The Beavers secured their first league victory in 8 games with a deserved victory over Basingstoke Town thanks to a second half brace from veteran striker Lawrence Yaku, after the host’s had taken an early lead through a Gary Frewin penalty.

On a soft pitch, that had already started to cut up following the pre-match warm up, Alan Devonshire sent out his team with the simple message to work hard and never give up, and for majority of the game the Beavers were in the ascendancy, denying their host’s time on the ball, pressurising them and halting most of the danger well before it would reach Matt Lovett’s penalty area. Going forward the pairing of Dundas and Yaku gave the host’s problems throughout the game and the 35 year old striker rolled back the years with two fine goals.

Starting attacking up the slope Basingstoke had the first chance, a 20 yard free kick that was routinely saved by Lovett, for the Beavers Dean Inman headed just wide on 4 minutes before the home side took the lead on 9 minutes. A slip in midfield allowed David Pratt to burst through the backline and having taken it past a couple of defenders he went down under a shoulder to shoulder challenge from Barrie Matthews, the referee Mr Huxtable, pointed to the spot and then raced away at a speed that Usain Bolt would have been proud off to the other side of the pitch. Frewin stepped up and despite Lovett guessing the correct direction the ball nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

Rather than go in to a shell the Beavers responded with a spell of concerted pressure which saw Craig Dundas shoot over, and Lawrence Yaku have a header saved by Barnard in the home goal. Having awarded Basingstoke a soft penalty Mr Huxtable then awarded Hampton a free kick on the edge of the box when Yaku had been tripped inside the area, from the free kick Dean Inman flashed a header just wide of the post. Basingstoke had the ball in the back of the net again after 26 minutes, however the goal was ruled out for offside. The first half ended with Hampton looking to get back in to the game with Stuart Lake firing just wide and Dundas direct a header wide at the far post.

If Hampton just shaded the first half, they dominated the second, going at Basingstoke from the start and not allowing them any chance to find any rhythm in their play. The half was only 60 seconds old when Dean Wells forced a save from Barnard in the home goal. The frustration within the home side was there for all to see and on 55 minutes there was a scuffle in front of the home dug out when assistant manager Gerry Murphy kicked the ball away, presumably for time wasting, which lead to a confrontation between several parties and ended with Murphy and Chris Robinson getting a talking to from Mr. Huxtable.

The match official continued to frustrate the visiting side and the Beavers had further claims for a penalty turned down when Barnard tripped Dundas as he looked to go round him on the edge of the six yard box, and on 68 minutes missed a blatant hand ball on the edge of the box, as the ball bounced up and struck the raised arm of Ashley Mitchell.

Within 2 minutes however the Beavers were level as Yaku struck. Craig Dundas chased down a lost cause on the left wing and earned a throw in for the Beavers, Barrie Matthews and Karl Beckford played a quick one-two, before Matthews whipped the ball in, Yaku with his back to goal, chested the ball down and as it rose from the floor performed a perfect bicycle kick which saw the ball nestle in the bottom corner of the net.

You would have thought that this would be the cue for Basingstoke to pile on the pressure, however they were never given a chance as the midfield trio of Lake, Collier and Beckford gave no quarter and the defence stood up to everything that was thrown at them. On 70 minutes Alan Devonshire replaced Beckford with Craig Tanner, with the wing back occupying Beckford’s place in the middle of the park, and it was from a superb Tanner ball that Hampton almost scored a second, his ball put Dundas away in the inside right channel, his driven cross was inches away from being turned in by Yaku before Mitchell hooked the ball away for a corner.

On 82 minutes Hampton had yet another solid claim for a penalty, a ball over the top set Yaku away and as he raced through and past Barnard on the left hand side of the box contact was made by the keeper and Yaku went down, however to the amazement of all, no penalty was forthcoming. Shortley after that a fine passage of play between Collier, Tanner and Lake ended with a Lake shot from 18 yards fizzing inches wide of Barnards left hand post.

As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes Hampton were grateful to Matt Lovett as he pulled off a fine save to palm away a fearsome Jahson Downes shot, and then fell on the ball before any of the strikers could react. From Lovett’s resulting kick Yaku raced through the static ‘stoke defence before being hauled down right on the edge of the box by Mitchell who saw red for his actions. Dean Well’s free kick went under the ball and was half cleared to Stuart Lake who’s lofted cross found Yaku, unmarked in the middle of the penalty area, and he directed his header down and past Barnard. The home side surrounded the referee and linesman demanding to know why no offside had been awarded, but it mattered not to the now joyous Hampton players and supporters who were at last able to enjoy that winning feeling again.

Hampton now go in to a run of games over the next 4 weeks with something to build on, the positives that were seen in the Bromley game were further improved upon and hopefully this will mark a turning point in Hampton’s season. The Beaver s now face two important games against mid-table sides, Welling & Bishop’s Stortford this week, before welcoming play off chasing Dover and champions elect Newport to Beveree next week.