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 The Sports travelled to Rymans Champions Hampton & Richmond Borough for the opening fixture of the 2007/2008 season. This was new territory for the club but hopes were high of continuing the form from 2006/2007 that saw Boro pushing for a play-off position. Garry and Nicks team selection was heavily influenced by suspensions and injuries; debuts handed to David Hogan in goal and Scott Chamberlain in central midfield. Recent recruits Danny Leach and Nathan Crabb started on the bench but made 2nd half appearances, Andy Ballad also started on the bench.
The match started with The Sports playing up the gentle Beveree slope but temperatures were touching 26 degrees; fitness would play an important factor in the match. Hampton started brightly and Lawrence Yaku had 2 opportunities to score inside the opening 6 minutes, the 1st blocked by Darren Baker, the 2nd saw excellent chest control, turn and shot saved well by Hogan low to his left. The home side were certainly not overawed by their debut in the Conference League and were showing themselves capable of playing the ball both long and to feet when required. It was also apparent that they were a hard working team, closing Sports players down at every opportunity.
After the initial 10 minutes The Sports began to work their way into the game. Neil Jenkins played a fine ball over the top of the home defence to Matt Crabb (above right). Crabby, who would torment Marcello Fernandes all afternoon, played an early low cross into the 18yard box only to find the covering defender. On 16 minutes Kelvin McIntosh received his 1st yellow for pulling a player back, this time Pat Harding the victim. The Sports were winding up the pressure and Crabb was again at the centre of things. His crosses forcing Matt Lovett to clear. On 20 minutes Scott Ramsay had an excellent chance to open his account for the season. Neil Jenkins combined well with Chamberlain, Jenks’s deep cross found Ramsay at the far post but his downward header was inches past the post. Crabb again turned inside Fernandes on the half-hour but rather than squaring the ball from the bye-line his shot was punched behind by the keeper.
On 35 minutes, following yet another foul on Crabb, Chamberlain curled a delightful free-kick that the keeper finger-tipped against the bar for a corner; The Sports were now firmly in control. Andy Atkin (above left) forced his way into the area and after turning inside his marker curled a low effort away towards the far post, Dean Wells throwing his body into the block prompting some halfhearted appeals for a penalty from the large away following. On 44 minutes Hampton had an excellent chance to take the lead. From a speculative right-wing delivery the ball wasn’t cleared and Alex Haddow found himself unmarked in the 18yard box. With Sports defenders desperately closing him down the ball would not drop kindly but his header required a fine save from Hogan; the ball tipped over for a corner.
Half-time saw neither side make changes but this time The Sports had the advantage of the slope. Hampton played the ball to feet well in the middle of the park but a shot from the edge of the box was into a forest of legs; the ball finally deflected out for a throw-in. On 53 minutes Pat Harding had a goal bound effort charged down and the home side were forced to mainly play on the break as The Sports continued to dominate and the opposition tired in the heat.
On 60 minutes the game effectively moved beyond the home side as McIntosh received a 2nd yellow, again for pulling a player back. As The Sports streamed down the hill McIntosh pulled Paul Armstrong back over a full 20 yards. Once play broke down the referee had no hesitation in issuing the No.11’s 2nd yellow and the home side were reduced to 10. Despite their reduced numbers the next goal scoring opportunity went to Hampton. A right-wing corner was delivered across the face of the visitors goal but no striker able to get his head on the excellent delivery.
On 68 minutes The Sports opened the scoring. A right-wing near-post corner from Crabb was thumped home by Atkin with his head, squeezing the ball just inside the post and defender. The visitors now wound up the pressure with Lovett being forced to save from Crabb twice, the 2nd a 1-on-1 which would have wrapped the game up. The save forced the ball out for a corner and the Crabb right-wing delivery found Atkin again and his glancing header this time found the net just inside the far post, 2-0 The Sports.
The 2nd goal saw the match slow down considerably. Hampton had a couple of breaks and Alan Inns a half-chance to reduce the deficit but The Sports fresh legs worked the home defence enough to keep the home side on the back-foot and the large Eastbourne presence at the ground went home pleased with a fine performance in a tricky fixture ..... and most importantly all 3 points.
Match Details - Webmaster.
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