It is many a year since Hampton started their pre-season campaign with just one player from their previous season's first team squad in the starting line-up.

Left back Ronnie Girvan having made his peace with the new management team put in an accomplished performance and, after a good first half, was replaced.

The Beavers side included former youth team players Lawrence Goddard and Enrico Grimm, such are the personnel changes that have happened during a tumultuous close season.

Manager Ian McDonald was no doubt relieved to get this first match played and he will have seen quite a number of things to please him during the first half.

Keeper Steve Farrelly made an excellent save from Barnet's hat trick star Toby Oshitola, defender Ben Proudfoot put in a sound performance and Ashley Stanovic looked very strong in midfield.

Barnet took the lead through Oshitola, but within minutes Hampton had levelled former Carshalton player Richard Thompson firing home from 15 yards out.

Hampton looked to be going into the interval all square, but an atrocious back-pass put Farrelly in trouble and Yakaba scored from close range.

The second half saw the usual pre-season mass substitutions and it was Barnet who adapted the better, scoring three goals, including a last minute penalty.

The result was never going to be important and there is certainly plenty of potential in the team for McDonald to work on during the season.

The crowd also appreciated the fact that this was the first serious work out for a brand new squad of players and, in the main, were complimentary about the team's efforts.

Hampton: Steve Farrelly, Ben Proudfoot, Ronnie Girvan, Ben Ferris, Eddie Saunders, Billy Mead, Jason Lay, Ashley Stanovic, Eddie Akuamoah, Dean Thomas.

Subs (all used): Chris Bouchez, Mark Kredi, Lawrence Goddard, Alan Innes, Chris Payne, Koo Dumbaya, Enrico Grimm, Laszlo Birccgak and Eysias Yhdego

July 26, 2002 11:00