Nina Wright take note..

Whites 9 - 1 Wittering

From Left Top: Bradley, Dami, Alex, Reece
Bottom: Ben, Jamie, Lucas, William, Dylan

On the same day as this match back in 1956, the world water speed record was smashed by a chap called Norman Buckley in a boat called Miss Windermere  III. He managed an average of 79mph for an hour around the course, which is coincidentally the same speed that Hampton White's striker Dami can reach when he's chasing the ball.

Fast forward 55 years and another record was about to get smashed, but this time not by a boat on the picturesque Lake Windermere, this time the Whites were going to break a record on a rainy and windy Beaumont Way football field.

Their previous best result and highest number of goals scored was an 8-nil win against Thorpewood Rangers on the opening day of the season. As the title of this report confirms - they got one goal better and this time two players celebrated thier first ever hat-tricks in league action. 

Right from the beginning, the Whites played as if they wanted as many goals as possible. In the first minute Alex fired an opening shot over the bar and he didn't have to wait much longer for his second bite of the cherry. Barely one minute later the scoring was opened when the lively Dylan crossed the ball from the right to Alex who cooly opened his scoring account for the season. 

Dami converts Bradley's cross

Wittering didn't seem to know how to respond. Moments after the restart a Cameron shot rebounded off the keeper gifting Dylan his first of the match and third of the season. A period of calm followed as Wittering regrouped and learned how to live with (if just for 7 minutes) the fast paced White's attack. 

And you guessed it - on the 11th minute the Wittering goalkeeper unfortunately mis-hit the goal kick sending it direct to the feet of an eager Dylan. His shot was blocked but an alert Alex was there to pick up the pieces and slam home the third of the match. 

Wittering pulled one back but soon after, Jamie Cooke rifled the ball high into the net after good work from Cameron and Dylan presented him with an opportunity he confidently took. Jamie was rewarded for his tenacity in midfield. 

William looks for a pass

Half-time came and went but Hampton continued in the same fashion after the restart - the quick and lively Dami tucked away his third of the season from a precise Bradley cross before William directed a corner ball into the net (with his knee) from close range for number six.

A special moment followed on 37 minutes as Alex celebrated his hat-trick when the Whites filled the box and caused confusion in the Wittering defence. Alex pounced to claim his third and Hampton's seventh. A strong performance from Ben at the back kept Wittering at bay when they hit Hampton on the break while Bradley looked strong and fast as he closed down in midfield and created chances.

Dylan prepares to cross the ball

William completed the scoring, and his first hat-trick, with two more goals. Bursting from midfield for the 8th, William broke free and drove the ball low past the diving keeper and converted another fine cross from Cameron for the 9th.

The win was complete and a new record set. After this weekend Hampton are third in the table behind Sawtry Colts and Feeder Soccer but have the joint best goal difference. Next up are Woodston Dynamo away on 1st October.  Who knows when the next record will fall, but one thing is for certain, the Whites will give it a go and it won't take 55 years.

Whites 3 - 3 Riverside Rangers (League)

The Whites last week.

The windy after-effects of Hurricane Katia could still be felt across the football fields of Beaumont Way on Tuesday night - but the hurricane-like nature of Hampton Whites emphatic 8-0 victory to Thorpe Rangers had long since left the radar as the fledgling Whites, in only their second ever league game, faced a Riverside Rangers Team who had weathered many a storm in their two year history as a footballing unit.

And weather the storm is what Rangers had to do for long periods of the game as the Whites applied most of the pressure and controlled most of the possession. Given their dominance, the Whites may feel as though they should have taken all three points form the encounter. The awarding of a dubious Rangers penalty in the second-half only added to the sense of injustice.

Right from the start, the tornado like speed of Dami frequently put the visitors in a spin. He showed his skill early on, forcing a corner in the opening minutes and he continued to look a threat throughout the game.

It was the Whites impressive front three of Dami, Cameron and Bradley that looked the most likely to make the breakthough which eventually came after 17 minutes. Bradley found himself one-on-one with the Rangers keeper and calmly slotted the ball low to separate the sides.

It looked as though the floodgates could open but Rangers responded well and continued to handle the pressure while the Whites couldn't capitalise on good build-up play. On 20 minutes, Rangers piled into the box and Theo Lewington tapped home after a scramble.

In the second-half  Hampton continued to control the possession and create chances. Nine minutes after the break, the Whites retook the lead after Bradley hit the post and Cameron was well placed to strike home.

The Whites defence coped well against the Rangers attack but a crazy three-minute spell in the second half saw Rangers take the lead. Alex Row made no mistake after finding himself with just the keeper to beat on 35 minutes and then the youthful-looking referee pointed to the spot after seeing a handball. Kai Woods looked confident as he put the ball away.

With the scores level at 2-2, the Whites exterted more pressure on the Rangers defence and in the 41st minute a Cameron shot from distance proved too powerful for the keeper to hold. The ball parried over his head and into the net, sparking the Whites third rendition of their new whole-team-centre-circle 'Macarena' goal celebration.

Despite further chances, neither side had it in them to make the killer blow. Whites will be pleased to remain without defeat so far this season but may feel that things could have easily been different.

Even though a harsh winter approaches, there will be sunnier footballing days ahead for the Whites.