LEAMINGTON HIBS 1-3 HAMPTON FC: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT + IMAGES...

 Hampton Take The Joy Barry Memorial Trophy…

Leamington Hibs 1-3 Hampton FC…

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Played on the second pitch at Field Lane because new goal-frames for the main pitch hadn’t arrived in time, landlords Hampton beat their lower ranked lodgers by 1-3 in a useful pre-season workout for both squads. 

Fair play to Hibs, for not only was there a smart trophy on offer but the players and officials all received medals on the day and that is testament to how Leamington is run by a fine family concern and has been so for almost fifty years. 

I was made welcome by both clubs and the players’ names and numbers had all been sent to me around lunchtime, for which I was so grateful… 

ZACH FEATHERSTONE PLAYS STONE, PAPER, SCISSORS WITH A LINESMAN...

Hibs were struggling for a goalkeeper though and defender Sean Woodfield volunteered (I hope…) to play between the sticks. He was to perform rather well too, making some vital saves and keeping his team within striking distance until substitute Kasim Hussain nabbed a vital third goal for Hampton. Hussain scavenged from his right-side attacking position and might have scored twice more but his eagerness and harassment of opponents caused Hibs’ defence some genuine problems.

JORDAN FEATHERSTONE DOES A FINE IMPRESSION OF FRANK SPENCER... (ASK ME SOMETIME...)

In attack, Hampton were blessed with Collins Ajayi and Cam Seivwright, as well as Dan McDonald-Taylor, who netted goal one but would have been disappointed not to add to his tally. Young central striker Hamza Siddique showed glimpses of real talent and formed a formidable and lively partnership with the other three. The strings in midfield were pulled by the very efficient Harlee Preston, who won a good deal of possession, passed the ball smartly on many occasions and indeed, never stopped in his industry.

GIBBONS IN TROUBLE, AS SIDDIQUE GETS UP...

Chris Hill was always the outlet for Hampton’s defenders Luke Benham and skipper James Morris, who were supported strongly in the full-back positions by Omar Martin and Brad Hall. 

Hibs worked very hard throughout, as expected and as usual skipper Zach Featherstone was the stalwart in defence, with brother Jordan the pivot in midfield, although his physical presence was lessened somewhat when he took a knock during the opening period. Luke Woolley was busy in midfield and claimed the assist for Sam Ajoku’s late consolation goal. Sam Smith was mostly steady but in reality, the differences in pace and also threat between the two groups were there for all to see. 

SEIVWRIGHT DOES NOT LOOK HAPPY...

JORDAN FEATHERSTONE CHOOSES AN ODD PLACE TO TAKE A SOCIALLY DISTANCED EYE TEST...

SO, GIBBONS GETS YELLOW...

Dan Gibbons replaced Woodfield in defence before the game began (because the latter had been handed the goalie’s jersey of course) and he looked decent at right-back on occasions but subsequently, despite several misses, Hampton scored the goals they needed to lift the trophy and deservedly so…

First period…     

Hibs struggled on offense in truth, only a 25 yard shot by the often unmarked Ed Brogden making Hampton’s goalie Matt Allely do anything at all during the opening stages. The best attempt at goal was when Brogden fed Jordan Featherstone and his drive from downtown was beaten away to his left by Allely. Smith sliced an effort well wide but both Gibbons and Jordan Featherstone were cautioned for challenges, as Hibs found the pace and trickery of their opponents just a little too hot at times…

Woodfield held a 25 yarder by Preston, then saved with his legs at his left upright from the marauding McDonald-Taylor but his best save was a point-blank stop from the same player, following clever play by Siddique. Three times Seivwright shot too high but the only goal arrived when a smart Preston pass freed McDonald-Taylor through the centre and he cleverly lifted the ball over the advancing Woodfield and neatly into the top right corner of the net. 

0-1...

Second period…

THE REF REFUSES TO PLAY STONE, PAPER, SCISSORS WITH AN INSISTENT JORDAN FEATHERSTONE...

Once again Hibs didn’t make more than a few goal chances but at least Woolley forced a low save at his near post by Allely and replacement Jordan Dodzo scrambled a low Brogden centre wide of the near stick.

Their goal came in the dying moments when Woolley’s smart through-pass released Ajoku and he shot past Allely inside the near post from inside-right, as he raced clear of Morris and Hall. 

1-3, BUT AJOKU CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO CELEBRATE WITH...

Hampton though saw a close range effort by Ajayi ruled out for offside, before the same fellow sliced a shot way off target. The second Hampton goal stemmed from clever intercepting play by Ajayi, who nicked Smith’s pass and forced his way into the 18 yard box at inside-left, only for Woodfield to get down well and turn his low shot across goal, where Siddique’s first time effort found the right corner of the net. 

SIDDIQUE (9) HAS MADE IT 0-2...

Indeed, Siddique also forced a low save from Woodfield and sent a fine left-booter just too high. Later, Hussain shot low and wide twice but he would complete the scoring for his team. He did well to get onto fellow replacement Norris Tobias’ pass, squeezing between two defenders to lift up an angled effort from near the right byeline which Woodfield got a hand too as it rose over him but could do nothing as it dropped into the far corner of the net.

0-3 & HUSSAIN, RIGHT, HAS SCORED FOR HAMPTON...

Seivwright was yellow carded but in all honesty this was never a dirty game, merely, er, well contested… 

Reflections…

Siddique looked a good prospect and Hampton will be a force if they can get their forwards firing regularly, for midfielder Preston should certainly be their main creator, backed up in the trenches by Hill’s sensible industry… 

SIDDIQUE, ZACH FEATHERSTONE & BREEN...

Hibs have Zach Featherstone (possibly his brother too…), Gibbons, Woodfield and Sam Newey to form a team round but somehow Ajoku needs to be involved in matches more than he was on this occasion. Woolley and Brogden worked hard on the day and perhaps the team might just be competitive during their 2021-22 campaign…

MORRIS HOLDS THE TROPHY ALOFT...

...BUT PRESTON WANTS A GO, TOO...

TEAMS:

LEAMINGTON HIBS:

SEAN WOODFIELD, DAN GIBBONS, ED BROGDEN, ZACH FEATHERSTONE (CAPT), JACK BREEN, SAM SMITH, SAM NEWEY, LUKE WOOLLEY, SAM AJOKU, JORDAN FEATHERSTONE, KENT BREWSTER.

SUBS:

JORDAN DODZO, BRYAN KONG, DAN ADEMILUYI, GEORGE WATTS.

HAMPTON:

MATT ALLELY, OMAR MARTIN, BRAD HALL, LUKE BENHAM, JAMES MORRIS (CAPT), CHRIS HILL, COLLINS AJAYI, HARLEE PRESTON, HAMZA SIDDIQUE, DAN MCDONALD-TAYLOR, CAM SEIVWRIGHT.

SUBS:

CIARAN CONNAIRE, TONY DAVID, KASIM HUSSAIN, NORRIS TOBIAS.