Hampton & Richmond Borough defender Tom Jelly says it is no fluke the Beavers are three points clear at the top of the Ryman Premier League – and he has the goals to prove it.
The 28-year-old claimed Hampton’s first as they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Leatherhead on Wednesday to increase their advantage over second-placed Dulwich Hamlet – losers at Lewes on the same night.
They needed a last minute effort from Moussa Diarra to complete the comeback, meaning Hampton have lost just once in their past 12 games.
Quick off the mark: Leatherhead's Frannie Collin opened the scoring in the second minute at Fetcham Grove on Wednesday
“Coming back from 2-0 down is no fluke, we have done it before already this season,” said Jelley.
“After they went 2-0 up inside 15 minutes I don’t think they even had a corner. We battered them.
"We were 17th in September and I said then you couldn’t write us off. We’ve been on a brilliant run.”
Slippery: Leatherhead's Ryan Mahal shows a Hampton defender a clean pair of heals at Fetcham Grove on Wednesday
He added: “My goal went down as a Nick Kabamba goal, but I have already claimed it. I’ve got six and I want as many as I can get.
“I joked I wanted to score 10 this season and I only need four more to get there.”
New face: AFC Wimbledon Tom Beere has joined Hampton on loan for a month and he has already made a big impression
Boss Alan Dowson strengthened his hand by signing AFC Wimbledon midfielder Tom Beere on a month’s loan last week and he featured prominently in Saturday’s 4-3 win over Leiston, which featured a double for Jamal Lowe.
Hampton head to Harrow to face Hendon on Saturday.
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