FOOTBALL.

Waltham Abbey 1, Hampton 2. Hampton, the overwhelming favourites, won the 91st Middlesex Charity Cup Final at Uxbridge FC on Friday night, for the second time in three seasons.

A 2-1 victory margin was just about right on the night as Hampton were mainly in control of the game but Waltham Abbey, from the Sparton South Midlands League, showed occasionally that Hampton could not become too complacent. Waltham had, after all, knocked out Ryman opposition in Edgware Town and Vauxhall Conference Hayes in the semi-final.

After Agbasoni scored in the 75th minute Waltham made a number of dangerous forays forward which could have led to a late equaliser, but keeper Mark Russell was determined not to be beaten.

Waltham's goalkeeper Peter Thorpe, who looked as if he had just left school, came in for a torrid time at first, blocking an Andy Gray shot with his legs and having to clear a couple of dodgy back passes into the terracing. There was nothing that Thorpe could do though about Barry Moore's strike on goal in the 24th minute. Moore, given too much space by Waltham's defenders, stepped inside one defender before cracking an unstoppable shot high into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Hampton struck again in the 32nd minute to take a 2-0 lead. Ian Savage, wide out on the left touchline floated over a free kick, Steve Cheshire glanced the ball goalwards and Gallagher following in guided the ball past Thorpe. Just before half time Moore went off to be replaced by Craig Reilly.

At the start of the second half John Crouch came on for Nick Burton who had taken a heavy knock midway through the first half. Thorpe was called into action early in the half when he came out to dive bravely to thwart Gallagher.

With the comfort of a two-goal cushion Hampton started to knock the ball around with the confidence that comes from a winning side. Cheshire had the ball in the net for Hampton in the 68th minute but was given offside. Thorpe was called upon to tip over a dangerous effort by Gray in the 69th minute. Francis Vines came on to replace Thompson and in his first slice of action was just beaten to a cross by Knox. Waltham then pulled a goal back through substitute Agbasoni - a good strike from a narrow angle from a pacey striker.

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