Hampton & Richmond opened their pre-season campaign with a well-earned draw against a youthful Watford side on an overcast afternoon at the Beveree Stadium on Saturday. Amongst a host of substitutions, Hampton battled hard and could have won the game in the end.

Jamie Collins’ smart, quickly taken free kick put the home side ahead in the 30th minute before Lewis Young, the younger brother of Villa’s Ashley Young, poked the ball home to equalise for Watford in the 80th minute.

The game started frantically with both sets of players keen to impress in their first game back after the summer break. Hampton were the first to threaten after 7 minutes when Ian Hodges’ scuffed shot was blocked in the penalty area by the Watford defence.

Watford first team regular John-Joe O’Toole looked domineering in midfield and he came close with a bobbling long-range effort that span wide. After the very next passage of play, the speedy Lawrence Yaku latched onto a looping ball from midfield but his attempted lob dropped tamely into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Watford enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession but found it difficult to create chances and even when Lewis Young’s pinpoint cross found Billy Gibson in acres of space in the six yard box it was given as offside and Gibson ballooned the header over the bar anyway.

The game sprung into life after the 30th minute with a moment of inspiration from Jamie Collins. A free kick was given for Hampton from about 25 yards out and whilst alice-banded keeper Jonathon North stood to the right hand side of the Watford goal aligning his wall, Collins acted quickly and clipped a superbly accurate, low, curling shot in to the left hand side of the goal catching the Watford players, particularly North, unawares.

Hampton continued to create chances after the goal and the first fell to the dangerous Lawrence Yaku when he latched on to a hoofed ball forward but he sliced his volley well wide of the target.

Watford began to fight back towards the end of the second half and had plenty of pace down the right wing with Andy Yiadom and Lewis Young who linked up at every opportunity. It was Yiadom who was released down the right wing in the 39th minute but his final ball was lacking, clearing the heads of the strikers.

Lewis Young showed glimpses of the wing wizardry associated with his much-heralded older brother and this was evident when in the 44th minute he turned his defender and delivered a pinpoint cross for (no. 9?) who headed over the bar at the back post.

The second half began in a subdued manner with the only half chance of it’s early stages falling to Yaku who neatly turned his man before releasing a weak shot into the keepers arms.      

A flurry of substitutions dampened the game as a contest for a period but it was livened up by a fantastic save from substitute keeper Chico Ramos. Lewis Young latched onto a cross from the right hand side only to see his close range header blocked by the wide spread body of Ramos.

John-Joe O’Toole was the next to come close for the visitors in the 77th minute when his vicious 20-yard drive whistled past the near post to the relief of the Hampton fans. Watford did make their breakthrough though, just three minutes later. A through ball down the channel had Ramos committed to making a save but as he collided with the striker, the ball rolled across the penalty area to Lewis Young who narrowly beat the defender to poke the ball into the roof of the net for the equaliser.

Hampton showed great heart and really had a go at Watford for the remaining ten minutes. Substitute Dave Tarpey looked really dangerous when he came on and he came close with a free kick that curled just wide.

In the 85th minute, Hampton had their best opportunity to win the game when some superb skill on the left wing from Tarpey allowed him to reach by-line and cut the ball back for another substitute Stuart Lake who would surely score but the big man couldn’t sort his feet out in time and golden locked Jonathan North came out to make a good save. Watford had the final chance to win the game when Young’s clever flick found its way to (No.17?) whose strike was rushed and directly at Ramos who saved easily.       

Manager Alan Devonshire was pleased with his team’s performance but stressed that that fitness was the most important thing for this game. ‘It was about fitness today, we made 11 substitutions. I was pleased. We were comfortable in the first half but it’s difficult after you make a lot of changes.’

Hampton and Richmond Man of the match: Francis Quarm

Looked really strong on the ball in midfield and gave O’Toole a really tough time whilst he was on the pitch.