THOSE WERE THE DAYS
31st October 1987
F A Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round
Hampton 2 (Nelson, Walkes) Gravesend & Northfleet 2 Att; 184
Hampton ;-
Chris Vagg; Gary Cambridge, Malcolm Dickenson, Tim Hollands, Jim Wigmore, Horace Nelson, John Di Palma, Sean O’Connell, Ricky Walkes, Sean Rice, Zarak Shafique.
Subs; Gary Gerson, Lee Mooney.
Gravesend & Northfleet;-
Keith Hepple; Mark Penfold, Mick Wakeman, Colin Dalton, Bob Shinners, John Palmer, Tony Towner, Andy Blondrage, Ray Tumbridge, Paul Battram, John Hunt.
Subs; Darren Dennis, Steve Rutter.
The 2-2 draw with Beazer Homes League’s Gravesend & Northfleet left Hampton still looking for their first home win of the season. On a wet pitch and in gloomy light, the Beavers got off to an excellent start. The visiting keeper, Hepple was only able to parry Nelson’s seventh minute shot into the net. Walkes made it 2-0 after 15 minutes as Hampton were looking the stronger side. The lead didn’t last long! Straight from the re-start Hampton conceded a penalty which despite Vagg’s best efforts was struck home by Tumbridge. Moments before the half-time whistle it was all level again, at 2-2. Hunt broke through the Hampton defence, Vagg saved the first shot but was unable to prevent Hunt following up to score from the rebound. Despite the rain, the second half was end to end. Gravesend looked the stronger, Towner, a former league player with a number of clubs, gave the Hampton defence some worrying moments before the game went to a replay. Hampton won through in the replay, beating Gravesend 2-1 a few days later.
The Old Historian