EARLSWOOD TOWN 2-4 HAMPTON: THE INDEPENDENT REPORT + SCREENSHOTS WITH CAPTIONS...

 Earls Overhauled By Dogged Hampton…

Earlswood Town 2-4 Hampton…

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

This opening league encounter between two Midland League 2 teams was a good spectacle, played in warm sunshine at the Pavilions. A 2-0 Earlswood lead had been nullified by Hampton before the interval, then two untidy set-piece goals won it for the dogged guests during the second period.

HARRIS PUNCHES CLEAR...

The Earls had begun well, using Dan Elwell’s ability to lurk in spaces then trick his way into dangerous areas from inside-left and indeed, he broke the deadlock, before midfielder Ellis Vaux, wearing 14, not the expected 4, added a second goal with a splendid free-kick from way downtown.

Cam Seivwright’s free-kick somehow found the net for Hampton and he then equalised with a calm finish but that rush of four goals certainly livened up the contest with both outfits looking to attack, rather than being over cautious.

The visitors were stronger after half-time, although Vaux twice extended Hampton’s ‘keeper/skipper Jack Hartopp with two more free-kicks.

The opening period… 

It took a fine block by influential Hampton midfielder Joe Tobin to prevent home forward Oli Parsons from scoring early on, after Elwells trickery had provided a great opportunity. Soon afterwards, James Robbins did well to deflect Elwell’s measured shot past the far right post, following more clever shuffling by the Town number 9.

BRILLIANT DEFENSIVE BLOCK BY TOBIN...

ROBBINS HAS DEFLECTED ELWELL'S DRIVE WIDE...

However, home goalie George Harris had beaten out a long drive by Hampton’s Callum Devlin, whilst the first of three left-flank free-kicks by Seivwright had curled into the side-netting. Then Town rattled their guests with two quick goals…

CALLUM DEVLIN'S SHOT WOULD BE BEATEN AWAY BY HARRIS...

SEIVWRIGHT'S FREE-KICK GOES INTO THE SIDE-NETTING...

Parsons cleverly volleyed Elwell clear through the centre and the forward beat the advancing Hartopp with a low shot into the right corner of goal, then soon afterwards, Vaux’s excellent free-kick rose, swerved, dropped and nestled into the left side of goal, leaving Hartopp grounded.

PARSONS WITH THE ASSIST...

...ELWELL WITH THE GOAL...

...& 1-0 TO EARLSWOOD...

VAUX'S FREE-KICK...

...FLIES INTO THE NET FOR 2-0...

A quick response was necessary for Hampton and Seivwright’s second left-flank free-kick soared towards the right vertical where Harris leapt for it but somehow the ball found its way into the net, with the flailing ‘keeper wanting a foul but not getting one.

SEIVWRIGHT'S FREE-KICK...

...CAUSES HASSLE...

...& IT'S 2-1...

Hampton struck again, when the ball rebounded from a challenge by Callum Devlin on the 18 yard line and freed Seivwright at inside-left. He was not flagged for offside and easily beat the outrushing Harris.

THE BALL REBOUNDS...

...FOR SEIVWRIGHT...

...TO EQUALISE...

After the recess…

An inswinging free-kick from the left by Vaux was punched away from under the left angle of crossbeam and upright by the alert Hartopp, who then plunged right to turn aside another good free-kick shot by the same Earlswood player.

HARTOPP PUNCHES ONE FREE-KICK BY VAUX AWAY...

...& TURNS ASIDE ANOTHER...

However, Hampton then began to forge the upper hand and after a clever low free-kick by left-back Dale Hewitt had been spilled by Harris but cleared by a defender, a left-wing corner undid the home defence.

A FREE-KICK BY HEWITT...

...IS SPILLED BY HARRIS...

The delivery flew beyond the far post, where Savin rose alone to head the ball back towards the middle and maybe the ball nudged fellow defender Jake Coleman’s head, possibly the falling Harris too but it ended up amongst a forest of legs. That just suited Callum Devlin, never shy of a rumble and he managed to force the ball over the goal-line to give his team a lead they would not relinquish. 

SAVIN RISES TO HEAD BACK ACROSS GOAL...

...INTO A MELEE...

...& IN THE SCRUM...

...CALLUM DEVLIN PUTS HAMPTON 2-3 AHEAD...

Hampton’s 7, Elliott Pratt, had worked so hard before the break but with little success, yet soon afterwards he set off on a smart rush inside from the left, before shooting from 19 yards. Subsequently though, his effort beat Harris but rebounded from the right stick.

PRATT'S EFFORT STRIKES A POST...

A short Earlswood revival saw a Harry Street drive well blocked by Coleman and a Woodward header glance by the angle of left post and crossbar. Visiting replacement Matt Garbett raced clear on the right but was denied by the goalminder, although it looked for a moment that he would lift the ball over Harris, then Hampton settled the outcome with their fourth goal.

WOODWARD HEADS WIDE OF THE LEFT UPRIGHT...

The form of left-back Hewitt was good and his set-piece deliveries were decent and it was his right-wing corner which Harris was prevented from accessing by the number of bodies around him. The ball dropped at the far upright, where the flailing boot of Callum Devlin failed to connect with it but Savin plunged forth and bundled it deep into the net… 

CALLUM DEVLIN LEAPS...

...BUT SAVIN NETS FOR 2-4...

Replacement Scott Devlin drove wide for the visitors, whilst a smart rush by Elwell for Earlswood ended with a 25 yard shot rising too high, as the match ebbed away…

The final words…

Unsurprisingly for a first competitive match, there were moments of untidiness during the contest but the teams really tried to be creative, chances were made and goals were nabbed. 

PUNCH BY HARRIS...

Certainly, Street competed well for the hosts at right-back, Ben Roddy was industrious in midfield and skipper Keelan Reilly was a workhorse. Parsons looked lively, Louis Bridges was persistent on offense and of course the unpredictable Elwell was entertaining to watch…

Replacement Abdul Adegbola did well when he was introduced by Town, showing strength and good vision, in a cameo performance. 

Hampton’s newly fashioned team worked well together, with the backbone of the line-up particularly strong. Gloveman Hartopp was loud and a real presence, Coleman and Savin were dominant in central defence and Callum Devlin was a pain in the arse for the home defenders as the pivot in the front line. Robbins and Hewitt were combative in the full-back roles and although the two wingers, Pratt and the speedy Marcus Brookes weren’t really able to impact the encounter too much, Chris Hayden was a busy and effective worker in midfield.

WOODWARD WAS CAUTIONED FOR THIS FOUL ON CALLUM DEVLIN...

The performance of Tobin was interesting though. His early goal-saving block from Parsons showed great determination but his movement and accurate passing were features of the match…

The officiating was a little unusual however…

After four first-half goals, the usual celebrations thereafter, plus delays caused by warnings to players and the time wasted before free-kicks were taken, it was surprising that half-time began at exactly 3.45pm, following a 3pm kick-off…

Just sayin’…