Grab a cuppa, it's been a busy week!
For the first time this season, all 6 Hammers teams were in action, 5 in their respective leagues and 1 in Cup action. As the title suggests, last weekend and the match last night must go down as a pretty decent week for any Hammers fan!
We start with the 1st team who after an 18 day break from league action travelled to a Baffins Milton Rovers side last Saturday against which prior to the match we had a loosing record, winning 2 twice and losing 3 times. A tough trip on paper!
The match report is available to read elsewhere in the news section, but Manager Tim Sills will no doubt be thrilled with the 4-0 win (2 from Eddie Hodge, a first Wessex goal for Adam Costello and an own goal) which as things stand means the Hammers are 1 of only 3 teams still undefeated in the league (the others being Blackfield & Langley and Lymington). Early doors but a great start to the campaign having played some tough opposition and sitting with 7 points from a possible 9.
A busy month coming up in the Wessex League with 7 matches due to be played in October plus a Wessex League Cup tie possibly. The final League fixture in October will be moved I suspect for the FA Vase 1st round match which is where the Hammers enter this year. Next up though is at trip to AFC Stoneham on Saturday on what looks to be a wet and windy afternoon! Stoneham were sat in 2nd at the end of the curtailed 2019/20 season and were looking good for a top 4 spot, so another tough one on paper and a team Hamworthy are yet to win against in the Wessex League. Can Sillsy and the squad make it 8 league games undefeated (incl end of 2019/20 season)?
After that, the 1st home league game in a month as Shaftesbury are the visitors on Tuesday night, you can buy tickets online and please note, kick off is 7:30 NOT 7.45 due to the Clubhouse needing to shut at 10pm. £7/£5 on the door.
The Development team were back in Cup action with a 1st round Challenge Cup match against QK Southampton. After the precious weekend's fine 5-2 victory, Mick Wearden would have been hoping to get onto a Cup run but it wasn't meant to be as the side went out of this particular Cup ending up on the wrong side of a 3-5 score line. After going 2-0 up thanks to goals from Jamie Kemp and Kyle Davies things were looking good, but QK had a dominant 2nd half scoring 5 unanswered goals before Kyle Davies netted his 2nd and a consolation 3rd for Hamworthy.
This Saturday, the Development team are back in league action with a home match against Laverstock and Ford, so please come on down to the County Ground and support them. Another win in the league will see them into the top half. £4/£3 on the door.
The Under 23s made a rare appearance this week too. Their 2nd league game was played last night (Weds) at Romsey. Some Under 18s were in the squad as usual and after a goalless 1st half, the Hammers managed to go 3-0 courtesy of goals from James King, Jack Delves and George Ashby. Romsey pulled a late one back, but or U23s now site top of the table early in the Season. Can they remain there? The next game is a bit sooner this time but on the road once more to visit Brockenhurst on Thursday 15th October.
Our Under 18s don't seem to want to lose the winning habit! 5 days after their great FA Youth Cup win over Havant & Waterlooville, Martyn Poucher was able to utilise his squad depth and rotate his players once again making 10 changes to the starting lineup...now that's squad depth!! The change in line up did not phase this talented bunch as they saw off Bournemouth Poppies Under 18s 10-0. Jack Simpson bagged 4 to take his league tally to 7 after 2 games, Sam Churchill got on the scoresheet twice and there were also goals for Jack Orchard, George Ashby and Travis Lightbown-Smith. This Sunday, they head up to the north of the county and visit Sherborne Town looking to keep the 100% win record going before taking the trip to Eastleigh and the next FA Youth Cup match on Thursday 8th October. We wish them well for this next match, no doubt tougher opposition again!
We move onto the Under 16s who eventually got their league season under way. Could they match the early season exploits of our other Hammer Youth teams? Weymouth were welcomed, unfortunately not to the County Ground and then beaten 3-2 to get the middle Youth team off to a great start in their league campaign. This Sunday, it's a short trip for their next league match when they visit Corfe Mullen Utd.
Finally, we move onto the Under 14s.who after having their last match postponed, visited Shaftesbury who were given an opportunity to get revenge for their Cup defeat a couple of weeks back. Fortunately for Hamworthy the result was the same outcome, this time a 5-1 victory with Brandon Williams getting a hattrick with Jake Daunt and Finn Richardson getting one each. This gives the Under 14s 2 identical victories so far in the league and they sit in 2nd place. This weekend, they host undefeated league leaders Poole Town Wessex at the County Ground, go along and see the youngest of the future Hammers in action.
That brings you up to date with all the Hammers action. Check out the rest of the site which has the full fixtures where known for each team and the current league tables.