League campaign begins with a home draw with Raynes Park Vale

Isthmian League – South Central Division – Saturday 10 August 2024

Hanworth Villa 1

• Kyen Nicholas (15′)

Raynes Park Vale 1

• Archie Harland-Goddard (27′)

Match report

Attendance 161

Just like that we are back at it, following on from last week’s convincing win in the Emirates FA Cup over Knaphill, Villa were keen to make an early impact in the league. 

The management team had a couple of early enforced changes to face Raynes Park Vale, with injury to Louis Collins in that FA Cup game and Guy Ansah Palmour and Ben Geraghty unavailable. Aston Nunn coming in for Collins at the left back position and Christian Jolley moving position from last week’s line-up with Ben Merson coming in upfront to start. 

How we lined up

First half

Raynes Park had a great season last time out and this was going to be an early tough test for the experienced Villa team – from the kick off the game was played at high energy with the early spoils falling to the visitors who were having more control of the ball

Hanworth had some early long-range efforts early on with  Kyen Nichols, Ben Merson and Geroge Wells keen to find their range. The ball didn’t spend much time in the midfield with it being quite an end-to-end affair. 

The deadlock was broken on 15 minutes –  the move starting from a Sam Merson long throw-in into the box.

Vale headed the ball away into the path of Merson, laying the ball off to Finlay Macnab, but his left foot shot from the edge of the box lacked power but fell to the feet of Manny Parry, who laid the back to Merson on the right who fired a fierce pass into the box leaving Nicholas to fire it into the net.

Nicholas 15’ – Villa 1 : 0 Raynes Park Vale

Raynes Park were patient, trying to see a lot of possession and passing around the midfield, with Daniel Berry on the left wing the main threat in getting the ball into Villa’s box. Villa were  more than equal to that and regularly nipped in to break up the passing and cut out any attacks.

26 minutes had passed and the visitors were getting closer to the Villa goal, a great passing move and switch from right to left saw Berry with the ball just outside the box, challenges came in bringing the player down down – the ref awarding a free kick. Jake Gallagher lined up the kick, unleashing a powerful low shot which hit the left upright, the ball pinged diagonally across the penalty area into the path Archie Harland-Goddard who made no mistake in burying the ball into the back of the net.  

Archie Harland-Goddard 26’ – Villa 1 : 1 Raynes Park Vale

The final 15 minutes of the first half continued at pace with both sides having chances to take a lead in at half time, Nicholas continued to pester the visiting defense but no way through could be found. 

We go in all square at the break.  

Second half

The second half continued with similar intensity to the first with both side having their chances. It’s fair to say both defences did their job well in cutting out attacks. Raynes Park edged the number of chances with Mark Smith being called upon several times to out crosses. 

The game went into an end-to-end affair with both teams trying to catch each other out on the break, but this found both keepers in good form.  

As the half went on the Hanworth management made some changes (with changes in the rules now allowing five substitutes – full use of which was made with all subs making an appearance). 

Quincy Patterson replacing MacNab on 61 minutes introduced some fresh legs on the left, and this had a positive effect with Villa finding more ways into the visitor’s box. The best chance for us to take the lead fell to Patterson, with 15 minutes to go, a good switch ball out to Merson on the left saw him drive towards goal with only two defenders back – Merson drove into the box laying the ball towards Patterson, but in a last dash effort the defender managed to get down and take the ball out of Patterson’s path. 

Both teams pressed, but as throughout the game both defences remained resolute and drives into the box were cut out.  

Every player played their fair part in a hard fought draw – a good game for the neutral but perhaps a frustrating opening game for both sides with points dropped.