Crowborough Athletic saw off Hampton & Richmond 3-1 in the FA Cup second round qualifying on Tuesday evening. The result came just three days after the sides had drawn 3-3 at the same ground. The hosts advanced to the next stage while the visitors' progress was halted.
There was a familiar pattern to this fixture. The two teams had met on September 19th and produced a high-scoring draw. Hampton & Richmond had come away from that match with a point, but this time Crowborough Athletic had the upper hand. The scoreline told a different story.
Crowborough Athletic have been involved in some entertaining games recently. They beat Whitley 3-2 on September 9th and held a 1-1 draw with the same opposition five days later. There was also a heavy 4-2 defeat to Ashford United on August 29th. These results suggest a team that attacks but can be vulnerable at the back.
Hampton & Richmond's recent form has been mixed. Beyond the draw with Crowborough, they held Chertsey Town to a goalless stalemate on July 25th and beat Carshalton Athletic 1-0 on July 11th. However, they have not won since those mid-summer matches. The 2-0 losses to Leatherhead and Epsom & Ewell in the autumn were less flattering.
The victory moves Crowborough Athletic forward in the competition. Hampton & Richmond must now look at what went wrong against a side they had only recently shared points with. The difference between the two games was narrow, but the outcome was decisive.
