Villa cruise against Westfield

Isthmian League – South Central Division

Saturday 11th November 2023

Hanworth Villa 4

• Ben Geraghty (3′)
• Kyen Nicholas (40′)
• Kyen Nicholas (53′)
• Ben Geraghty (68′)

Westfield 2

• Manolis Gogonas (58′)
• Kanye Moyo (90′)

Match report

Attendance: 174

Hanworth Villa faced Westfield in this Armistice Day meeting at The Ranch.  

Before the match both teams lined up either side of the centre-circle to pay homage to the millions of soldiers and civilians killed during the First World War. An impeccable minutes silence was observed by those in attendance, the only sound emanating across the ground was an emotional playing of the Last Post by Villa Under 13 player, George Jones.  

How we lined up

First half

Hanworth kicked off the match and were straight on the attack as Theo Crawford headed on to Kyen Nicholas, who having lost his marker found himself with just the Westfield keeper to beat, he placed the ball past Sonny Wheeler, but also agonisingly past the wrong side of the post.  

Early goal – Ben Geraghty: 1-0

Just two minutes later and Villa did take the lead. A sublime diagonal ball across field from George Wells found Sam Merson on the right wing, his half volley pass found Ben Geraghty in the box, who duly smashed the ball past Wheeler.  

Twelve minutes in and Westfield had their first real chance of the match as Billy Nutbeam and Junior Da Cruz combined on their left, the former crossing into the box, Hanworth’s Terry Buss came off his line to punch the ball clear. Quincy Rowe picked up the loose ball outside of the box, but his attempt flew high and wide of the goal.  

Amazingly the match saw its first foul in the 19th minute, a combination of tough but fair play from both sides, and a Refereeing trio willing to let a match flow made for an enjoyable and free flowing start to the game.

Westfield, in the 27th minute, came close to equalising as a Da Cruz cross from the left found Caleb Wright in the box, his header directed straight into the safe hands of Buss. Hanworth surged up field through Nicholas, but a foul by Westfield halted his progress. The resulting free kick by Merson was floated into the box, with Wells heading just wide of the upright.

An acrobatic overhead attempt in the 32nd minute from Westfield’s Wright was well wide of the post.

In the 38th minute, Kyron Richards played a pinpoint cross-field ball to find Merson out on the right, his first time touch to Nicholas was flicked onwards to Geraghty, Wheeler though came out to smother the ball to prevent a certain goal. The Westfield shot-stopper played the ball up field where it found Jake Baxter through on goal, Buss though came out quickly to cover the danger.

And Nicholas makes it two: 2-0

Hanworth’s second goal came just two minutes later, as Merson found Nicholas outside the box, the forward holding off the attention of the Westfield defence fired an unstoppable shot past Wheeler.  

Second half

The Second half saw the home side dominating early on, and a 50th minute strike by Nicholas rebounded off the post to safety.

Nicholas nets again: 3-0

Three minutes later and Merson played down the line to Geraghty, his run and cross found Nicholas out at the far post, and with a near open goal, he slotted the ball home to increase Hanworth’s lead to 3-0.  

Westfied pull one back: 3-1

Westfield’s Jordan Alves picked up the ball in midfield, and managed a cross into the box, where Manolis Gogonas headed the ball high into the net to give the visitors their opening goal of the afternoon in the 58th minute. From the restart, Richards picked up the ball and drove down the left side of the pitch, he managed to cut into the box and his shot was well saved by Wheeler for a corner. The resulting kick found Louis Collins, his cross into the box found Nicholas, who’s first time strike was again well saved by Wheeler tipping the ball over the bar for another corner. Westfield’s goal was under severe pressure once again as Crawford smashed the ball against the underside of the crossbar, the ball just bouncing the wrong side of the goal-line.

Geraghty scores again: 4-1

Undoubtedly the goal of the game came for the home side in the 68th minute, Guy Ansah- Palmer played the ball to Merson, his through ball found Geraghty, he in turn rounded the advancing defender to fire a rising shot into the roof of the net.  

Substitute Sam Mead found himself one-on-one with the ‘keeper, but Wheeler was out smartly to save with his feet. The ball fell to Geraghty, but once again Wheeler managed to pull of another clearance.  

With six minutes remaining, Merson found himself some twenty yards from goal, his pot-shot nearly catching Wheeler unawares, but the Westfield man managed to tip the ball wide of the post.  

Late consolation for Westfield: 4-2

Deep into injury time and Westfield pulled another goal back as Alves crossed into a crowded penalty box, substitute Kanye Moyo stuck out a boot to direct the ball past Buss, and round off the afternoon’s action.  

Full time: final score 4-2

A special mention to the refereeing team, who officiated the game in a positive standard that the game has been crying out for.