U15D unfortunate to fall to scrappy Bradfield defeat

By Jack Farthing

Hampton’s U15D team travelled to Bradfield College, where they were beaten 5-2 in a scrappy game.

The visitors went in 3-0 down at half time, after a couple of very good Bradfield attacks.

However, Hampton came back fighting in the second half and were unfortunate not to capitalise on some great chances, as Bradfield ran away with the game in the last 10 minutes.

Hampton started the game well enough, but after some high energy pressing by Bradfield, the ball was lost in midfield and the Bradfield winger slid one past George Chapman in Hampton’s goal.

Then, as if Hampton had not learnt from their earlier mistake of taking too much time on the ball, Bradfield intercepted a pass out from defence and ran through to make it 2-0 in 15 minutes.

Hampton grew back into the game however, and looked more and more dangerous on the counter attack. 

Patrick Quirke was unlucky not to convert from a Theo Gibson cross as Hampton began to play the passing football they had begun to develop in their earlier games.

Then, disaster struck as a Hampton back pass brought out a fine save from Chapman, but the ball fell to the Bradfield striker, who swept it into an empty net.

After a rousing team talk at half time by head coach Mr Chaveneau, Hampton came out with a newfound enthusiasm to bring the game back.

Ten minutes into the second half, the ball was cleared by Bradfield to Jack Farthing on the edge of the box, who struck it first time into the top left corner.

This was exactly the boost needed and Quirke was unlucky not to score after some impressive work by Gibson and Will Knowles down the left.

Shortly afterwards, Quirke did score from a cross across goal by Gibson.

Unfortunately, a well worked Bradfield attack culminated in their striker having a free header at the front post; George made an excellent save but could do nothing about the rebound.

Then, in the last minute, a Bradfield midfielder rifled one into the bottom right corner to make it 5-2 to the hosts and the first loss of the season for Hampton.

After the game, head coach Mr Chaveneau said that he was ‘extremely proud of the second half’ and Hampton will look forward to the rest of the season with confidence.