Those Were The Days; 27th March 1989

[Les1949]

THOSE WERE THE DAYS
25th March 1989

Isthmian (Vauxhall-Opel) League; Division 1

Hampton 2 (Gill 13’, Walkes 46’) Collier Row (Cole 28’) 1 Att; 173

Hampton;-
David Hook; Clive Marich, Malcolm Dickenson, Steve Kuhne, Tim Hollands (Nigel Hatcher, 86), Sean O’Connell, Paul Lucas, Steve Cheshire, Ricky Walkes, Mark Gill, Danny Aluko (Gary Cambridge, 77).

Defeat in this game was not an option. Hampton were involved in a battle against relegation and were taking on Collier Row who were four points above them. Hampton’s manager, Brian Laing had got the players to work on their corner kicks during the week and, for once, all the work paid off. In the 13th minute, Kuhne won a corner, however, before the kick was taken, Collier Row had to make a substitution, maybe that caused the confusion in the defence, because Gill’s low-hit corner went straight in, 1-0. Walkes, Gill and Aluko all had good chances to score a second as Hampton looked much livelier than of late. Typically, a minute after Aluko went close, Collier Row equalised when Graham Cole volleyed the ball in from twelve yards, beating Hook’s effort to divert the ball away. Within seconds of the start of the second half, Hampton got back in front. Dickenson found Aluko on the right and his deep cross was met by the soaring Walkes who headed the ball in at the far post. Hampton survived a nervy 44 minutes to hold on to the win. A win which moved Hampton out of the bottom three for the first time since mid-season. The Beavers managed to scramble enough points to finish 17th whilst Collier Row finished third from bottom and were relegated.


The Old Historian