KINGSTONIAN 3 HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH 0

Kingstonian convincingly beat Hampton & Richmond 3-0 on Saturday, in the first game between the sides in 16 years. But until the first goal went in, on 41 minutes, Hampton enjoyed the bulk of the possession, writes Les Rance.

For most of the first half, Ks keeper Lance Key was kept on his toes, with Richard OConnor, Eysais Yhdego and Paul de Luca all giving the home side something to think about.

In the 37th minute, Key made his best save of the game, after Steve Omonuas free kick found Yhdego and his first- time shot had the Ks keeper leaping high to his right to palm the ball away.

A few minutes later, the value of Keys saves were realised when Ks broke away to score their first goal.

Mackenzie came out to the right-hand edge of his penalty area to try to close down Danny Bolt, who managed to cross for Ronnie Green to head just inside the post.

In the second half, Ks wrested control from Hampton, and their second goal was the result of an horrendous error by Beavers keeper Stuart Mackenzie. He went up for a cross and somehow allowed the ball to slip from his grasp into the path of Greg Ball, who fired into an open goal.

From then on, there was only one likely winner and in the 79th minute Green rounded McKenzie for goal number three.

Beavers manager Steve Cordery held the players

in the dressing room for

20 minutes after the game, upset by the lack of commitment shown during the second half.

Kingstonian may be cash strapped, but they were not short of ideas on the pitch, and Hampton will take little comfort in knowing they attracted the biggest crowd (714) to Kingsmeadow so far this season.

This Saturday, Hampton are at home to table-topping Canvey Island.