What could almost be classed as a United second XI took on a just under half strength Hampton & Richmond side at The Beveree in the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup on Tuesday evening with the hosts running out 3-0 winners over Paul Hughes’ side.

Both managers took the opportunity to give game time to squad players with United making nine changes from the starting line-up against Cheshunt while the Beavers made six changes to theirs compared to their weekend National South starting XI, the home side including former United man Tyrell Miller-Rodney in the starting XI with former United skipper and fans favourite Sam Cox on the bench.

Normal quick starting United were on the opposite side as the game opened with Hampton almost going ahead after just 20 seconds when Ryan Hill burst through the middle of the United defence having run from halfway, he slipped past Michael O’Neil’s challenge only to be denied by Jack Smith who blocked the initial shot before pouncing on the loose ball.

United’s first sight of the Beavers goal came on four minutes when George Ademiluyi, playing in the unfamiliar left wing-back slot, crossed to the middle of the area, fit again Nick Elliott managed to get his foot to the ball in front of Oliver Sprague but his volley was held comfortably by Tom Lovelock in the hosts goal.

Hampton started to show their quality on the ball and another opening came after ten minutes, this time Hill was the creative influence as he broke on the left and picked out Zak Joseph in the centre, the striker being denied a shot on goal by a perfectly timed O’Neil tackle that took the ball away off his toes as he was about to pull the trigger.

Five minutes later Smith was again in action denying Hill, this time Hill was played through the middle by a smart Ricky Wellard pass but the United stopper and skipper for the night was equal to the effort, pushing the ball around the post.

Wellard was first to strike for the hosts on 25 minutes, United having conceded a free-kick right on the edge of the box saw the former AFC Wimbledon man step up and fire the ball around the wall into the top corner of the United net with Smith stranded.

United went looking for an equaliser quickly and just three minutes after going behind Callum McAllister floated a free-kick in from the left, George Spiers got his head to the ball but was unable to get any power behind his header and Lovelock gathered it easily. Next to try his luck for United was Rylan Myers who won possession in the middle of the park and advanced on the Beavers goal, his well struck 20 yard shot being held by Lovelock.

With a minute Smith was required to keep the deficit to one as a long punt forwards was collected by Joseph in the right hand channel, he cut inside past the challenge of O’Neil only for his low drive to be pushed wide by Smith.

Three minutes later an almost identical move saw Smith hold a shot from the same player and as the half closed United went close and the Beavers soon after doubled their lead. For United a Myers corner was pulled back to Spiers but the defender couldn’t keep his shot down, play quickly spread to the other end as a smart pass from Wellard put Joseph through on goal, the striker dodged past Smith’s dive a rolled the ball home to give the hosts a two goal cushion at the break.

The second half was somewhat slow getting going with the first bit of creativity coming from United on the hour. Myers collected the ball on the right side and crossed to Ash Nzala, the United striker hitting a shot on the turn that Lovelock was well placed to deal with.

Joseph had a chance to put the game beyond United a few minutes later as he collected a neat throughball from Casey MacLaren only to fire weakly straight at Smith from just outside the box. The Beavers third however was only a minute away a Marcel Barrington collected the ball just outside the United area and fired a precise low shot that found it’s way past Smith’s dive into the bottom corner of the United net.

The final ten minutes saw a handful more chances, the first falling to the hosts as a fine cross-field pass picked out substitute Nana Kyei, he moved quickly past United’s own substitute Rory Ford-Marshall only to be denied by Smith who tipped his low shot wide of the post.

The final two chances both fell to United strikers in the dying embers. Ademiluyi ran at the Beavers defence on the left before cutting inside and finding Nzala, his shot on the turn going agonisingly wide of the target.

The final minute saw an opening for Nzala’s strike partner and United debutant Melino Sanches who had the ball gifted to him inside the Beavers box by an errant pass, unfortunately the striker’s effort on the turn with just Lovelock to beat went the wrong side of the upright and it was Hampton who progressed to the semi-finals and we wish them well in their efforts to win the trophy.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Montimagemedia ©.

United Man of the Match: Rylan Myers.