U14C lose narrowly to Winchester College

By Kristian Brookes

After a convincing win the previous week against Eton College, Hampton’s U14C football team couldn’t sustain a winning run, going down narrowly 2-1 away to Winchester College’s U14B.

As the match got underway, it was the home team who took the lead in the first 10 minutes with a low finish tucked into the bottom corner from just outside the box. 

Despite this setback, Hampton managed to pick themselves up and bounce back immediately, with Leo Hartley hitting the inside of the post with a long range powerful effort.

Hampton succeeded in keeping up a spell of relentless pressure, and following a quick passing sequence, Freddie Bates managed to find the corner of the net with a low drive a few minutes before the whistle blew for half time. 

The equaliser was nothing less than Hampton deserved and meant that they went into the break with their confidence high.

After a tweak in tactics from Mr Ritchie, Hampton came out for the second half with a bit more width to push for the goal to take the lead. 

But five minutes into the second period, Winchester re-took the lead with a clinical, goal poacher’s finish after Hampton gave the ball away cheaply attempting to play through the centre backs. 

This had been so effective for most of the game although just a minor mistake meant Hampton had it all to do again.

Going into the last 20 minutes Hampton pushed hard and held a very high line in an attempt force an equaliser, and fortune nearly struck for the away side when a fluid attacking move forced a skilful save out of the Winchester goalkeeper. 

Hampton dug deep but a last-minute free kick from Monty Rob that flew inches over the bar signified it just wasn’t their day.

The final whistle blew and despite the slender defeat against a well-organised Winchester side, Hampton could take many positives as well as some lessons into the game next week against Bradfield College.