85), Tarpey, Simmonds, James(Bennett 60) Subs not used: Jenkins, Murray. 

Man Of The Match: Given to Dave Tarpey at the ground, but for me it was James Simmonds. He was involved in everything Hampton did, and deservedly got the opening goal.

The triumphant Hampton players celebrate with the fans after the match

The Winner's Medal

Hampton reached the final by beating Hendon FC, from the same division as Wealdstone, 3-2 at The Beveree Stadium in the semi final. I wrote the official match report for the club, which is why one wasn’t published on here. The official report can be found here. Wealdstone defeated North Greenford United 2-0 away, thanks to goals from Hicks and Fitzgerald. The Stones also boast Richard Jolly in their lineup. The 28 year old is one of the hottest properties in non-league right now, with an impressive return of 32 goals in as many appearances this season. The Beavers’ backline will have to be on their toes to deal with him in the final.

That’s not to say that Hampton don’t have goalscorers too. Dave Tarpey is the club’s top scorer, with 21 goals in all competitions, and the skilful striker has been a bright spot in the battle against relegation. Unfortunately, one of the club’s other strikers, Joel Ledgister, has suffered a serious injury. He has broken his kneecap, and will miss the rest of the season at least. It is a huge blow to  Borough manager Mark Harper, as Ledgister and Tarpey had formed an excellent understanding together.

Also for Hampton, Charlie Moone has been in good form recently, notching a hattrick against Truro City in the league. He also netted both goals against Hayes & Yeading in an earlier round of the competition. Wealdstone have enjoyed an excellent season in the cups, as they have also reached the FA Trophy semi final.

This will be a big test for Hampton, and should be an excellent match. There will be a report of the game on here as I will be at the match. I wouldn’t miss it for anything!

Road To The Final

Hampton & Richmond Borough

Round 1 – Bye

Round 2 – W 2-1 v Hayes & Yeading United

Quarter Final – W 3-2 v Bedfont Town

Semi Final – W 3-2 v Hendon FC

Wealdstone

Round 1 – W 4-3aet v Ashford Town (Middlesex)

Round 2 – W 6-0 v Enfield

Quarter Final – W 2-0 v AFC Hayes

Semi Final – W 2-0 v North Greenford United

This was my first visit to The Beveree Stadium since the Boxing Day defeat to Staines Town due to work and weather, and I was full of optimism, and a little excitement to be back at the ground. I was delighted to see that manager Mark Harper had selected as strong a team as he could have done, with the only absentees being the ineligible Joel Ledgister, who rejoined the club on a permanent deal the day before the match, and the injured Ruby and Collier.

The opponents for the game were Bedfont Town, who play in the Southern League Division One Central, two divisions below Hampton. Although, as the game unfolded, it became hard to distinguish which club plays at the higher level. Bedfont started the game brightly, with Sean Lucien causing all sorts of problems down the right wing. For the first few minutes, Hampton struggled to get out of their own penalty area, with Dean Inman making several blocks and tackles to stem the tide. Bedfont left back Joel Jacobs hit a good free kick which went straight to home keeper Craig Ross, before Lucien cracked a shot over from the right side of the penalty area.

It was eighteen minutes into the game before the home side started to get back into the match, and they scored the opening goal soon after. Tarpey chased a long bouncing bomb of a clearance, and even though he couldn’t get the ball under control, he still managed to get a shot away that forced the Bedfont keeper Gary Ross. From the resulting throw in, Charlie Moone fired a shot that deflected into the bottom right hand corner to give Hampton the lead against the run of play. It was the striker’s third goal in two games in the competition, having scored both goals to beat Hayes & Yeading United in the previous round.

Bedfont continued to dominate proceedings, and striker Reis Stanislaus embarked on a good run, but his final shot was hit tamely straight at Craig Ross. A couple of minutes later, and Hampton came very close to doubling their lead. Tarpey didn’t give up as he chased a long clearance that looked destined to go out of play and fired the ball across the six yard box. Unfortunately, Moone couldn’t quite get his toe to the ball and the chance went begging. It wasn’t long until Hampton did grab a second, though. Tarpey’s first shot was blocked, but he got to the loose ball and fired home from twelve yards to make it 2-0 after 33 minutes. There were a couple of other chances in the match, with Lucien firing a long ranger straight at Ross, and then Charlie Moone volleying wide after he latched onto a loose header. Half time came, though, and it was Hampton & Richmond Borough 2 Bedfont Town 0.

The second half kicked off in much the same vein as the first, with Bedfont proving to be much better in possession without really making it count. However, on 55 minutes, Joel Jacobs hit a spectacular free kick to halve the deficit. Craig Ross, at full stretch, had absolutely no chance as the ball hit the top corner of his net. This could have deflated the home side, but they were the ones to have the next chances, and indeed the next goal. A good move down the left involving Esmond James and Moone ended with the ball coming to Tarpey who cut inside onto his favoured left foot but his shot was well wide.

The skillful striker was not to be denied his second for long, as within a minute he brilliantly restored the two goal cushion. A flick on from Moone put Tarpey clear, and as the goalkeeper came rushing out, Tarpey kneed the bouncing ball over him, before outpacing and outmuscling the defender to slide the ball home for 3-1. This was just after the hour mark, and within five minutes Bedfont had once again reduced the arrears as O’Sullivan scored an impressive header that gave Craig Ross no chance.

Ross then just about kept out a long range shot from Aaron Clarke, fumbling the ball out for a corner, and that proved to be the last real effort on goal. The match ended 3-2 to Hampton & Richmond Borough, and they will now play Hendon FC at The Beveree in the semi final on March 6th. Hendon overcame Hanworth Villa 1-0 the previous night in their quarter final. The other two quarter final ties are scheduled for Tuesday, February 28th, where Wingate & Finchley host North Greenford United, and Wealdstone face AFC Hayes.