The first round of this season’s Middlesex Sunday Junior Cup was contested on Sunday, 9^th October and your roving team decided to visit the tie at Hanworth Air Parc between Hanworth Sports Reserves and Middlesex Arms.

An evenly contested and entertaining game, played on a good pitch on a pleasant autumn morning, produced a narrow 2-1 victory for the visitors, who led 2-0 at half time.   Hanworth Sports fought back in the second half and reduced the margin but were unable to force a deciding shoot-out.

Referee Monicah Kusemwa admonished a visiting player at length, thereby establishing a firm hold on the proceedings.

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Ross Lynch's cross flies across the home goalmouth

Middlesex Arms did most of the attacking in the opening stages but were unable to produce a telling finish.   Their best opportunity occurred when Ross Lynch broke down the left.   However, his ball across the goalmouth failed to attract a touch.

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A push on Stephen Pooley produces a penalty for Hanworth Sports...

Hanworth Sports came more into the match and midway through the half, were awarded a penalty for a push on Stephen Pooley.   Skipper, Martyn Jones took the kick but placed it at a saveable height to goalkeeper Sam Deacon’s right.

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...which is saved by Sam Deacon

Middlesex Arms resumed the attack, but their neat approach work did not, at this stage, create many direct attempts on goal.  

A good through ball from Ross Lynch released Ryan King, who was foiled by a home defender.   George Deacon burst through the home defence but his cross was cleared.

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Joe Lisi takes a dive...

Joe Lisi of Middlesex Arms took a dive in the Sports’ penalty area and was duly cautioned.

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...and gets a yellow card

Middlesex Arms went ahead in the 35^th minute.   Home keeper, Jack Newton saved at Jack Blackman’s feet at the expense of a corner and Joe Lisi headed home from the resulting cross.

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Joe Lisi puts Middlesex Arms ahead

The visitors kept up the pressure.   Conor O’Dell hit the crossbar and Joe Lisi had a shot stopped on the goal line.  Then Jack Newton saved well from Joe, during a spell of goalmouth activity.

A Hanworth Sports breakaway forced Middlesex Arms keeper, Sam Deacon to leave his area to kick clear from Matt Wylde.

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Joe Lisi forces the ball home for Middlesex Arms second goal

Middlesex Arms doubled their lead in the 45^th minute.   Joe Lisi forced the ball over the line after the keeper had saved at George Deacon’s feet.

Score at half time: Hanworth Sports Reserves 0   Middlesex Arms 2

Hanworth Sports did the bulk of the attacking after the interval and got back into the match.

Martyn Jones hit a good long ball into the Middlesex Arms’ box but Matt Wylde’s header was off target.

Middlesex Arms’ Paul Elkins’ long ball up the middle troubled the keeper, who conceded a corner under pressure from Ross Lynch.

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Alex Rogers (7) nets for Hanworth but is adjudged offside

Alex Rogers netted for Hanworth Sports following a goalmouth melee but was adjudged to be offside.

Middlesex Arms’ defender Jack Adcock advanced up-field but fired wide.

Hanworth Sports pressed to reduce the deficit.   Stephen Pooley connected with a James Smallworth free kick from 30 yards out but was off-target.   James then hit an even longer free kick into the danger area, which eluded everyone.   A run by Alex Rogers set up Matt Knight, whose shot was blocked.

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Matt Wylde's shot pulls one back for Hanworth Sports

Sports eventually pulled a goal back in the 68^th minute, through Matt Wylde, who swept home Matt Knight’s pass.

The Hanworth Sports front men continued to keep Sam Deacon, in the visitors’ goal, busy, in their search for an equaliser.   An incisive move ended with Lewis O’Gorman’s shot across goal just missing the far post before Matt Wylde went close.

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Matt Wylde goes close again

Middlesex Arms then reasserted their grip on proceedings and looked the most likely team to score during the remainder of the match.

Jack Newton saved low down from Jack Blackman, who had been released by Ross Lynch.   Joe Lisi headed wide from Jack Blackman’s long throw-in.   Jordan McClaren headed over the bar from a corner.   Ross Lynch fed Paul Elkins, whose shot was saved.   Finally, Joe Lisi headed wide.

The match was firmly handled by referee Monicah Kusemwa.

Result: Hanworth Sports Reserves 1   Middlesex Arms 2

TEAM LINE-UPS

Hanworth Sports Reserves: Jack Newton, Pica Bobolceanu, Kelvin Lansdonne, Tom Chapman, Nathan Smith, Alex Rogers, Lewis O’Gorman, James Smallworth, Stephen Pooley, Martyn Jones (capt) and Matt Wylde.

Rolling substitutes: Matt Knight, Dylan Sitton and Sanjeet Judoo.

Middlesex Arms: Sam Deacon (capt), George Deacon, Luke Everitt, Jack Adcock, Marc Beltrami, Ryan King, Charlie Mossom, Jack Blackman, Ross Lynch, Joe Lisi and Conor O’Dell.

Rolling substitutes: Jordan McClaren, Paul Elkins and George Balkin.

Thanks as ever to Chris and Jim for getting out to this County Cup match up, our dynamic duo have picked out their favourite shots from the match, all of which can be viewed across the report. Chris has also kindly produced a full album of imagery from the match.

Chris & Jim's Picks

Full Album Courtesy of Chris Benn

OTHER FIRST ROUND RESULTS:

The results of the other matches played in the competition that day were:

SECOND ROUND DRAW

The Second Round matches are due to take place on Sunday 13th Novemeber 2022

Omonia Youth Mens v St Nicholas

Sheen Park Rangers v FC Burnham Village

Middlesex Arms v Greenford United

Wishing Well Wanderers v Larkspur Rovers Sunday Reserves

Hounslow Wolves v North West Jets

FC Cricklewood v CP Royals

Highgate Albion 4ths v Greenhill Rangers

CB Hounslow United Sunday v Whetstone FC