Fisher catch Beavers on a bad day

Fisher Athletic came to Beveree having won eight of their previous nine league games and made it nine out of 10 with a brace of goals from Shaun Batt.

The Fish netted all three points with an excellent display of fast, mobile and confident football although the Beavers were distinctly unimpressed with the first goal by Batt, which was as a result of a clear handball not seen by the match officials.

This was the first meeting of the two sides since the Ryman Premier Division promotion play-off final at the end of the 2005-06 season, which Fisher had won 3-0.

Hampton found themselves 1-0 down after just three minutes, the fastest league goal conceded by the Beavers this season.

As the ball was played out to the left, Batt appeared to control the ball with his arm.

There was a momentary hesitation in the Hampton defence as they anticipated the whistle, but no such relief came and Batt went on to in the far corner.

Five minutes later, Elliott Godfrey volleyed just wide of the target and then Stuart Lake had an effort blocked.

In the 12th minute, Batt showed his pace again with another run down the left, his low cross found England C player Jeff Goulding in front of goal but Hampton keeper Matt Lovett did well to get across and block his point-blank shot.

Minutes later from a Fisher free-kick, Lovett saved another certain goal when he gathered in Scott Gooding's effort at the far post.

Hampton had the ball in the net in the 17th net but Ian Hodges' effort was ruled out for a foul on Fisher goalkeeper Simon Overland.

Overland was in action two minutes later when he came 15 yards off his line to claim Dean Wells's free kick.

Later, Wells headed the ball firmly forward, Hodges helped it on but the ball was just beyond Lawrence Yaku.

On the half hour, Lovett showed great agility to clutch the ball from Goulding just as it seemed the ball was going to pass him.

From a couple of Wells long throws, Yaku poked a shot wide, and Francis Quarm had a drive from distance miss the target.

Seven minutes before half-time, Wells launched another long throw aimed for the near post area, Overland got to it but almost directed it into his own goal, the ball missing his left hand post by inches.

Three minutes into the second half, Yaku somehow managed to curl his foot around a defender and got a shot away but couldn't direct it on target.

Then, in the 54th minute, only a clearance off the line from Gooding prevented Yaku from scoring.

Fisher missed a gilt-edged chance when Goulding headed wide of the far post following a cross from Luke Hickie.

Hampton won a corner in the 59th minute, which ultimately led to Fisher's second goal.

When the cross came in, Overland punched the ball away to the edge of his own penalty area.

Batt collected the ball and sprinted upfield, an interchange of passes with Ben Wright put Batt further in the clear and he rapped the ball past Lovett.

In the 66th minute Overland fisted away Shaun McAuley's effort and then got back into position to deal with Graham Harper's follow-up shot.

Lovett then made another good save as Fisher threatened a third goal.

As time ran out, Godfrey volleyed over, McAuley shot wide and then Lovett had to come charging out to make a flying clearance, in which he collected a heavy knock.

Hampton manager Alan Devonshire had few complaints, saying: "the better team won on the day."

Hampton: Matt Lovett; Craig Tanner, Barrie Matthews (Graham Harper, 19), Orlando Jeffrey (Kelvin McIntosh, 63), Stuart Lake (Shaun McAuley, 63), Dean Wells, Alan Inns, Elliott Godfrey, Ian Hodges, Lawrence Yaku, Francis Quarm. Subs not used ; Rob Paris & Leeyon Phelan.Hampton & Richmond Borough have won their way into their third Middlesex Senior Cup final in four seasons by beating Uxbridge 2-0 in the semi-final.

The Beavers will meet Hendon in the final, which will be played at Uxbridge FC on Easter Monday, March 24 (7.30pm).

The scheduled league game that day, home to Braintree Town, will be re-arranged for later in the season.

A notable visitor to the Beveree on Saturday to watch Hampton take on Fisher Athletic was Baroness Jenny Tonge, the former Lib-Dem MP for Richmond.

Baroness Tonge was a guest of Hampton commercial manager Matthew Wherrey.

The Beveree is fast becoming the place to be seen as this season as the Mayor of Richmond, Marc Cranfield-Evans, Lib-Dem MP and Deputy Leader Vince Cable and head of the Football Association, Brian Barwick, have all been seen cheering on the Beavers.

Work has started in and around the Beveree in order for the club to reach the required B grade for the ground.

When the Conference South and North was set up the member clubs were initially given three (then extended to four) years to meet certain criteria.

Season 2007-08 is the final year for work to be carried out and, in Hampton's case, having only come up into the Conference South this season, they have until March 31 to complete the necessary alterations.

The main tasks to be carried out by the Beavers are:

Install an extra 50 seatsExtend the dug outsIncrease the number of toilets for supportersImprove the floodlightingThere are also a few other minor jobs to be done but all the work has to be completed and inspected by the FA, by the end of March, in order to maintain the status won on the pitch.

While the club is paying for the bulk of the work to be carried out, the supporters' club (soon, hopefully, to be the supporters' trust) are assisting with financial help as well.

Hampton's attendance against Fisher was swelled by up to 200 youngsters from local youth football teams who were invited to the game.

The youngsters were well catered for as a Junior Beaver tuck shop has been set up under the Old Stand.