Post by capitalgull on Nov 21, 2009 19:00:14 GMT
I eschewed the chance to listen to our commentary today to go and watch some local FA Trophy action at Hampton & Richmond's tiny Beveree Stadium, and once again I was treated to a feast of football as they saw off the spirited challenge of Concord Rangers 3-2.
I will fully admit when I found out who the Beavers were playing today I had no idea just who they were, but a swift call into Merse helped me out with the knowledge that they are Canvey Island's second team (after...well, Canvey Island) and play in the Ryman League Division One North, a couple of levels below Blue Square South.
But after 90 minutes of full-blooded, exciting, football I certainly feel like I know them now, as well as having a bit of a soft spot for them after they put in a fine display and were unlucky not to come away with at least a replay.
In a week when refereeing controversies hit the headlines, and bored most of the populus rigid, there were plenty more talking points for the 228 on hand to see this game, sadly for Concord most of them going against the minnows.
They were well on top of the game, creating most of the play, when a couple of dreadful decisions turned the momentum of the game and eventually gave Hampton the chance to take the lead when Concord's keeper and a defender made a real hash of a clearance and gave Nathan Collier the chance to tap into an unguarded net.
In my normal spot between the two dugouts, I was soon enjoying a few interesting chats with Danny Cowley, one of Concord's joint managers, although I am not sure he trusted me much after I asked about their leading scorer Lyle Taylor - he was okay again after I swore on my mum's life that I wasn't there scouting for Torquay!!
He and the linesman were having a running battle which eventually ended with him receiving a final warning about his behaviour towards the ref, who by now had probably given Hampton the benefit of the doubt on six to eight separate occasions, some of which would definitely have needed the use of video technology were it in place.
The start of the second half produced another moment of controversy when Concord were denied what looked like a penalty - or at least a red card to the Hampton defender and a free kick on the edge of the box - for the most blatant shirt pull in a last-man-defending position....the defender almost ended up under the Concord attackers' shirt, so hard was he pulling it, but the ref seemed to be the only one to miss it - even the Concord manager's linesman said he had seen it but he wasn't in position to make the decision from the other half of the field, apparently according to the refereeing rulebook.
Hampton doubled their lead, after the referee and linesman consulted, after Barry Lake bundled the ball over the line in the wake of a handball - it was either goal or penalty and red card, but the officials saw sense and left it at 11 v 11. A penalty soon after from Barrie Matthews made it 3-0 with 12 minutes to play.
But from then on Concord massed forward, grabbing a goal back from a defensive mixup and then a second (which I admit I missed since I had just been texted some bad news from Plainmoor) to set up a final five minutes fraught with tension.
Portly (no actually, he is fat!) Hampton goalie Matt Lovett tipped a cross on to the bar and Lyle Taylor missed a golden chance to shoot, instead infuriating his manager by trying to trick his way closer to goal, before the final whistle arrived to the relief of the home fans, many of them soaked after a late downpour!
This game kind of reminded me the sort of football we had to endure for parts of two seasons in the Conference, and while it was good to read some impressed reports of our own performance in today's defeat, I just hope our luck turns soon because I'd rather we didn't end up back playing in the FA Trophy any time soon.
No real stars of the future on show in this game, although I do think Lyle Taylor will play at a slightly higher level some time soon, and for Hampton Craig Dundas is the BS South version of Ade Akinfatwad, with a little bit more pace but no idea in front of goal.
Good entertainment for my tenner, now I need to dry out a bit!!
I will fully admit when I found out who the Beavers were playing today I had no idea just who they were, but a swift call into Merse helped me out with the knowledge that they are Canvey Island's second team (after...well, Canvey Island) and play in the Ryman League Division One North, a couple of levels below Blue Square South.
But after 90 minutes of full-blooded, exciting, football I certainly feel like I know them now, as well as having a bit of a soft spot for them after they put in a fine display and were unlucky not to come away with at least a replay.
In a week when refereeing controversies hit the headlines, and bored most of the populus rigid, there were plenty more talking points for the 228 on hand to see this game, sadly for Concord most of them going against the minnows.
They were well on top of the game, creating most of the play, when a couple of dreadful decisions turned the momentum of the game and eventually gave Hampton the chance to take the lead when Concord's keeper and a defender made a real hash of a clearance and gave Nathan Collier the chance to tap into an unguarded net.
In my normal spot between the two dugouts, I was soon enjoying a few interesting chats with Danny Cowley, one of Concord's joint managers, although I am not sure he trusted me much after I asked about their leading scorer Lyle Taylor - he was okay again after I swore on my mum's life that I wasn't there scouting for Torquay!!
He and the linesman were having a running battle which eventually ended with him receiving a final warning about his behaviour towards the ref, who by now had probably given Hampton the benefit of the doubt on six to eight separate occasions, some of which would definitely have needed the use of video technology were it in place.
The start of the second half produced another moment of controversy when Concord were denied what looked like a penalty - or at least a red card to the Hampton defender and a free kick on the edge of the box - for the most blatant shirt pull in a last-man-defending position....the defender almost ended up under the Concord attackers' shirt, so hard was he pulling it, but the ref seemed to be the only one to miss it - even the Concord manager's linesman said he had seen it but he wasn't in position to make the decision from the other half of the field, apparently according to the refereeing rulebook.
Hampton doubled their lead, after the referee and linesman consulted, after Barry Lake bundled the ball over the line in the wake of a handball - it was either goal or penalty and red card, but the officials saw sense and left it at 11 v 11. A penalty soon after from Barrie Matthews made it 3-0 with 12 minutes to play.
But from then on Concord massed forward, grabbing a goal back from a defensive mixup and then a second (which I admit I missed since I had just been texted some bad news from Plainmoor) to set up a final five minutes fraught with tension.
Portly (no actually, he is fat!) Hampton goalie Matt Lovett tipped a cross on to the bar and Lyle Taylor missed a golden chance to shoot, instead infuriating his manager by trying to trick his way closer to goal, before the final whistle arrived to the relief of the home fans, many of them soaked after a late downpour!
This game kind of reminded me the sort of football we had to endure for parts of two seasons in the Conference, and while it was good to read some impressed reports of our own performance in today's defeat, I just hope our luck turns soon because I'd rather we didn't end up back playing in the FA Trophy any time soon.
No real stars of the future on show in this game, although I do think Lyle Taylor will play at a slightly higher level some time soon, and for Hampton Craig Dundas is the BS South version of Ade Akinfatwad, with a little bit more pace but no idea in front of goal.
Good entertainment for my tenner, now I need to dry out a bit!!