Hampton & Richmond and Crowborough Athletic shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw during the FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying on Saturday. The match at the Cherry Red Records Stadium produced more goals than expected from both sides.
And here's the thing about a fixture like this — neither side walked away disappointed, though both might have wanted something more. Hampton & Richmond had started the season with mixed results, drawing 1-1 with Cheltenham Town before beating Carlisle Athletic 1-0. Crowborough came in on a run that included a 3-2 victory over Whitelands and a 1-1 draw with the same opposition.
To be fair, the scoreline reflected an even contest where both attacks found rhythm. Hampton & Richmond had shown vulnerability in previous matches, losing 0-2 to Leatherhead and Eastleigh earlier in their campaign. Crowborough's recent form told a similar story of attacking intent with defensive gaps — they had lost 2-4 to Ashford United and 1-6 to Sittingbourne in previous encounters.
By then, the match had settled into a pattern both teams understood well. Each side could attack, each side could concede. The visitors had picked up points in their last two games against Whitelands, suggesting they were finding their feet. Hampton & Richmond's home record against lower opposition showed promise but also inconsistency.
A draw keeps both sides in the competition for now. Hampton & Richmond remain in contention at home, while Crowborough showed they can compete with teams of this level. Three points each from six available — not a bad return for either manager on Saturday afternoon.