Hampton U14A’s begin season with end-to-end draw against Bede’s

By Theo Payne

The U14A’s made a promising start to their 2025/26 campaign with a hard-fought draw against a strong Bede’s side. Playing their first ever competitive league game for the school, they played free flowing, attacking football whilst displaying brilliant fight and determination.

The match looked like it would be tight from the off, with both teams seemingly equally threatening on the break, Hampton’s early attacking threats chiefly thanks to the pace and power of Yule Choi and Jasper Townley out on the wing, making the most of the vacant pockets in behind. However, Bede’s may have had an early breakthrough if it hadn’t have been for the dogged defensive efforts of Harry Morris, Josh Don Carolis and Oliver Hodges, backed up by the ever-reliable Charles Brain between the sticks.

As the first half wore on, the size of the pitch (probably the biggest pitch the Hamptonians had ever played on) seemed to take a toll, with both sides opting for possession instead of outright attack. Nevertheless, the football played by both teams was anything but boring.

When the half-time break came, much to the relief of the Hampton team – who only had one sub – the match was evenly poised at 0 – 0, with another action-packed, crucial half of football still to come.

Bede’s were the first to break the deadlock. Catching Hampton slightly off-guard, the visitor’s number nine played a long ball over the top of the home team’s backline to the waiting bunch of Bede’s players, a move clearly devised on the training ground. Capitalising on the overload, the right winger slid home the visitors first of the morning. It was just the wake-up call Hampton needed.

Sharpened up by the opener, Hampton pushed their opposition onto the backfoot, using high press to turn goal kicks into scoring opportunities and forcing mistakes in the visitor’s third. The work of Oscar Connel and Jack Marchant, who had been working tirelessly at number 9 and 10 for the whole game, was paying dividends, with the hosts creating several big chances thanks to their passing and positioning.

Hampton’s pressure soon paid off, with Marchant earning a penalty late on. Connel took the responsibility, calmly sending the keeper the wrong way and slotting it home to take the score to 1 – 1.

With little under ten minutes to play, Bede’s wrestled back dominance, putting constant pressure on the ever-solid Hampton defence, and giving the home support a more than nervy last few minutes. Those dying minutes could have sent the game the visitor’s way if it hadn’t have been for an outstanding save from goalkeeper Brain, denying the striker in a one on one.

When the final whistle blew, both teams were tired but happy, having worked hard for their first points of the season. The match had been a thoroughly enjoyable – albeit nerve-racking – appetizer for another season of Hampton football for the U14A’s.