The football season has barely begun, yet Hampton and Richmond have already endured a chaotic season. A poor start left The Beavers facing relegation and a management change.

However, new manager Alan Dowson has brought stability and improved performances throughout September, leaving Hampton 14th in the Ryman Premier League ahead of this weekend.

Hampton began the season with a tough trip to big-spending Margate, with a battling 1-0 defeat against a team packed with Football League experience respectable — the results that followed were not.

The Beavers conceded four goals in each of their first three home matches in defeats to Wingate and Finchley, Witham Town and Grays Athletic. Between these harrowing experiences a defeat at high-flying Maidstone United ensured that Hampton began with five successive defeats.

The players and management responded superbly to this adversity by gaining two successive 2-1 wins, over Lewes and Harrow Borough.

Hampton also stole a creditable 2-2 draw at promotion contenders Dulwich Hamlet, fighting hard despite the opposition dominating possession and territory. Their spirit was rewarded by substitute Paris Mason grabbing a 94th-minute equaliser and suddenly the Beavers had gone three games unbeaten.

Defensive frailties were only temporarily obscured by this revival however, as Leiston ruthlessly exposed them in a 6-4 win at the Beveree Stadium.

Hampton did at least show plenty of attacking threat themselves in scoring four goals, though they lost key striker Ben Harris to injury. Moreover it was clear that the balance between defence and attack was still a major problem.

The Beavers then tackled the FA Cup, a chance to boost

the transfer coffers away at lower-league VCD Athletic. However, Hampton slipped on the proverbial banana skin in losing 3-2, with individual defensive errors costing them.

Joint managers Paul Barry and Darren Powell resigned, with chairman Steve McPherson handing them “enormous credit for allowing another manager the opportunity” while suggesting the players “let themselves and the management down at times.”

Alan Dowson was appointed the new manager just an hour before the Beavers faced Hendon and led them to a respectable 2-2 away draw.

The revival under Dowson then burst into life through two welcome home wins in five days, the first being a 2-1 success against East Thurrock. Charlie Moone claimed a poacher’s winner goal after a great run by Jerome Federico, who found a cross to match his blistering pace.

The second win was a 1-0 success against Enfield Town that brought a first clean-sheet of the season, as a Tom Collins winner lifted the Beavers outside of the relegation zone.

Hampton made it three successive wins through claiming a 1-0 away win at AFC Hornchurch thanks to a goal from lively winger Luke Wanadio. Dowson considered the game “the worst he had ever watched” but was delighted that Hampton “defended well and passed a tough test for the team.”

In midweek the Beavers suffered their first defeat under Dowson, a 5-1 thrashing at home to Leatherhead that was reminiscent of displays at the Beveree earlier this season.

An error from goalkeeper Jack Norton put Hampton behind and, despite a Charlie Moone equaliser, Leatherhead exploited a fragile defence to leave Dowson seeking a reaction at Tonbridge today.

Let us not forgot that despite this result Dowson’s disciplinarian style has brought a notable upturn in both results and defensive record, with both new and existing players and backroom staff crucial in the revival.

Dowson’s backroom includes coach Martin Tyler, who worked with Dowson for seven years at Kingstonian and is better known for being the voice of Sky Sports.

Dowson has suggested more signings could take place, though currently the club “is not an easy sell but it’s getting there.” Thus results are of paramount importance, as if Hampton keep winning the Beavers “might be able to add more quality but there is no time frame.”

The Beavers have rapidly climbed the Ryman Premier League recently and with so long left in the season, a promotion charge must be a distinct possibility.