Beavers click into gear at last to smash Braintree in cup

Hampton & Richmond stormed to their first home victory of the season against Blue Square South rivals Braintree Town to progress to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, where they play host to either Aveley of the Ryman Premier League, writes Ed Stubbs.

Well-taken strikes from Marcello Fernandes, Craig Dundas, Lawrence Yaku and Barrie Matthews secured Hampton’s passage, despite failing behind to an early George Purcell strike.

In truth, the hosts could have scored more, but Alan Devonshire will be happy that he is nearing a full-strength squad to select from after suspensions and injuries have hindered the side for the most part of this season.

Braintree started brightly, taking just 51 seconds to have an attempt on goal, Ryan Peters firing wide from 25 yards.

The Iron were looking dangerous, in particular Purcell and Jon Keeling, and both saw dangerous crosses fizz across the Hampton box and to safety.

Dundas came close for Hampton before the Beveree Stadium fell silent in the eighth minute, when the visitors took the lead.

A slip in the home defence was seized on by Sean Marks, and there was a rapid interchange of passes before Purcell broke free on the left and drilled in a stinging drive that Matt Lovett could not keep out.

This seemed to spur on the hosts, who began to mount some serious pressure.

Yaku fired in an effort but his shot deflected off Iron skipper Joe Bruce and was smothered by Billy McMahon.

McMahon was then called into action when the former Billericay stopper made a fine save on 19 minutes, tipping Fernandes’s long-range shot over the bar.

From the resulting corner, the Beavers were unlucky not to draw level, as Bruce deflected the ball against his own cross bar and behind.

In the 23rd minute Dundas showed great technique to beat Mark Jones to a long ball and jinx inside, beating two defenders, before seeing his angled shot rebound back off the post.

The Beavers were getting closer, and Jon McDonald was next to try his luck when the midfielder shot wide from 14 yards out.

Jamie Collins almost bagged a sensational equaliser when he fired in a superb volley from 30 yards out, but the ball again hit the woodwork and bounced away to safety.

John Scarborough curled an effort into the arms of McMahon as the home fans wondered how their side had failed to score.

This all changed in the 34th minute, however, when Fernandes scored his first goal of the season courtesy of a fantastic 25-yard lob on the stretch, which whistled over McMahon and into the net. Fernandes wheeled away in celebration, as the Beveree Stadium breathed a collective sigh of relief. Braintree were failing to re-establish themselves in the match, and the Essex side fell behind two minutes before half-time.

A Hampton free kick was nodded on by McDonald and Scarborough crossed for Dundas, who confidently volleyed home from the edge of the six-yard box. The Beavers went in at half-time deservedly ahead.

Alan Devonshire’s side started the second period much how the spent the first, playing neat football and generally dominating the play.

However, they were restricted to few clear cut chances as the Braintree defence scrambled any threat away from the penalty area.

Set-pieces were proving difficult for the visitors to cope with, and Hampton nearly scored on two occasions.

In the 60th minute, Orlando Jeffrey headed a McDonald free kick over the bar before Collins nodded Matthews’ corner wide.

In the 63rd minute the hosts extended their lead, thanks to a superbly taken goal by Yaku.

McDonald squared the ball and Yaku produced a great turn to get away from Bruce before rifling his shot high into the roof of the net for his third goal of the season.

The Beavers were cruising, and an equally well executed goal from Matthews secured the victory in the 76th minute.

The former Maidenhead man cut in from the right, beat two defenders and then shot across McMahon and in off the far post.

The tempo of the game slowed as both sides seemed to accept the result, but their was still time for Dundas to fire wide, before substitute Nathan Collier capped a fine substitute appearance when he held off two Braintree defenders before drilling a 25-yard effort just over.

Devonshire’s men are at home in the next round to Aveley, who are flying high in the Ryman League Premier Division, on October 10.

Next up in the league is a visit of strugglers Weymouth on Saturday.