Notts shot down by top scorer Bowles

Notts went into the game having been defeated by a very good Worcester side and Barton in previous weeks, who were placed third and second in the league.

Hampton, who had given Notts a real hockey lesson earlier in the season were visibly shaken in the early stages by Notts’ organisation and work rate.

The game flowed both ways in the early exchanges with Notts looking to pressure Hampton and force errors whilst the table toppers relied heavily on their lightning forward and the league top scorer Bowles, who had already notched 38 goals this season.

Notts drew first blood in the form of a short corner which Butler was unable to covert after some stout defending from Hampton.

Then Hampton hit back with a series of short corners which saw Bowles denied by Notts youngster Clay, who was out fast to close down.

At half-time with the scores at 0-0, the words from manager Jay Faulkner were about patience and belief.

Notts again started the second half as the better team and this led to some rash challenges being made by some of the more experienced Hampton players.

Sensing a chance to open the scoring, Notts began to increase the pressure with William Butler going close with a strike that was unluckily not turned in by a diving Jason Barton at the back post.

Notts had to reshuffle on 55 minutes when an injury forced midfielder Cooper from the pitch and temporarily rattled them.

On 57 minutes Hampton managed to punish Notts’ failure to convert when a short corner found Bowles at the top of the D, who tiptoed through the defence and coolly flicked the ball into the corner of the goal for his 39th of the season.

This goal did not rattle Notts, who continued to believe they were capable of rescuing something from the game, and after a slight tactical change they continued to press forward.

Another chance fell in the D to forward Moss, whose chance was well saved by the Hampton keeper, whose heroics were making him a strong contender for man of the match.

In the final seven minutes the Hampton skipper was dismissed twice for fouls, but despite the extra man advantage, Notts were unable to find the elusive goal.

Faulkner said: “It was a great game from our point of view after we were given a lesson in hockey earlier in the season.
“We had a tactical plan today which we stuck to and proved that we can change our style to suit and this will stand us in good stead for the future.

“We had some great performances today from players, especially Anthony Clay, who in his first season has been outstanding for the club.

“Next weekend we face Stone at home and will be looking to avenge a 5-3 defeat that we suffered before Christmas.”