United 4
(Dolan 41′, Lo-Everton 52′, Young 63′, Morgan 90+2′)
Hampton & Richmond 1
(Lacey 21′)
United produced a magnificent display to beat Hampton & Richmond on Saturday, as The Gulls began 2026 in style.
Aaron Lacey scored against the run of play to give the visiting side the lead midway through the first half, before Callum Dolan equalised just before the change of ends. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s superb effort after the break turned the game around, and that lead was strengthened shortly after by Jordan Young. Dylan Morgan added further gloss in injury time, as The Gulls ran out comfortable winners.
Gulls boss Paul Wotton opted to make one change from the side that drew 0-0 at Bath in their last match of 2025, as Matt Worthington returned to the starting line-up in place of Matt Jay.
Wotton’s men were by far the quickest out of the traps, with Hampton’s goalkeeper Matt Rowley producing a smart save to keep out Worthington’s early low drive, before following that up with more routine stops to deny Dan Hayfield and Dolan.
With wave upon wave of yellow attacks showing no sign of abating, it was therefore a shock when the visitors broke the deadlock on 21 minutes.
A low free-kick into the box appeared to initially offer little threat – until Lacey’s side-footer appeared to catch out James Hamon, with the ball finding the far corner of the net.
To their credit, The Gulls responded by forcing their opponents back once again.
Time and again Hampton repelled United, until justice was finally served four minutes before the break.
Dolan, who had prompted and probed as much as anyone, took a look up and set his sights before curling a right-footer past the stranded Rowley and into the far-corner of the net to make it 1-1.
In the second half, it was Hampton who applied the early pressure, although there wasn’t too much to trouble The Gulls’ backline.
When United went back on the offensive, they instantly made it count.
After picking up on a pass on the edge of the penalty area, Lo-Everton took a moment before firing the ball into the top-corner of the net, and leaving Rowley clutching at thin air.
A marvellous goal, and it was just what United deserved – but there was more to come.
After making his way into a promising position inside the box, Young had options either side of him, However, after committing to try his luck himself, United’s No.8 delivered in fine style with a delicious strike that sailed past Rowley and inside the far post.
Wotton’s men remained in almost complete control right up until the final whistle, and their commitment to the cause was further emphasised in injury-time, as Morgan produced another moment of real quality, as the substitute darted down the left wing before sending a slamming a powerful shot into the net from 22 yards.
What a way to start 2026!
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer (c), 7. Louis Dennis, 8. Jordan Young, 10. Callum Dolan (11. Dylan Morgan, 62′), 18. Matt Worthington (9. Cody Cooke, 56′), 20. Dan Hayfield, 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 26. Jordan Thomas (16. Ed Palmer, 73′).
SUBS NOT USED: 17. Sonny Fish, 21. Adam Seedhouse-Evans (GK), 23. Kieran Wilson, 27. Matt Jay.
HAMPTON & RICHMOND: 26. Matt Rowley, 7. Brendan Kiernan (18. Sam Ashford, 87′), 8. Sam Deadfield, 9. Craig Fasanmade (39. Reece Grego Cox, 87′), 10. Max Kretzschmar (5. Ronan Silva, 80′), 11. Junior Dixon (12. Jordan Greenidge, 87′), 14. Aaron Lacey (2. Paul Field, 79′), 23. Charlie Sayers, 24. Alan Massey, 25. Harry Gardner, 30. Ben Jackson.
SUBS NOT USED: 6. Haydon Vaughan, 15. Harry Thomas, .
Yellow Card: Gardner 71′
Attendance: 3,036 (19 away)
