U12Bs Win High-Scoring Thriller to Progress in ESFA Cup

By Jack Morris

Early on Saturday morning, the Hampton U12B team gathered as they faced their first real challenge of the year against Grey Court School in the ESFA Cup.

 With Mr Hawkins as their coach instead of Mr Worrall, Hampton quickly dominated the possession and attacking chances. Although passes weren’t quite flowing like usual, it didn’t take long for Miguel Badimon to put one past the goalkeeper. With the defence under more pressure than normal and the attack and midfield not quite being up to their usual standards, Hampton took their 3 good chances to go 3-0 up with 5 minutes left until half-time.

But with 3 minutes to go, Alex Dale was able to put one past the keeper for 4-0. And just as Hampton thought the calm of half-time was approaching, Jack Morris was able to curl a beaty into the bottom right corner, as Grey Court were left stunned at having their defence cut open twice in 2 minutes.

Half time 5-0

The second half started well, with Hampton playing the best they had in the match, as they scored a goal, kept possession and created dangerous chances. For 10 minutes they played well and looked so comfortable but as the substitutions were made everything went downhill. After conceding a scrappy goal, Hampton then found themselves on the wrong side of a decision as Grey Court were able to sneak one in at the back post.

7-2 with 20 minutes to go, it seemed inevitable that Hampton would win, but as a long ball managed to work its way to their striker, he slipped it past Al Malston for his hat-trick, and all of a sudden it was looking quite bleak for the Hampton side.  Scoring 3 in 5 minutes was not stopping the Grey Court side – they came again, as an unmarked player on the edge of the box put in a lovely shot for 7-4. 15 minutes left.

Credit to both teams as neither side stopped battling, but more to the Hampton defence. Under constant pressure and attack, not conceding another goal for fifteen minutes was a truly amazing feat. At left back, Morris barely left the penalty box (they were half of one half!). And, in the last minutes, Hampton managed to break away and score to secure the win.

Final whistle 8-4