Classic cup draw against Walton and Hersham under the lights

Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round 30 August 2024

It was all square on ninety minutes with the game ending three each, sending both sets of fans happy with a replay on Tuesday to look forward to.

Hanworth Villa 3

• Finlay Macnab (64′)
• Sam Merson (68′ pen)
• Finlay Macnab (74′)

Walton & Hersham 3

• Lucas Defise (53′)
• Dawid Rogalski (62′)
• Joey Jones (82′)

But this game wasn’t just about the football, there was a real sense of occasion on the night, into which went a hell of a lot of planning and precision execution from the staff and volunteers at Hanworth Villa, all done in a very short space of time.

The game was originally scheduled for the Saturday but had to be moved to the Friday because of our ground sharing agreement with London Samurai who already had a fixture.

Attendance 540

We literally had days, after the change of date, to put the wheels in motion to stage the game. We were rightly expecting a big crowd and this meant drafting in additional volunteers, security and marshals; sorting out catering and ensuring that we were prepared for every eventuality. The night of course ran smoothly and had a real buzz about it and even had room for a visit from a star of stage and screen.

FA Cup games are special and having this one against the team that beat us in the play-off final two years ago added to the levels of excitement.

Walton & Hersham FC came to us on the back of an excellent start to their season in the Isthmian Southern League – Premier South, where they’ve accrued 12 points from a possible 15 scoring 15 goals in the process, sitting second in the league. It was hard to imagine a trickier draw at this stage of the cup.

Media wise se pulled out the stops for this and had both live Twitter commentary and actual live commentary on Hanworth Villa radio, and as you’ll find as you scroll down we had the cameras on too.

How we lined up

Match report

Kick Off

From the kick off Walton & Hersham showed their ability on the ball with some good possession. However, it was Villa who looked the most likely to score in the opening stages of the game with a number of chances in the first dozen or so minutes. Sam Merson coming close early on in (almost) a carbon copy of his goal last week against Ashford Town, only this time his shot just went the wrong side of the post.

Our set pieces seemed to unsettle the opposition and when Barker mishandled a Merson corner, juggling the ball in the box, this seemed to encourage our boys to be a little more direct on goal.

Walton & Hersham found some joy attacking down our left flank and on 12’ Mekki let fly with a half volley that went wide. Minutes later he had another chance with a lovely strike which curled past the right hand post.

The opposition had the bit between their teeth at this stage and Obeng tried his luck from the edge of the box but Mark Smith mopped up with little effort.

19’ Villa on the attack and Merson at the heart of it. A long throw in the box came back out to him but he just ran out of space with the ball going out for a goal kick.

21’ Merson again shooting from the center of the box, but straight at the keeper. Walton launch a quick counter, something they are extremely adroit at, but the Villa defence held firm.

23’ Tobin ran through for the Swans best effort of the game following some neat passing, finding himself one on one with the Villa keeper before firing wide.

With Walton & Hersham finding a lot of joy down our left Simon swapped Aston Nunn and Bruno Robertson-Tingle with Aston taking up the more offensive position and Bruno dropping back to wing-back. This stifled the opponents somewhat and gave us more stability down that side of the pitch.

As the half hour approached we got a free kick midway into the Swan’s half. Merson’s kick unusually didn’t beat the first man but the attack continued culminating in a Merson shot into Barker the keeper’s chest.

30’ We appeared to have the ball over the line but the ref had blown up for a foul in the build up so no goal.

33’ Mekki came close with a shot following some intricate play between Obeng and Rogalski, but his final shot just curling wide.

37’ Jones played Rogalski into the box and Mark Smith made a good save to prevent a goal.

Walton & Hersham showed a real edge at this stage of the game, passing and probing to create an opening and on 43’ they should have had it. Obeng was one-on-one with the keeper but scuffed his shot into the hands of Smith who was already on the ground.

With the game played at decent pace and with no real stoppages there was just one minute of additional time.

Second half

The second half began well for Walton who had an early shot by Defises and corner to show for their endeavours.

Rogalski had a long term effort on 50’ but wasn’t accurate in the execution with the ball flying out for a goal kick. Minutes later and Defise had another effort forced out for a corner but Villa defended well with George Wells making one of his dozen or show clearing challenges during this game.

They say substitutions can change a game so we were surprised in the commentary box to see one of the most effective players for Walton & Hersham Mekki replaced by Olyott for his debut.

With dust barely settled on the non-penalty decision Walton made a lightning fast break and Tobin played in Defise who rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Goal: Defise 53’ – Hanworth Villa 0 : 1 Walton & Hersham

56’ Simon starts to ring the changes and Dylan Randall came on to replace the ever eager Aston Nunn on the left of midfield.

61’ The visitors doubled their lead with another quick break and a rocket from Rogalski past Smith.

Goal: Rogalski 61’ – Hanworth Villa 0 : 2 Walton & Hersham

A lot of clubs might have crumbled being two down with only half an hour to go but at Villa we don’t know the meaning of defeat (that could be down to failings in the education system but I digress) and within minutes we began what was to become an impressive comeback.

63′ Substitution. On comes Millo for Nicholas who’d battled well through the game but to no reward.

64’ Following some head tennis in the Walton & Hersham box Macnab made the space and buried the ball home through a sea of bodies. Game on.

Goal: Macnab 64’ – Hanworth Villa 1 : 2 Walton & Hersham

Two minutes later Merson is felled in the box and this time the referee makes no mistake and points to the spot. Having missed a penalty last week Sam Merson showed his inner metal and stepped up to take this one and scores. The pendulum begins to swing in our favour.

Goal: Sam Merson 66’ – Hanworth Villa 2 : 2 Walton & Hersham

With George Wells switching out to the left Rayan Djoaudj replaces Robertson-Tingle and immediately Villa are on the attack again and Macnab gets the better of the keeper and from being two nil down we are suddenly 3-2 up in the space of twelve minutes.

Goal: Finlay Macnab 73’ – Hanworth Villa 2 : 2 Walton & Hersham

For the next eight or so minutes we defended stoically with Wells leading by example, clearing everything in an empiric performance but we didn’t stop attacking. On 77’ Merson forced a save from Barker.

However, our defence was undone on 81’ with Rogalski finding Jones in a box full of bodies who just managed to squeeze the ball through and into the net to bring us back to parity.

Goal:Joey Jones 81’ – Hanworth Villa 3 : 3 Walton & Hersham 

Walton continued to press no doubt feeling the momentum swinging back in their favour and on 87’ Obend unleashes a screamer which rattles the bar.

89′ Simon makes another substitution with Macnab being replaced by O’Neil.

In the last minute of the four additional added on by the ref Mark Smith makes a fantastic save to deny Olyott a winner.

With the ball in the air from the goal kick the ref blows and it’s even-stevens.

Final score: Hanworth Villa 3 : 3 Walton & Hersham 3

We go again Tuesday with a replay at the Xcel in Walton. See details on how to get tickets.

What a game. This is what the Emirates FA Cup is all about.