U14A fight well but fall to Charterhouse defeat

By Josh Hood

Hampton’s U14A team were unlucky to narrowly miss out to Charterhouse in a game that saw a vast array of chances but ended 2-1 in favour of the visiting side.

Unbeaten this season, Charterhouse top the Elgin League, just a few points ahead of an ambitious Hampton 3rd year side who were eager to continue their own unbeaten run since the first game of the season.

The first few minutes witnessed an extraordinarily high tempo among the players as immediate pressure was applied by both sides to ensure a strong start, and force an early error from the opposition. 

Unfortunately, Charterhouse’s physical tactics took their toll in the opening section where a stray shot led to a corner well converted by the opposition defender to make it 1-0 to the visitors. 

Following this early set-back, a spell of exciting, end-to-end football followed that occupied the majority of the match. 

Chance after chance provided the supporting parents with a compelling affair to watch that contained goal-line clearances, last-ditch tackles and inches-away misses. 

This continued into the second half until, with 10 minutes left, Chibbi Nwoko swung in a cross that was nodded in by a ducking Josh Pye, up from centre back for the free kick. 

Once again, the match returned to its familiar competitive spirit as the closing stages still provided time for the physical side of the game to dominate.

Unfortunately, with a matter of a few minutes left, a Charterhouse striker found himself outside the box with a yard of space before he swung his left leg at the ball and found the top corner to win the game for his side.