U12C entertain in thrilling Dr. Challoner’s draw

By Jayden Oni

This home fixture witnessed a season’s best performance by the U12C football team.  However, they got off to a very slow start before the tide turned in their favour.

As the match started, Challoner’s were clearly the dominant team, with much more possession and many more shots on target. Many times in the early minutes of the game Hampton ran the risk of conceding, and a goal in their favour was urgently needed to save them.

Fortunately, about 10 minutes into the game, Hampton registered their first goal, scored by the attacking left winger Henry Jackson, who scored with a cool finish after a three-man counter-attack by the home side.

This one-goal lead raised Hampton’s spirits and brought them more chances as a result – though this improvement did not last long. In the second half, Hampton’s opponents made a fresh start and seemed a different proposition.

As a result, Dr Challoner’s registered their equaliser – scored when Hampton gave the ball away and then left it to the skilful opposition midfielder to dribble straight through the defence.  He passed it to their striker, who drove the ball into the far corner of the goal.

For a short while after this goal, Hampton were very vulnerable and seemed to be about to concede yet another goal. But this phase did not last long as luckily Hampton sprang back and gave their all to win the match.

For the rest of the game, both sides played powerful football with goal line clearances at both ends. For Hampton, both Tim Edwards and Henry Jackson came to the rescue, while at the other end there were great saves from shots by Jayden Oni and yet again Henry Jackson.

The game finished as a draw but both sides in the end had something to reflect upon after the very entertaining game they had played.