Villa lose to Chertsey – Hanworth Villa FC

Isthmian League – South Central Division

Saturday 6th April 2024

Hanworth Villa 1

Ryan Djouadj (20′)

Chertsey Town 2

Rueben Collins (24′)
Gianluca Botti (45′)

Chertsey arrived at Rectory Meadow knowing that a win for them combined with dropped points by Leatherhead and Marlow would crown them as champions and for large parts of the game this seemed to the likely outcome. At half time Thatcham Town were leading 4-1 and when Southall went 1-0 up againsts Leatherhead on 58 minutes every Chertsey fan in the ground must have felt it was inevitable. However Marlow had other ideas and a late surge saw them score four second half goals to ensure Chertsey’s coronation would have to wait another week regardless of the result in our game.

Match day

As expected we had something of a bumper crowd with 446 people attending this local derby. Before the game our youth teams were out on the pitch doing training exercises and helping to contribute the match atmosphere. It was nice to open up both turnstiles to ensure everyone got into the ground in a timely fashion. Nice too to see actor and showbiz all-rounder Rob Brydon along to support the team. In the gallery you can spot the ‘Would I lie to you’ presenter pouring me a pint in the Jawbone brewery tent.

As well as our usual clubhouse offering, our outside bar and our burger van we also laid on Jawbone Brewery, Dough Shack and Sweets ‘n’ Treats.

Jawbone Brewery

Sweets n Treats

Dough Shack

Pre-match gallery

Remembering Dave Townsend

Before the game we paid tribute to Dave Townsend, with a minute’s applause.

Dave was a stalwart of the club who supported us in so many ways. Some of you will know him from the matchday announcements or from his time on the turnstile but Dave did so much more for the club over the past decades and is sorely missed by all his friends and colleagues. R.I.P.

The crowd pay respect to Dave Townsend

Match report

How we lined up

Starting eleven

1 Harvey Rackley-Hayes
2 Oladimeji Olajubu
3 Aston Nunn
4 Matthew Gbio
5 Rayan Djouadj
6 George Wells
7 Theo Crawford
8 Louis Collins
9 Kyen Nicholas
10 Sam Mead
11 Sam Merson

Substitutes

12 Quincy Patterson
14 Jordan Ellis
15 Dean Wells

We’ve already faced Chertsey twice this season – the first on the opening day of the season where we put up a spirited display only to lose 2-1. Then we met them in the FA Trophy where a last minute equaliser in a thrilling tie brought the sides to a 1-1 draw and ultimately penalties which our visitors shaded 4-2 on the night.

Kick off. 3pm

Attendance: 446

From the kick-off the champions elect took control. Within a few seconds of kick off our visitors gain a free kick in our half which thankfully comes to nothing but barely two minutes later and it’s down to our keeper to stop the first shot on target. After five minutes or so we start to get into the game and mount our first attack. Positive stuff from Villa.

On nine minutes the Chertsey number nine Botti makes a theatrical fall in our box. The ref is having none of it and just ignores this nonsense (as he does several times throughout the game). The theatrical dives were a feature of our first encounter with them earlier this season, presumably they have training sessions at the local pool.

Hanworth Villa 1-1 Chertsey Town, Ryan Djouadj 20′

Despite the constant pressure from our visitors Villa have enough in the locker to mount a series of attacks in the first quarter of the game. On thirteen minutes a ball is crossed from the right along the pitch but despite best efforts no one can get their foot on it and the Chertsey goal remains untroubled.

On 20 minutes Villa are awarded a throw in on the left. Sam Merson winds up and launches a long throw which is met by the head of Ryan Djouadj, who guides the ball into the back of the net.

They say that you’re most vulnerable straight after you score and so it proved as barely four minutes later Chertsey Town got a goal back through a set-piece headed over the line by Collins.

Hanworth Villa 1-1 Chertsey Town 1, Rueben Collins 24′

For the rest of the half Chertsey bossed the possession, creating and wasting chances to take the lead seemingly aiming for the A316 behind our goal. That said, our keeper made a succession of saves to keep us in the game. On 33 minutes Chertsey got through on goal with just Rackley-Hayes to beat but a superb reflex save from our keeper saw the ball tipped onto the crossbar. Five minutes later and our cross-bar was rattled again.

Hanworth Villa 1-2 Chertsey Town 1, Gianluca Botti 45′

Chertsey continued to press and on the stroke of half time following our best move of the match they broke and from the left Botti slid the ball past our keeper and just beyond the despairing reach of Djouadj who just couldn’t scramble it away.

Half time: Hanworth Villa 1-2 Chertsey Town

The second half began much as the first half ended with Chertsey having the lion’s share of chances but unable to score the third goal that would no doubt seal their victory. As the half continued news filtered in about Leatherhead losing and the Marlow comeback. Whether this got back to the Chertsey players but at times they appeared on edge but unfortunately we unable to capitalise on this. Our clearest chance came on 71 minutes when Nicholas was tripped in what we call “Sam Merson” territory. With George Wells also standing over the ball Merson stepped up and sent a glorious free kick over the wall and down onto the back of the Chertsey keeper. Nine times out of ten this deflection would see the ball trickle over the goal line but not today, with the ball rolling safely out of play on the outside of the post for a corner.

On 80 minutes Marlow got an equaliser in their game. This still meant Chertsey would be promoted as champions were the scores to remain the same and so an announcement was made not to invade the pitch just in case. Into injury time Marlow got their fifth which put an end – at least for one game – to Chertsey’s promotion party.

Not our best game but it was good to see Quincy Patterson get his home debut. One to watch for the future.