Report by Tom Beck

Watford IFC extended their unbeaten run to eight games, seven of which victories, with a convincing 6-1 away win at Hampton & Richmond IFC this Saturday. The win was also the club’s 300th in all competitions since formation in 1997

The Internet “Orns, fresh from a coveted ‘six point Saturday’ the previous weekend, kicked into strong winds in the first half but dealt admirably with the conditions to lead 1-0 at the break. The opening goal, which owed much to Ben Kelly’s persistence down the left, arrived on the half hour mark with Mark O’Connor slotting home from close range. The effort was the striker’s eight goal in his debut season for the club, pushing him clear in the scoring charts. The away side had chances to extend their lead before the break too, the most glaring of which falling to Ross Connor but the usually clinical striker couldn’t score when well placed.

The second half started in similar fashion and before long WIFC had added a second goal, a Hampton player getting the final touch as a ball was whipped across the six yard box. This was the start of a superb fifteen minute spell for the men in yellow in which they added two further goals. Ben Kelly’s deft touch from a cross field ball made it 3-0 and opened his scoring account for the club, player-manager Rich Walker then curled in the fourth directly from a corner.

The visitors flooded forward in search of further goals but, much to the annoyance of the excellent John Sitkowski at centre back, failed to notice Hampton’s industrious left winger on the break. He finished superbly from the edge of the area to reduce the arrears, notching the goal of the game in the process. The home side came close to a second shortly after, however captain Matt Williams found the side netting with the goal at his mercy. Watford heeded the warning though and removed any doubt about the result with further goals from Stu Nicholls, who tucked away a penalty after O’Connor was fouled in the box, and Ben Pegram’s late strike from an angle, taking his season tally to 4.

Team: Tom Beck; Matt Ainsley, David Sitkowski, John Sitkowski, Stuart Nicholls; Ben Pegram, Dan Butterick, Ben Kelly, Richard Murphy, Ross Connor, Mark O’Connor.

Subs (all used): Richard Walker, Stuart Holdham, Ben Bateman, Brad Simmons.