HANWELL TOWN LOSE TO SLOUGH TOWN IN FA TROPHY
Four Middlesex FA affiliated clubs competed in the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy on Saturday last, 19th November. Our roving team visited The Powerday Stadium for Hanwell Town’s home tie with Slough Town from the National League South.
The Geordies had entered the Trophy at the 3rd Qualifying Round stage, when they beat Cray Wanderers 3-1 at home. They then recorded a single goal away win at AFC Dunstable. The Rebels were playing their first match in the Competition this season.
Neither club was in very good recent form. Hanwell Town had lost each of the four league matches which they had played since the FA Trophy win at AFC Dunstable, while Slough Town had experienced a nine game winless run. The Rebels’ management team had resigned during the preceding week, after a tenure of nine and a half years and three of the players took charge for this game.
Nevertheless, both sides contributed to an entertaining match, which was eventually won comfortably by the visitors. The Geordies made a storming start and rattled the Slough goal’s framework in the opening minutes. Slough took the lead in the 27th minute and lead 1-0 at the interval. A sending off in the 57th minute reduced them to 10 players but this didn’t stop them from increasing their lead in the 73rd minute and scoring a third goal in added time.
The Geordies almost took an early lead, when a powerful shot from George Nicholas rattled the visitors’ crossbar in the 3rd minute. Then, 3 minutes later, skipper Harry Rush shot just wide from outside the penalty box.
Kain Adom cut in from the left and pulled the ball back low but just out of the incoming Shomari Barnwell’s reach.
The visitors now exerted considerable pressure and forced a succession of corners. Johnny Goddard burst into the Hanwell box but Josh Strizovic saved and Isaac Olunfemi cleared. A long-range strike by Matt Lench was blocked. Calum Duffy saved a dangerous situation by hitting a centre over his own crossbar. Then Johnny Goddard’s free kick, from around 30 yards was charged down.
Slough Town went ahead in the 27th minute through Arnold Matshazi, who intercepted a poor pass by George Nicholas, took the ball through the defence and hit a superb shot into the top corner of the net.
Kain Adom crossed from deep for Shomari Barnwell, whose header was comfortably saved by Slough custodian, Rhys Forster. Then a low cross from Kain was cleared.
Slough’s Josh Jackman hit a good ball into the area for Arnold Matshazi, who was thwarted by Dwayne Duncan, at the expense of a corner.
Hanwell tried a short corner but lost possession. The subsequent Slough break enabled Arnold Matshazi to set up George Wells, whose shot cleared the bar.
Score at half time: Hanwell Town 0 Slough Town 1
Josh Strizovic made a brilliant close range one handed save from Manny Williams, when the latter was set up by Arnold Matshazi’s probing run. Then Matshazi’s pull back, following another run into the box, didn’t find a suitable recipient.
A fracas, starting in the 55th minute and lasting for several more minutes , in the area around the Hanwell Town bench, ended with Slough Town’s Matt Lench and Hanwell Town coach, Sean Kelleher both being shown red cards.
The Geordies pressed for an equaliser. Harry Rush released George Nicholas but his cross was cleared. Kain Adom’s pass released Dan Rowe but his shot was stopped on the goal line. A long-range effort by Calum Duffy was off target.
Rebel’s skipper Scott Davies got his head to a rocket shot from Shomari Barnwell and needed his physio’s attention.
Recently introduced substitute, Adam Laaref’s cross into the Rebel’s box was headed on to Harry Rush, who volleyed a shot just over the visitors’ cross bar. Then Dan Carr shot wide, when well-placed but he was adjudged to be offside anyway.
Slough scored their second goal in the 73rd minute. George Wells made a penetrative run down the left, shaking off several challenges and cut the ball back for Manny Williams who fired home.
Rhys Forster leapt to take Dan Carr’s excellent high cross at full stretch.
After 2 minutes of added time, Josh Strizovich saved brilliantly from Arnold Matshazi but Josh Jackman was on hand to net the rebound for Slough Town’s third goal.
Final Score: Hanwell Town 0 Slough Town 3
TEAM LINE UPS:
Hanwell Town: Josh Strizovic, Dan Carr, Isaac Olunfemi (Conor Lynch 84 mins), Harry Rush (capt), Calum Duffy, Dwayne Duncan, Sam Saunders, George Nicholas (Kewku Lucan 74), Shomari Barnwell, Dan Rowe (Adam Laaref 70) and Kain Adom.
Unused substitutes: Mark Waters, Matt Miskin and Connagh Wilks.
Manager: Chris Moore
Slough Town: Rhys Forster, George Wells, Joe Dandy, Lee Togwell, Arnold Matshazi, Matt Lench, Ben Harris (Connor Jeanes 62), Johnny Goddard (Manny Williams 33), Josh Jackman, Scott Davies (capt), Fabio Sole
Unused substitute: Eliot Benyon.
Managers: Lee Togwell, Scott Davies and Manny Williams.
Referee: Dale Wootton Assistant Referees: Michael Hayden and Nathaniel Wormleighton.
Attendance: 512.
The fate of the other Middlesex clubs playing in this round was as follows:
Harrow Borough achieved a great result by beating National League South side, Concord Rangers 4-2 away from home. They went three goals up through George Moore, Kai Brosnan and Billy Leonard. Concord pulled two goals back but George Moore settled the match with his second goal.
Harrow Borough will play Swindon Supermarine away in the 3rd Round.
Uxbridge also overcame NLS opposition by beating Dover Athletic in a penalty shoot-out, after a 1-1 home draw. They went behind to an early goal but central defender, Jordan Ireland equalised in the 71st minute. They were then successful with all four of their penalties before their goalkeeper, Harry Grad won the tie with a great save.
Uxbridge also have an away tie in the next round, at Dagenham and Redbridge.
Unfortunately, Hampton & Richmond Borough lost a hard-fought home tie with Farnborough by a single goal, scored in the last minute.
Barnet and Wealdstone are coming into the competition at the third round stage and have drawn Plymouth Parkway (home) and Chelmsford City (away) respectively.
Thank you to Chris and Jim for covering this game, as ever they have selected their favourite shots, which can be found throughout the report, Chris has also very kindly provided a full album of imagery.
