Old Meadonians ran out 2-1 winners over Old Hamptonians in a scrappy Amateur Football Combination Clash at Riverside Lands on Saturday.

In front of AFA president Malcolm Perks, neither side showed much interest in cashing in on the extended periods of territorial dominance they enjoyed by putting the ball in the net.

In this respect at least, Meads were the guiltier of the two as they continually fell on their own sword.

They started brightly enough when striker Colin Hawkins turned the clock back with a scorcher from 25 yards just five minutes in.

But after that, final passes well behind enemy lines were either misdirected or left too late, with or without interference from their foes’ back line.

Five minutes before the interval, Hamptonians levelled from a penalty.

The visitors now took control from the restart for long periods of the second half, with the hosts relying on Peter Eguae’s speed to relieve pressure while still managing to squander any opportunities afforded.

Hamptonians’ profligacy in respect of their chance to profit was less self-inflicted than their hosts’ as it was abetted by the obduracy of Meads back four and domination of the area by Simon Greening in gaol.

With ten minutes to go Meads’ coach Jack Costello trusted himself to go on, away from the hurly burly of midfield, at right back. I mmediately he showed what a great loss his long-term injury has been by bringing a calming authority to focus Meads’ efforts to rescue the points. One of Costello’s greatest strengths has been the deadly nature of his free kicks around the area and Saturday was no exception as, with five minutes to the final whistle he delivered the ball from an angle 30 out for new boy Barry Tomkins to get up and head past the keeper.

Simon Greening was named MoM.

Old Meadonians: S. Greening, Graham, (Costello), Pointer, Thompson, Rhone, Jacobs, (Tomkins), Jones, Gerrish, Eguae, Glover, Hawkins.