Hamer rues Cobblers mistakes
Anthony Smith • Published 26 Aug 2010 14:30
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Oh no: Goakpeeper Ben Hamer complains at team-mate Alex Pearce after gifting Northampton Town a goal. Reading went on to lose the Carling Cup second round clash on penalties. Pic: Chris Forsey. 103905
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BEN HAMER is worried he may never get a chance to atone for his Northampton Town shocker.
Goalkeeper Hamer replaced regular No.1 Adam Federici for the Carling Cup second round tie on Tuesday.
But the night went disastrously wrong for the 22-year-old stopper from the moment his double-fumble handed Cobblers their first goal in what became a giant-killing victory for the League Two minnow.
Hamer, who is hoping to win a new contract with Reading, could now be sent out on loan, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
He told the Chronicle: “Goalkeepers have good games and bad games. I had a good game down at Torquay in the first round but I felt the other end of that against Northampton.
“I was very, very disappointed with myself for their first goal. It was a lack of concentration and I’ve got to be better than that.
“I just hope I get another chance to play again so that I can put it right.”
And Hamer, a former Brentford Player of the Year winner while on loan at Griffin Park, made no excuse for his performance on the night.
The 22-year-old said: “I thought I was poor all game which stemmed from the first goal.
“I caught the ball and heaven knows why I dropped it, but Northampton scored which gave them an impetus to do well.
“We got back in front again then their other two goals were deflected. I got a hand to the first and I thought the game was already over when they equalised right at the end.
“The referee allowed injury time to go on forever. Then they get a lucky break, their player smashes it, the ball deflects off Matt Mills and flew past me.”
Hamer was also beaten in the penalty shoot-out as Northampton converted their first four to go through 4-2.
“It’s a lottery,” he added. “They put their first two penalties into the top corner so what can you do?
“Unfortunately Simon Church and Jake Taylor missed theirs then I should have done better with the fourth. I had it in my grasp but it slipped through my fingers.
“No disrespect to Northampton but to go out to a League Two side at home is bitterly disappointing.
“We were really hurting, especially myself because I felt I could have done a lot better.”
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