Hampton U16As Start Season Strong with Comfortable Win over Bede’s

By Alex Watson

If the Hampton Fifth Years were nervous coming into their first match of the season, away at Bede’s after a 2-hour coach ride, they certainly did not show it. It did not take long for the U16s to assert their dominance on the game, having several early breaks with striker Adam Malik coming close each time. 

It was only a matter of time before the first goal, as Hampton broke past the Bede’s defence time and time again. It was with 10 minutes gone that Alex Watson’s pass cut through the opposition backline to an onrushing Malik, who finished expertly with his weaker foot. 

Due to some of the U16A players being called up to play for the First XI, the Hampton lineup and personnel was considerably changed from last season. Most noticeably, their strike force now consisted of two number 9s, Balti Birts and Malik, whose speed and skill caused problems for the home side all day long.  

It was Birts who doubled Hampton’s advantage, dancing brilliantly past a Bede’s defender on the byline before finishing superbly from a tight angle. With barely 20 minutes on the clock, the U16As made it three, as Finley Milner’s low corner to the front post was glanced home by Watson. 

Despite a renewed determination of the opposition, the goals refused to stop coming, as central midfielder Charlie Moffat stroked home from the edge of the box after good pressure from winger Faris Salman. To add insult to injury, Birts picked up his second before half time with an expert turn and finish in the box, rifling into the far corner from his left-foot. 

Early into the second half Watson got on the end of a Moffat freekick, heading home well into the bottom left corner, before some great individual work from Malik created space for him to rifle the ball into the roof of the net for yet another goal.

With Birts, Malik and Watson all vying for one more goal to secure the match-ball, it was Watson who, with an enormous slice of luck, saw his shot from outside of the box deflect high into the air and loop perfectly into the top corner, making it three and securing his hat-trick. 

The U16As defence were comfortable in their protection of the Hampton goal as the game petered to a close, with strong performances from the whole backline as they secured a clean sheet, and a strong 8-0 Hampton win to kickstart the new season.

With the prospects of the ESFA and Surrey Cup first round fixtures looming on the horizon, the U16As will certainly be hoping to replicate the success of their 2021-22 season in their newest quest for national glory. 

Goals: Alex Watson (3), Balti Birts (2), Adam Malik (2), Charlie Moffatt (1) 

Assists: Finley Milner (1), Faris Salman (1), Charlie Moffatt (1), Alex Watson (1), Marcus Solomon (1), Adam Malik (1)