HANWORTH VILLA KEEP UP THE PRESSURE IN THE CCL
A trio of Middlesex FA affiliated clubs, Hanworth Villa, Southall and North Greenford United, are currently setting the pace at the top of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North. Before kick off on Saturday last, 4th December, Hanworth Villa were unbeaten and headed the table with 42 points from 16 matches. Southall were second with 34 points from 15 matches and North Greenford had 30 points from 16 matches. Our roving team of Chris Benn (County photographer) and Jim Taylor (reporter) chose to visit Hanworth Villa, who were entertaining 7th placed Windsor, at the Ranch.
The Villains continued their unbeaten run but made hard work of winning this match, which they dominated almost throughout.
They attacked from the start and had most of the possession but initially could not convert this into goals. Their first shot came in the 3rd minute, when Meshach Williams fired narrowly wide to finish a good move. 3 minutes later Sam Merson headed wide and then Meshach shot too high. Then Sam Merson twice shot wide, in the 11th and 18th minutes.
In the 23rd minute, in a rare Windsor attack, Luke Paris headed against the Villa post.
Several more chances came Villa’s way. Elliot Simpson cleared the visitors’ cross bar and a neat back header by Theo Crawford, from a corner, was saved by Windsor keeper, Sam Butcher. Left back, Jim Fenlon prompted some dangerous moments by pumping balls into the Windsor box.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Windsor took the lead in the 35th minute. Lindell Stewart was tripped in the penalty box by Michael Kamara and Charlie Losasso hit the resulting spot kick well wide of the diving Terry Buss’s right hand.
As the interval approached, Villa had further goalscoring opportunities. Sam Merson’s well struck free kick was deflected for a corner. Then Elliot Simpson’s angled shot flew across the Windsor goalmouth, without attracting a touch.
So, the Villains went in at half time, trailing in a match in which they should have been comfortably ahead. This situation could be attributed to resolute defending and misfortune but also to wasteful finishing.
Half time score: Hanworth Villa 0 Windsor 1
Villa set about remedying the situation within 2 minutes of the resumption, through Elliot Simpson, who converted Jerome Federico’s pass.
Two minutes later, Sam Merson put the Villains in front with a low drive from outside the box, following good approach work by Meshach Williams.
Sam Merson made it 3-1 from Theo Crawford’s pass in the 56th minute.
Villa continued to dominate possession and Elliot Simpson had 2 attempts, one flying wide and the other being saved by Sam Butcher. Jim Fenlon also tested Sam Butcher.
Windsor now quickly introduced all 5 of their substitutes and enjoyed a good spell during which David Hoar and Charlie Jaggers fired wide and Villians’ keeper, Terry Buss was kept busy. In the 88th minute, Luke Appleton scored from Eric Sowolona’s pass, thus reducing Villa’s lead to a single goal.
The Villains held onto their advantage for the closing minutes of the match (the referee added 4 minutes). Indeed, they mounted a couple more attacks and forced a corner. However, Windsor’s Luke Appleton engineered a clear shot on goal in the final minute of added time but Terry Buss had this well covered.
Referee, Sam Gregory kept a tight grip on the afternoon’s proceedings, ably supported by his Assistant Referees.
Final score: Hanworth Villa 3 Windsor 2
Hanworth Villa: Terry Buss, Tom Jelley, Jim Fenlon, Gagen Samra, Michael Kamara (capt), Rory Da Costa, Jerome Federico (Ben Merson 75 mins), Theo Crawford, Sam Merson, Elliot Simpson (Bruno Tingle 85) and Meshach Williams (Jamie Thoroughgood 76).
Unused substitutes: Leon Solomon and Jordan Ellis.
Windsor: Sam Butcher, Ben Smyth (Eric Sowolona 74), Charlie Jaggers (Lewis Francis 83), Karl Stevenson, Luke Paris (Nathan White 84), Luke Appleton,
Danny Horscroft (Ben Hall 80), David Hoar (Jake Hammond 80), Excellence Muhemba, Charlie Losasso and Lindell Stewart.
Referee: Sam Gregory Assistant Referees: Jake Symes and Nigel Hickes.
Attendance: 102
Other relevant results:
Southall drew 2-2 at Ascot United and North Greenford United won 3-2 at Tadley Calleva. These results increased the Villains’ lead to 10 points over Southall, who have a game in hand. North Greenford remain in third place. Another Middlesex club, St Panteleimon have moved up to 5th place by virtue of their 2-0 win, away to Virginia Water.
The top of the table now reads:
|
# |
Team |
Played |
Pts |
|
1 |
Hanworth Villa |
17 |
45 |
|
2 |
Southall |
16 |
35 |
|
3 |
North Greenford United |
17 |
33 |
|
4 |
Abbey Rangers |
15 |
31 |
|
5 |
St Panteleimon |
16 |
30 |
|
6 |
Egham Town |
16 |
29 |
As ever we thank Chris & Jim for covering what was an entertaining match up, they have selected their 10 favourite shots from the game as shown throughout the report and also provided a full range of photography.
