Hambledon kicked off the new year in style with a comprehensive victory over bottom side Guildford Park at Fairlands Recreation Ground. Two quick fire goals from Darren Martin and Elijah Taylor in the second half saw the Dons claim the spoils after Alex Mussell's early opener was cancelled out just before half time.

The Dons were looking to bounce back after a difficult month of results, and an away to trip to Guildford Park on paper looked the ideal opportunity to get the league campaign back on track. However, despite being at opposite ends of the table, encounters between the two sides have historically been tight affairs. The greatest margin of victory for either team came in the reverse fixture back in November that saw the Dons run out 2-0 winners.

Six changes in total were made to the squad from the last league outing. Alex Mussell was restored to the starting line-up to partner Mike Waugh in defense. Devon MacMillan was back in midfield after taking a brief Christmas break from his university excursions and Adam Cook returned to provide some much needed options in attack. Elijah Taylor stepped up his recovery from injury to make the matchday squad and the Dons were also bolstered on the wings by the return of Grant Flint and Max Dodson.

Off the pitch, quite a crowd was building to witness the Dons' first game of the new year. Sweets, Jono, Bread, Carlo and Tim Coleman amongst others all braved the freezing conditions to offer their support. And they were treated to a blistering start by the Dons, who flew out of the traps the quickest. Darren Martin escaped the attentions of the Guildford Park defence. The resulting shot skewed off a defender with the keeper unable to stop the ball rolling behind for a corner. The subsequent set piece was swept in by Grant Flint and met powerfully by a stooping header from Alex Mussell to give the Dons an early lead.

Guildford Park were struggling with the movement of the front three of Darren Martin, Andrew Michelmore and Grant Flint, the latter seeing a long range free kick sail over the bar and then an audacious overhead kick which was well held by the home keeper. An excellent run and cross by Andrew Michelmore down the right caused havoc in the box before the ball was hacked clear. Devon MacMillan and Ollie Jones were keeping things ticking over nicely in midfield. Another good passage of play ended with Sam Coombe delivering a precision perfect cross to the back post only for the header to unfortunately lack the power to beat the goalkeeper. Another free kick from the right was met by another Dons head only to come crashing back off the bar.

At the other end, the defensive shape was incredibly solid and limited the home side to wayward long range efforts. Alex Mussel and Mike Waugh were in inspired form winning every one of their aerial battles while down the flanks, the Dons were determined to stop the crosses and doubled up on the Guildford Park wingers. Hambledon were in the ascendency but still only lead by the solitary goal. There was always a danger the home side could fashion a single opportunity to get back into the game and five minutes before half time the chance arose. The referee awarded a free kick to the home side right on the edge of the box, after what appeared a soft coming together. The Guildford Park attacker stepped up a struck a low shot past the wall and into the bottom right hand corner of Matt Mullins' goal.

Half time arrived with the sides locked at 1-1. Sam Simmons entered the fray to provide some fresh legs and extra attacking impetus and Julian Robinson replaced the injured Sam Coombe. Again, just like the first half, the Dons had the majority of the play only this time, two goals in quick succession ended the game as a contest. A long kick downfield from Matt Mullins caused confusion in the Guildford Park defence. The home goalkeeper and defender collided, allowing Darren Martin to run through and finish superbly from a tight angle. Soon after, the Dons developed the play down the right wing - Grant Flint cutting back onto his left foot and delivered an inch-perfect cross to the back post where it was met by the diving head of Elijah Taylor to make it 3-1.

Hambledon saw out the rest of the game with relative ease. Guildford Park established back some of the territory and looked dangerous from set-pieces but never looked like troubling the Dons defence enough to instigate a comeback. A free kick from the right was glanced narrowly wide and a corner was headed against the bar, which was eventually scrambled clear. The only noteable effort on target was well held by Matt Mullins when the Guildford Park attacker should've done better when well placed.

As the game entered the latter stages, it was the Dons that looked more like extending their lead as Guildford Park tired. Excellent combination play from Adam Cook and Sam Simmons ended with the former having a shot superbly blocked. Devon MacMillan then delivered an excellent freekick for Sam Simmons to run onto only for the ball to just skip away at the last minute. Ollie Jones had a shot well held by the keeper and Grant Flint had an excellent chance to cap off a superb display with a goal. A goalmouth scramble in the home box ensued with the Dons just failing to get the ball over the line, the Guildford Park defenders throwing themselves in front of everything to keep the score respectable.

The victory moves the Dons to within 5 points of leaders Hindhead Athletic with 7 games to play. Both sides meet next week at Broadwater Park.

COYDs!