It's often said by footballers that rivalries mean more to the fans on the terraces than the players out on the pitch.

But Hampton & Richmond Borough skipper Dean Wells admitted he was more fired up than ever for Saturdays derby clash at AFC Wimbledon.

With Hampton unbeaten in four meetings with AFC, the Kingsmeadow side were looking to settle a few scores.

But Wells and Hampton were out to make a point too as it was the first time they had come up against former team-mates Alan Inns and Elliott Godfrey, who defected from Beveree in the summer.

And Wells, who headed a 67th-minute equaliser for Hampton in front of 3,366, said: "I shouldn't say it, but this is the game I get up for most.

"And it's the most exciting game because of the crowd. There were 3,000 there, whereas next week when we go to Bognor there will be 100.

"It would've been nice to get one over on Innsy and Elliott, and, we deserved much more.

"It's definitely two points dropped because, apart from a 20-minute spell they had, it was all us."

A scrappy first-half of full-blooded tackles left talented Hampton defender Craig Tanner with a fractured ankle after just eight minutes.

AFC's Sam Hatton ignited the clash with a beautiful strike from 30 yards out on 53 minutes.

But Wells made sure his side would get a share of the spoils, and make it five games unbeaten against AFC, as he met Ben Wright's inswinging free-kick with a glancing header.

Wright had a golden opportunity to steal the points for Hampton late in the game after Barrie Matthews played him in, but as he dithered, AFC keeper Andy Little gratefully gathered the ball.

Meanwhile Inns, one of AFC's ex-Hampton duo, added: "I left on very good terms with Hampton, and I have many friends there.

"We struggled at times because they were in our face. It was a bit stop-start, and that played into their hands."

The Beavers visit Bognor Regis on Saturday before hosting Northwood Town in the Middlesex Charity Cup on Tuesday night.