U13C team triumph to continue unbeaten run

By Arun Crowe and Neel Mohindra

Looking to make it three wins out of three, Hampton’s U13C team travelled to their third successive away match, this time to Alleyn’s School. 

The match kicked off on a wet and miserable Saturday morning, and while the rain continued to pour down, Hampton looked to get off to a positive start in the game. 

The opener came quickly, as Joshua Chapman’s corner fell to Maxwell Gladding, who took it down before curling a beautiful effort from outside the box, up and over the goalkeeper. 

However, Hampton’s domination was short-lived as Alleyn’s were quickly on the attack from the restart. A curling effort from just inside the box was saved brilliantly by volunteer goalkeeper Neel Mohindra, but nevertheless Hampton were still hanging on by the skin of their teeth. The first half ended one-nil, much to Hampton’s relief as they had a chance to catch their breath before the match restarted. 

As the whistle signalled the start of the second half, Hampton had a newfound energy to their play, which was evident when, shortly after the break, they had a huge stroke of luck as Lander Kauenhoven-Wrenn’s cross took a deflection off an Alleyn’s defender and curled into the far top corner, doubling Hampton’s lead. Then the goals started to flow. Daniel Bathula finished off a lovely passing move with a great finish into the far corner before Eugene Kwon followed up on a goalkeeping mistake to make it four for Hampton. 

Alleyn’s, however, did not go down without a fight as they earned themselves a penalty late on, which went wide of the post. Shortly after, they did find the ball in the back of the net with a deserved, albeit consolation, goal.