Hambledon welcomed Hersham on Saturday afternoon looking to get back on track following a draw with Guildford United last time out.

Mariner was back in the squad while Jack Field started for the first time since his foot injury.

Hersham were coming into this game of an impressive win and The Dons would need to be alert from the off.

Both sides matched each other with 3 at the back and were looking to utilise the width throughout the opening fifteen minutes.

Half chances fell to Hersham but the best chance came when good work down the right from Jamie Grove set off Kuda Kamoto who played the ball into Seb Jefferies. Calum Roots was free wide left but Seb scuffed his shot wide of the target.
Another good chance fell to the home side when Hambledon broke down the left. The ball was exchanged between Tom Winter and Kuda Kamoto- Tom set the ball for Calum Roots and after a good first touch saw his right footed effort saved by the keeper.

Hersham had a good chance shortly after when a through ball was threaded through to a midfield player however Jack Field carried out his duty and tracked his runner intercepting the ball and out for a corner.

The Dons had defended well but at times overplayed at the back which gave Hersham some confidence.

HT 0-0

Chris Turner was introduced for Tom Winter at the Break.
Within five minutes a flicked ball from Seb Jefferies fell into Chris’ Turners path who hit a volley down the keepers neck- he spilled the ball and Jack Field had the ball in the back of the next but was judged offside.

The second half was much of the same. Both sides using the width and looking to break away.
In the second half Hambledon did the bar / post 3 times.
Once from a Calum Roots cross, a Jack Field corner and free kick.
The ball wasn’t falling for the home side.

With around 20 minutes to go the deadlock was broken.
A through ball which seemingly looked to be cleared either by Oli Calcott or keeper Matt Mullins, was left for Mullins to clear only for him to miss the ball and the Hersham striker poke the ball into an empty net.

With both sides working hard The Dons has a task on their hands to get back in the game.

Allen Tillyard came on for James Mariner who after coming on for skipper Luke Winter unfortunately suffered a calf injury. Moments later Oli Calcott came off with the same injury and Luke Winter re entered play.

The best chance fell with 11 minutes to go when a good tackle from Ryan Luff allowed himself to play Chris Turner in. From the middle of the park he drove forward, Kuda Kamoto peeled left, Seb Jefferies right.
Turner played the ball into Seb who with a good first touch cut inside but from 7 yards out his his shot straight at the keeper.

Hambledon ramped up the pressure but couldn’t find an equaliser.

Credit to Hersham

MOM Jack Field

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