Amateur Football Combination Premier Division

Old Hamptonians 1 Old Meadonians 2

After a rocky run of consecutive defeats which saw them ignominiously hustled out of two cups, despite hogging the ball for huge chunks of time but afflicted by myopia in front of goal, Old Meadonians found their feet to fleece dangerous rivals, Old Hamptonians, of three invaluable away points while other results conspired to leave them hovering poised to perch atop the league if they win their games in hand.

The intensity of Meads’ start took their hosts by surprise and forced errors to keep them back on their heels. However, no amount of pressure is enough without the net being found and reward came just twenty minutes in as Jack Costello whipped in a low cross from the right and John Shea got across his marker to force the ball in at the near post.

Ten minutes later came a stunner from Ryan Bright. Tireless Shea tamed the ball with a stop-volley and Bright flashed his volley into the far top corner from fully twenty five yards.

Hampton then began to edge back into the game and the visitors had their lead cut with the last kick of the half when a right wing cross was only partially cleared for Chris Heritage to convert from just inside the area. The second half saw the hosts piling on waves of attacks which just broke on Meads’ steadfast back four without causing a chink of a breach. John Shea and Ryan Bright shared the MoM award.

Squad: Robinson, Costello, Gerrish, Chapman, Cain, Gowers, N. Jones, Bright (Thomson), C. Jones, Wilson (Boynton), Shea. Sub not used, Mace.

January 3, 2016