3rd XI beat RGS Guildford to advance in Trinity Cup
By Alex Fagan
After a tense first half away to RGS Guildford, Hampton’s 3rd XI came away with a resounding 8-0 win, enabling the team to progress to the semi-finals of the Trinity Cup.
In glorious sunshine and surrounded by the Surrey Hills, the game was tightly contested at first. Hampton started brightly, and some sustained first-half pressure should have resulted in a convincing lead.
The deadlock was eventually broken with a spark of brilliance, coming in the form of a delightful Finn Duncan flick after an electric cross from Makarious Naguib. This put the visitors narrowly ahead 1-0 at half time.
The team received a stern talking-to at half time from Mr Haynes, instructing the boys to trust themselves more on the ball and play the way they have been doing with much success this season. The result was transformational.
Immediate pressing from the whistle meant the RGS Guildford side were put under unsustainable pressure. This bright, positive football lead to a second goal after an impressive Alex Raeburn cross-field pass into the top corner.
Six more goals soon followed. This came as a result of some free-flowing football by Hampton, and the clean sheet was the result of a solid defensive performance throughout the match.
It was a well-deserved 8-0 win, meaning progression to the semi-finals of the prestigious Trinity Cup.
The feeling after the match was eloquently summed up by 3rd XI Captain Sam Newton: “We really came together as a unit and played some true Hampton football.
“We will learn from our mistakes but have a lot to take forward to the next round. On to the semis!”
