4:16pm Wednesday 1st September 2010
By Stefan Rance
Hampton came away from Clarence Park with their unbeaten away start to the season intact, but just like at Thurrock on the Tuesday, probably should have taken all three points back home.
Indeed St Albans maintained their own unbeaten start to the campaign, but all five of their games have ended in draws, and this match saw the first goals of the season on their home ground.
In a nutshell, a drab goalless opening 45 minutes was followed (and to be honest it couldn't get any worse!) by a far more entertaining second half which saw the Saints take the lead through Adam Martin against the run of play, before the Beavers took complete control but only had an equalising strike from James Simmonds to show for their attacking endeavour.
The Beavers, unchanged from the 2-2 draw at Thurrock, were wearing last season's red home strip due to both this season's kits clashing with the home side's blue and yellow striped tops, began the game kicking up the slope, so you would have thought St Albans would have tried to make the most of their half of going downhill. As it were there was very little to write about from either sides, and my pen and notebook was largely redundant apart from to write about Dave Tarpey's effort straight at veteran home stopper Paul Bastock following an excellent tackle by Dean Inman, and Matt Lovett being called into action when he rushed to the edge of his box to block at the feet of Saints forward Drew Roberts. Inman was perhaps fortunate to get away without a booking for pulling back Hassan Sulaiman in a promising position, but the groans around me when the board went up for three minutes added on time told the story of the first half.
Hopes were not high entering the second half that Clarence Park would see its first goal of the season, but the Beavers came out with more purpose and immediately set out on the offensive, a run by Tarpey created a chance for Simmonds, who fired wide, and Danny Allen-Page darted down the right wing to deliver a teasing cross that landed on top of the net. But despite that promising start, it was the home side who found the net, good work on the left flank between Roberts and Robbie Martin created the space for the latter to whip in a cross for his namesake Adam Martin to make contact, either with his head or shoulder, that saw the ball loop over and beyond Lovett high into the net only five minutes into the half.
Despite this setback, Hampton plugged away, and Nathan Collier and Barrie Matthews combined to create an opportunity for Charlie Moone, who struck his effort just wide of Bastock's right hand post. Shortly after the home side were perhaps lucky to remain with eleven players on the field when a high challenge on Simmonds saw the midfielder receive lengthy treatment before he was fortunate to be able to continue, with referee Mr Bushell continuing with the leniency he had shown to both sides throughout the game, showing just a yellow card to Saints' culprit, substitute Peter Smith.
The Beavers continued in their persuit of getting back on level terms, the next opportunity coming from Dean Wells long free-kick into the area, nodded on by fit again substitute Ian Hodges for Tarpey to get in a near post effort that Bastock did well to block away. Hampon were now well on top, pinning St Albans in their own half, and a superb move involving Collier, Matthews, Hodges and Allen-Page deserved more than the latter's cross being cleared. The visitors' persistence though paid off in the 67th minute, Wells staying in attack following a corner, showing a great touch over his head before firing across goal beyond Bastock, but his effort was blocked away on the line to Simmonds, who showed great composure when taking a touch to deceive his marker before lashing the ball into the roof of the net from around ten yards.
It was no more than Hampton deserved, and they pushed on looking for a winner. With the old strike partnership between Hodges and Lawrence Yaku renewed, replacing Moone and Tarpey who both put in their usual non-stop effort but without much reward, the new attacking options caused major concern to what had been a reasonably solid home rearguard. Yaku broke clear before setting up Simmonds, and visibly bouyed by his first goal of the season, struck his shot early into the grateful arms of Bastock. Hodges and Simmonds combined to provide Yaku with half a chance, but hesitancy from the veteran forward gave Saints chance to clear. But Yaku's next opportunity, following a flick on by Hodges, saw former Boston United stalwart Bastock defy his 40 years with a superb reflex save to push the ball away when it seemed destined for the top corner. Yaku then saw another shot bounce agonisingly wide as the stoppage time board went up, but St Albans then surged forward down the left, Robbie Martin's cross needing a vital touch from the superb Dave Stevens as sub Leon Simpson was waiting to pounce.
A special word for Stevens too, who was immense in the back-line and did a magnificent job marking the gangling 6'6"
Carlton Palmer-like figure of Simpson for the last half an hour of the match.
So another point on the road for Hampton. Playing some good stuff and creating plenty of chances it's surely only a matter of time until the recent results turn into victories, hopefully starting with Dorchester Town at the Beveree this Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).
HAMPTON: Lovett; Allen-Page, Tanner, Inman, Stevens, Wells (c); Collier, Simmonds, Matthews; Moone (sub 62 mins, Hodges), Tarpey (sub 69 mins, Yaku). SUBS NOT USED: Aams, Lucien, Robinson.
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