U14As succumb to 4-2 loss ahead of Elgin League final

By Ollie Swetman

Having already played Whitgift School three times this season, Hampton U14A team took on their rival for the last time in a friendly match at home. The boys were going into this game with momentum due to winning both a quarter and semi-final against the opponents in the last month, yet it was inevitable that Whitgift would put up a strong fight.

With a point to prove, Whitgift started the match with the most possession and were awarded an early penalty after their left-winger smartly drew a foul in the box. Despite this, James Stanworth placed a strong hand behind the penalty and the score remained 0-0.

This soon changed though, after an unfortunate own goal was conceded from a corner. Ironically, the same event happened five minutes later with Hampton putting the ball into their own net for the second time. At the half-time break the score was 2-0 to Whitgift, yet they had still not posed a huge threat in open play.

Shortly after the restart however, Hampton gave away a second penalty, which was converted this time; the game was out of reach at this point. It was only after Whitgift scored their fourth goal, that the Hamptonians started to play their usual passing football and this was rewarded with a composed finish from Quinn Schutter. Nicholas Avetoom then added to the first goal with a short-range finish to take the final score to a disappointing 4-2 loss.

This was certainly not Hampton’s best game of football this season although the boys will focus on the last 15 minutes of the game and look ahead to their Elgin League Final against Aldenham School on Thursday.