HAMPTON & Richmond put their relegation battle to one side to claim victory over Wealdstone in the Middlesex Senior Cup Final on Monday evening.
James Simmonds and Dave Tarpey scored the goals inside the last 20 minutes to finally see off this season’s FA Trophy semi-finalists at a rain-sodden Uxbridge – this after Wealdstone had bossed much of the first half and the early stages of the second.
However, the introduction of Joe Bennett from the bench on the hour saw the Beavers wrestle control of the game from the Ryman Premier League side and once Simmonds opened the scoring there was only ever going to be one winner.
Wealdstone were first to threaten in the 12th minute when Scott McCubbin surged through the middle and played in Tom Pett, who stepped inside his marker to fire a low shot parried away for a corner by Craig Ross.
Stones were close again on 25 minutes when a glorious ball from Connor Smith found McCubbin on the right edge of the box and the winger turned Paul Johnson inside out only to fire just over.
Richard Jolly’s first effort on goal followed just passed the half hour, a low drive deflected behind by the foot of Dean Inman, before the resulting corner was scrambled clear.
Hampton’s finally showed signs of what was to follow on 40 minutes when Nathan Collier held the ball up well before releasing Dave Tarpey, whose stinging shot from inside the box was beaten to safety by Ashlee Jones.
And the loanee keeper from Braintree was in action again in first half stoppage time tipping over Karle Andrews’ drive from the edge of the box.
The second period opened cagily and it was 53 minutes before Peter Dean escaped down the left to deliver a cross just behind the arriving Jolly.
Bartlett’s side were desperately close to the opener a minute later when Pett dribbled beyond several challenges. The diminutive winger pulled the ball back for Peter Dean whose shot was saved by Ross and when Jolly followed up his effort was scrambled off the line by a defender.
As it turned out it was almost Stones’ last hurrah as they began to look jaded as the game opened up and the rain lashed down.
Bennett on for Esmond James almost made an instant impact with a skidding drive grabbed by Jones at the second attempt, while Tarpey saw another goal-bound effort deflected to safety, before the goal Hampton had threatened came on 74 minutes.
Collier’s cross from the right was not properly cleared and when the ball fell to Simmonds he fired unerringly into the bottom corner.
The second looked inevitable with Stones flagging and when a long ball over the top caught Wes Parker in two minds, Tarpey stole a yard to volley beyond Jones.
