Hampton and Richmond Borough FC

Hampton & Richmond 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

No Joy for Angels as Harp's Beavers Fight for Point

A stubborn second half display saw the Beavers withstand continuous pressure and take a point from a Tonbridge side that saw lots of possession but didn't use it, writes Rob Overfield.

Due to illness to Lewis Ferrell, Nathan Collier deputised at right back, Karle Andrews took his place in the midfield.

The early part of the first half could have seen the Beavers concede an early goal as Collin managed to beat Craig Ross to the ball from Suarez's cross, but his header was cleared off the line by Dean Inman to safety.

The game then settled down into the Beavers favour, James Simmonds' shot from distance went high, and quite a way off target. On 22 minutes, the Beavers had a golden opportunity after keeper Lee Worgan fumbled the ball which ran outside the area for Louis-Rae Beadle to recover, then Jon Heath's clumsy challenge brought him down. Dave Tarpey's curling free kick beat Worgan but went wide of the post.

However, the Beavers went behind on 30 minutes. A cross was flicked on by Collin, but both Craig Ross and the defence dithered in dealing with it, the ball broke to Koranteng who crashed the ball past the helpless Hampton defence from the angle of the box.

5 minutes later, the Beavers equalized and although Dave Tarpey didn't score, he created a great goal. He picked up the ball on the Beavers left, and began one of those mazy trademark runs across the edge of the box. Upon reaching the D, the ball broke loss and Karle Andrews was on hand to bury the ball past the watching Worgan into the roof of the net for his first goal this season.

Craig Ross redeemed himself after his part in the indecision over the Angels goal by just finger-tipping a Judge header at full stretch round the post when it seemed the visitors would score, a quality save.

Through this season the Beavers have been much stronger in the second half this season, but this time the Angels were the dominant team, keeping possession for long periods. On 49 minutes Suarez thought he'd gained a chance to score but the ball was cleared. Ross is called upon to make a further save 5 minutes later as Collin rolled the defender for a shot, but Craig Ross expertly blocked the ball with his legs.

The Beavers were being given the run around but the Angel's finishing kept them in the game; Suarez should have buried the ball past Ross on the hour, but his curling, placed effort was well wide.

15 minutes later the Angels again flashed the ball into the box, somehow it was cleared by a defence that looked under some serious pressure; thankfully it was holding firm by now as Inman, Ruby and the midfield were having to put a long defensive shift in.

With 13 minutes to go, it could have been 3 points in a 'smash and grab' raid for the Beavers. Louis-Rae Beadle, played a delightful ball into Tarpey. However, his shot didn't match the pass as it curled wide of Worgan's post.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes, the Beavers began to work their way back into the game, Worgan twice having to push a shot away from Tarpey as he made space in the box. Just 3 minutes of the game remained as Tarpey got on the end of a ball from Andrews and charged into the box, eyeing up the goal. 9 times out of 10, you'd expect the net to bulge with a Tarpey strike, but this was the 10th and it sped wide of the post.

There was a late scare for the Beavers deep into the added 3 minutes, from Judge's shot, but a red-shirted body blocked the ball away to preserve the point.

After the match, manager Mark Harper was more than satisfied with the point gained, saying that a couple of months ago, the team could have capitulated easily but showed a lot of character to hold on in the face of the pressure, and defensively, they looked strong.

HRBFC 1
Andrews 35

Tonbridge Angels 1
Koranteng 30

Att: 528

Ross, Collier, O'Donnell, Inman, Ruby (c), Huggins, Beadle, Andrews, Tarpey, Johnson (Moone 69).

Sub: Jeffreys, Hickey, Morgan, Sousa-Mota