Hampton & Richmond Preview

Wingate & Finchley play host to Hampton & Richmond on Tuesday evening at the Harry Abrahams Stadium. The Blues getting back to playing after a welcomed ten day mini-break, as both fixtures against Enfield Town and Brentwood had to be postponed due to each respective sides' involvement this past weekend in the FA Cup. The visitors though will be coming into this game high in confidence having lost just twice on their travels this season. In all competitions they have won three and drawn five. Whilst as aforementioned Simon Lane's side haven't played since beating Merstham 2-0 away from Summers Lane, Hampton & Richmond took maximum points from Dulwich Hamlet and drew 2-2 with Harrow Borough. The Beavers sit high in fourth position having accumulated a possible 31 points from 54, after 18 games. With a goal difference of +9, Alan Dowson's side do tend to find the back of the net more often than not, having found their way past the opposition's goalkeeper in nearly all games this season in the league, apart from their home fixture against Lewes. Two players which have been vital in that impressive run of form are Moussa Diarra and Dean Sinclair, both who have scored 10 between them, with the latter a player that Simon Lane will be wary of having scored against the Blues in a 2-1 away win for Lane's team. Where they falter is in conceding goals, 24 times they've picked the ball out of their net in the league, exactly half of those times have come on their travels. Last season's fixtures found the Blues taking four points out of a possible six, subsequently as this season has proved so far, Wingate won the away fixture in dominant fashion with a 4-1 victory, however the host's will be hoping that the home result will be different, having only drawn 2-2. The visitors will be well aware of the task in front of them, with Wingate having been impressive at home all season. In all competitions they've drawn only once, and lost just three times, consequently winning five. Sitting in 10th position, they have four games in hand over their opponents. Lane's side have proven to be a tough side to beat at home, with only two defeats in the league coming against Tonbridge Angels and Canvey Island, both games proved to be fixtures however in which the result could have been very different. A player which Hampton & Richmond will be wary of is Karl Oliyide, a player who has found the back of the net on seven occasions this season, the first coming at the Beveree stadium in the previous fixture back in August. It should be an intriguing game in North London, one in which the Blues will be eager to continue that winning feeling, and look to climb up the league. Match Preview by Khalid Karimullah