Fewer than three weeks ago Rob Paris earned Hampton a comeback draw against Tonbridge Angels with two goals in the second half.

Against Folkestone Hampton's centre back did it again but this time his second half header was good for all three points and a win.

A match that was going nowhere was brought to life as Paris rose to head home Barrie Matthews free kick to earn Hampton's first victory of the season over a Kent side (having said that the Beavers are now five for five in league matches against this particular Kent team).

Both sides struggled to exert any influence on a game played on a sudden pitch after almost twenty four hours of constant rain.

Too may passes went astray, good approach work was wasted by the final ball.

Hampton did have the ball in the net in the first half, a 33rd minute header by Ian Hodges was overruled by the officials for an alleged foul on Folkestone's keeper Tony Kessell.

Matt Elverson did well to get a shot in despite having his t sleeve almost pulled off his shirt. Earlier a low drive by Folkestone's Steve Norman was turned away for a corner by Matt Lovett diving low to his right.

The second half showed some improvement in general play, Hodges dinked a ball over but it was just inches too high for Marvin Bartley's attempted header.

Minutes later Folkestone's Norman almost scored in his own net with a clearance that just scraped past his own far post.

In the 66th minute Elliott Godfrey set up Hodges, but the Hampton striker dragged his shot just wide.

At last Hampton got it all together and got the ball in the danger area.

Bartley's forward run was stopped by a foul wide on the right, Matthews well flighted free kick was firmly headed in by Paris.

Hampton faced a rather nervy end to the game especially when the visitors won successive corners right at the death but Hampton supporters were delighted to see Lovett leaping high to double fist the ball away as Referee Rowley blew the final whistle.

It was just as well that Paris was the highlight of the game otherwise all we would have been left with was the memory of Referee Rowley (unintentionally) obstructing the run of Obinna Ulasi in the 10th minute, with the Hampton defender, after the initial shock, recovering himself to win the ball back and still manage to get a shot in.

The win propelled Hampton up a couple of more places to eighth, just three points off a promotion play off place.

True it was in general a poor game but the Beavers plugged away to get the result.

Hampton: Matt Lovett; Graham Harper (Lawrence Yaku, 55), Obinna Ulasi, Matt Elverson, Rob Paris, Dean Wells (Barrie Matthews, 46), Alan Inns, Elliott Godfrey (Dudley Gardner, 77), Ian Hodges, Marcello Fernandes, Marvin Bartley.

Subs not used: Glen Harris & Jon Henry-Hayden