Hampton 0 - Bishops Stortford 0

(Ryman League Premier Division)

This game between Hampton, 17th, and Bishop's Stortford, 22nd, was short on flowing football, short on goalmouth action and long on futility.

Neither side got to grips with the strong, gusty wind blowing diagonally across the Beveree pitch which stood up surprisingly well given the overnight drenching that it had suffered.

On-target shots were at a premium during a match in which neither side was able to hold on to the ball long enough to make any inroads into the opposition.

The ball spent long periods being hoofed around in midfield from one team to the other.

There was only one chance of note in the first half. Hakan Altinok, making his first full start for Hampton, was put in the clear by Johnson Hippolyte's good lay-off, but Altinok's shot - delivered on the run - soared over the crossbar.

Craig Reilly, also making his first start of the season, almost got a shot in from close range a few minutes later, following good approach work from Altinok, Hippolyte and Chris James, but Bishop's goalkeeper Gavin King was there to block away the effort. The second half was played in a similar fashion and when Hampton did pierce the Bishop's defence they found that King was very quick in getting out to clear the ball away.

Twice King came out of his area to head the ball away.

And when James fired in a shot on target, King did well to leap across and pluck the ball out of the air. Bishop's Stortford Gerry Ikazoboh did make a couple of dangerous looking runs late in the game but on each occasion ran into a solid Hampton defence.

Neither team can be very happy with the point but in truth neither particularly deserved the three points that would have come with a win.

Team: Mark Russell; Steve Croxford, Nick Burton, Peter Wood (Matt Miller, 70 mins), Craig Reilly, Dave Stephenson, Hakan Altinok, Ian Savage, Johnson Hippolyte (Robin Lewis, 85 mins), Chris James, Jamie Beer.

Promotion for Lewis

Hampton have lost the services of club coach Paul Shrubb.

The former Brentford and Aldershot player has been involved with the club for a year.

Boss Chick Botley has promoted Beavers veteran Robin Lewis to player/

coach.

Lewis won an FA Trophy with Enfield 10 years ago, and since joining Hampton in 1996 has made more than 100 appearances.

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