Once again, an officiating incident is the talking point, rather than the game itself.

With just a few minutes to go, Hampton & Richmond Borough are winning 1-0 at home to AFC Wimbledon in front of a record crowd of 3,225.

Two Hampton players collide. One, John Scarborough, is lying prostrate with an 18-inch gash in his leg, the other, Marcello Fernandes, is desperately trying to get the club physio on to attend to him.

Referee Tony Mason, who can see what is happening, waves play on and ignores the seriousness of the situation.

Wimbledon take a throw, a matter of feet away from the stricken Scarborough, and the ball is played across to the far side and substitute Jon Main scores at the far post to level the score at 1-1.

The injury is so serious that the popular centre back has to be stretchered off and taken to hospital.

Hampton manager Alan Devonshire was rightly angry with the role played by the official who, after the game, refused to give Hampton a clear explanation for his actions.

The Beveree was packed, not only with 3,000 supporters of both teams but also present was a massive turnout from International, National and Local Media.

There were also representatives from the Football Association, Richmond Council and the Blue Square Conference to oversee the safety and security arrangements put in place by the club (top marks awarded, by the way).

A gloriously sunny afternoon made up for the previous days atrocious conditions and everything was set for an intriguing game with AFC looking for a win over Hampton to secure the Blue Square South Championship whilst the Beavers were also looking to win in order to draw level on points with the Wombles and keep the pot boiling for another 7 days â€" there was also the fact that AFC had never beaten those Beaver upstarts on five previous league meetings.

There was plenty riding on this game to keep the fans of both sides at a high pitch of nervousness and excitement.

Not surprisingly both teams started nervously, the usual dependable Hampton skipper Dean Wells missed his first challenge on the flying Dons` winger Lewis Taylor but he got up quickly to get back and recover the situation.

Shaun McAuley shot over at the other end and then Dons` keeper James Pullen was out quickly to deny Kieran Knight. Six minutes in Matt Lovett made a comfortable catch from an attempted overhead kick.

In the 12th minute a goalmouth scramble ended with Dwane Lee thumping his shot against the Hampton upright. Ian Hodges picked up the first of three Hampton bookings with a foul on Pullen. Hampton`s former player Elliott Godfrey fired straight at Lovett in the 20th minute.

On the half hour a Francis Quarm free kick managed to miss everybody in a packed goal area. Just before half time several Jon McDonald long throws had to be defended by AFC as shots rained in.

The second half started with a Hampton side that was quicker to the ball and looking more confident, Pullen was forced to punch a McDonald long throw away.

Hodges flicked the ball on for McAuley too win a corner, Pullen having to take Quarm`s corner under his own cross bar.

Lovett then had to come out of his area and head the ball away, Hampton quickly taking the initiative back from Wimbledon and seconds later Quarm was steering the ball home from the edge of the six yard area and setting off on his trademark arm across the face celebration (but this time, remembering to keep his shirt on!).

Hampton had a lead and it was up to Wimbledon to respond. Godfrey flied a shot over but then Hodges battled for position and his shot was blocked by Jason Goodliffe. Lawrence Yaku came on in place of Knight and almost made it 2-0 with a chipped shot that missed the Dons far post by the width of a Mars Bar.

In the 74th minute, Lovett made a stunning save when he threw himself back across goal to deny a rocket fired by Sam Hatton â€" who just couldn`t believe that he hadn`t scored.

Then came the incident when Fernandes and Scarborough collided wide out on the left as Chris Hussey tried to go down the flank, the ball going out for a throw….and we all know what happened next.

And with all three subs used, Hampton were down to ten men for the last minutes of the game.

The 1-1 draw, though, isn`t quite the end of the story. AFC Wimbledon are on the finishing line but they haven`t breasted the tape yet.

Hampton (2nd) and Eastleigh (3rd) are both three points behind but Wimbledon have a massive advantage in goal difference.

It would take an unprecedented chain of events for Hampton to overtake a 13 goal difference next Saturday (AFC are home to St Albans and Hampton are at Maidenhead United - and Eastleigh are even further behind.

So, to all intents and purposes AFC Wimbledon will complete the formality of the Blue Square Championship next Saturday, the last of the regular season.

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https://theballisround.co.uk/2009/04/18/the-winner-takes-it-all/

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