Those Were The Days; 7th February 1998

[Les1949]

THOSE WERE THE DAYS
7th February 1998

Isthmian (Ryman) League Division 1

Billericay Town 1 Hampton 1 (Harvey) Att;477

Hampton;-
Mark Russell; Barry Moore, John Crouch, Darren Powell, Steve Cheshire, Junior Harvey, Danny Collyer, Ian Savage, Francis Vines, Dominic Feltham (Andy Gray, 70’), Nick Burton.
Unused Subs;- Robin Lewis, Dave Rattue

Second-placed Hampton travelled to Billericay Town (Sixth), looking for points to put pressure on the leaders, Aldershot Town. The Beavers would possibly have settled for a point at the start but after ninety minutes they probably felt that they should have taken all three with a little more luck. Russell made a double save early on before Moore slammed a shot into the side netting with Dave Root, former K’s keeper, looking relieved. Early in the second half Russell and Leon Gutzmore both needed treatment after a collision. Newly signed Harvey (ex-Ks) had a golden chance to score in the 52nd minute but Root was quick off his line to block the shot. In the 59th a Gutzmore penalty gave the home side the lead. In the 65th minute Powell surged forward, found Moore who sent a towering cross over to Vines, who, in turn, laid the ball back to Harvey to score on his debut. At the end a point apiece probably suited Hampton more than Billericay, especially as nearest rivals, Grays & Leatherhead, had both lost, against the bottom two sides!



The Old Historian