Ryman Premier Division

10/2/01

3 Hampton & Richmond Borough v Sutton United 1

Sutton will be disappointed with this performance but the game belonged to Hampton who were always quicker to any loose ball. Hampton had the better chances in the game getting past the United defence far too easily and always looked a threat when they got into a good position.

Hampton could have taken the lead in the first ten minutes when Leroy Griffiths beat Palmer to the ball and was able to go one on one with Howells who made an easy save from a weak shot. With twenty minutes gone Sutton had their first chance of the game when Danny Bolts far post corner fell to Horner who couldn’t guide his header goal wards. Sutton did manage to take the lead five minutes later when Haworth was fouled on the edge of the area, Dave Harlow laid the free kick back to Danny Bolt who unleashed a thunderous shot which Haworth was able to deflect passed the keeper into the bottom left hand corner. Almost straight away Hampton could have pulled things level when a cross came in from the left and beat every one in the area apart from Dean Green who wasn’t able to get a good enough touch on the ball and saw his effort go wide. Two minutes later Hampton had equalled the game when a corner was swung in and flicked on by Holloway to Peter Barnsby who headed home.

The surprise of the second half was the amount of time it took Hampton to increase their lead. Sutton did start to play better football but the final ball was still being cut out by an inform defence. The second half held little goal scoring chances until the twenty eighth minute when some good play by Holloway unleashed Green who put in a low cross for Williams to side foot home to get his first of the game. Harlow went close two minutes later when his free kick went only inches over the bar. Hampton could have extended their lead again when Griffiths ran passed Palmer and slid the ball back to Maskell who set up Williams but his shot was blasted over the bar. United could have equalled the game with one of their few chances when some good work by Haworth found its way to Whitmarsh whose close range shot slide passed the wrong side of the post. With time running out Sutton were pushing forward more and were starting to play better coming close on a couple of occasions but found themselves stretched too much when a cross found Williams who tapped the ball into the net to get his seconded of the game.

Elation Haworth, Baker and Whitmarsh playing well on their first few

Performances.

Deflation Bad defending and lack of play making