City suffer heavy Hampton defeat at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park

City suffered a 4-0 defeat against Hampton & Richmond Borough at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.

There was little sign of the disappointing afternoon to come during the early exchanges. New loan signing Luke Skinner looked lively and his 6th minute cross saw an unmarked Jordan Tillson direct a header the wrong side of the post. Tillson then returned the favour in the 17th minute but Hampton keeper Dewhurst was alert to reach the ball just ahead of Skinner. Having weathered this early pressure the visitors took the lead on 19 minutes when Kretzschmar headed home from Sliva’s deflected cross-shot. City responded well to this set-back, Jaiden Putman shooting narrowly over moments later. City continued to press for an equaliser, Dewhurst twice saving well from Skinner. The half ended with Charlie Binns producing a great stop to keep out Deadfield’s shot.

Following a delay early in the second half for a medical incident in the crowd, City should have been level on 57 minutes. Great work by Donovan Wilson sent Moses Alexander-Walker bearing down on goal. He could have shot but laid the ball off to Skinner who tried to cut back onto his left-foot which allowed Hampton to recover and clear the danger. And City paid for this miss a minute later as Hampton doubled their lead. Binns blocked Fasanmade’s initial shot with his legs but Silva curled home the loose ball with a stunning shot from the edge of the box. Forced to throw men forward now in search of a way back into the game it was the Beavers who looked the more likely to add to the scoring, Binns tipping Boateng’s deflected 66th minute shot over. Alexander-Walker was denied by another fine stop by Dewhurst 13 minutes from the end of normal time. Hampton made it 3-0 on 88 minutes, Fasanmade tapping home Field’s cross from close range. The afternoon took one final downturn for the Romans midway through the extended stoppage time when Grego-Cox’s neat finish added a fourth goal.