HANWORTH VILLA WIN IMPORTANT DERBY
A very important league battle took place on Saturday last, 15th April, at Hanworth Villa’s Ecoglow Stadium (better known as The Ranch). The Villains entertained near neighbours, Bedfont Sports, in an Isthmian League South Central Division game and both sides desperately needed the points, albeit for differing reasons. Your roving team were in attendance.
Hanworth Villa were occupying a play off position in the league table and knew that maximum points from their 3 remaining matches would keep them there.
Bedfont Sports, who were involved in the promotion play-offs last year, had struggled this season and with two matches remaining, were occupying a relegation play off position.
Prior to this season, these teams had not played each other for league points since season 2017-18, when they were both in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League. Bedfont Sports won both encounters that season. The teams are resuming their league rivalry, as a result of Villa’s promotion, following their domination of the CCL Premier Division North last season. This season’s earlier Isthmian League match at Bedfont Rec had finished goalless.
The watching crowd were treated to a very entertaining match. The Villains dominated the first half territorially but were unable to take any of the chances which they created, due in no small measure to some excellent goalkeeping. The Eagles took the lead in the 24th minute, with their first goalscoring effort and held a 1-0 lead at the interval. Villa came storming out in the second half and equalised in the 53rd minute. They went ahead with a bizarre goal 9 minutes later and retained the lead until the end.
After some early sparring, Hanworth Villa took the initiative. Ben Geraghty fed Sam Merson, whose shot from 25 yards was saved by Muhammed (Mo) Otuyu. Some trickery by Aston Nunn produced a corner.
George Wells’ high shot also produced a corner. Ben Geraghty fastened onto a long kick from his keeper but he went too wide and hit his shot into the side netting. Sam Merson’s long throw-ins were causing problems in the Eagles’ goalmouth. Kyron Richards attempted a backheel from one, which the keeper collected.
Theo Crawford’s long ball found Sam Merson. whose shot bounced on the top of the bar.
The visitors’ keeper now made a series of important saves. He diverted a long-range effort from George Wells around the post.
Kyen Nicholas worked into a shooting position and Mo turned his shot from 25 yards over the bar. Mo then touched George Wells’ diving header, from the resulting corner, past his upright.
Kyen then burst through the middle but the keeper palmed his fierce drive away.
Oliver Khinda put the Eagles ahead in the 24th minute, with a well-placed shot.
Mo parried a drive from Sam Merson and then saved Theo Crawford’s freekick from around 25 yards. He then pushed Tom Bender’s freekick, from a central position, which was travelling into the top corner of the goal, over for a corner.
Ben Geraghty cleared the bar from the edge of the box.
Score at half time: Hanworth Villa 0 Bedfont Sports 1
Eight minutes after the interval, Tom Bender headed home Sam Merson’s long freekick, to level the scores.
Sam Merson scored Villa’s second goal in the 62nd minute. Kyen Nicholas was tripped as he worked his way into the box. Mo saved Sam’s penalty. Sam hit the resulting loose ball against the crossbar and was quickest to the rebound to head it into the net.
Kyron Richards set up Theo Crawford but Mo punched his shot away. Sam Merson released Kyen Nicholas, who shot too high from an acute angle.
Gagendeep Samra was brought down on the right. Sam Merson’s freekick was cleared. Kyen Nicholas’ long freekick into the box was headed away. Sam Merson cleared the crossbar from close range.
Play became a little scrappy as the minutes ticked away and tempers became frayed. Cerny Ando was the 4th Bedfont player to receive a yellow card when he talked his way into the referees’ notebook. The fifth was the heroic goalkeeper, Muhammed Otuyu, who became involved in an incident after the final whistle.
Final Score: Hanworth Villa 2 Bedfont Sports 1
TEAM LINE UPS:
Hanworth Villa: Gary Ross, Kyron Richards, Aston Nunn, Guy Ansah-Palmer, George Wells, Tom Bender (capt), Gagendeep Samra, Theo Crawford, Kyen Nicholas (Jordan Ellis 84 mins), Sam Merson and Ben Geraghty.
Unused substitutes: Baboucall Bijarra, Louis Taylor. Meshach Williams and Leon Solomon.
Bedfont Sports: Muhammed Otuyu, Cerny Ando, Marco Firgueiredo, Dom Pires (Kofi Anoyke-Boadi 81), Ethan Kaiser, Kayode Conteh, Reyon Dillon (Aidan Brown 66), Seanan McKillop, Sam Evans (capt), Oliver Khinda and Nathan Hogan (Noe Vendreus 67).
Unused substitutes: Jake Beck-Nardoni and Kyle Eakin.
Referee: Elliott Spencer Assistant Referees: Thomas Healy and Dane Johnston
Attendance: 215
We thank Chris and Jim for taking in this local derby, as ever they have selected their favourite shots from the match, Chris has also kindly provided a full album of imagery.
Full Album Courtesy of Chris Benn
Photography - Chris Benn