Isthmian South Central 5 Oct 2024
Hanworth Villa 2
- Ben Mulley (84’)
- Dylan Randall (95’)
South Park (Reigate) 1
- Craig McGee (51’)
Match Report
Late set-piece goals from Hanworth Villa debutant Ben Mulley and substitute Dylan Randall earned Villa a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against South Park (Reigate). A day after arriving from Marlow FC, Mulley wasted no time getting into the thick of the action with an 84th-minute equaliser which cancelled out South Park’s Craig McGee’s early second-half strike.Randall then sent the 110 fans at Rectory Meadow into a frenzy with a looping header in the final minute of stoppage time.
The result meant Hanworth moved up to fifth in the table, among the promotion playoff places, and ended a dismal run of three league games without a win.
Manager Simon Haughney said: “I must praise the players. I’ve been out on camera having a go at them over the last couple of games not being happy at their character. And they sure showed character right at the end.
“They didn’t give it in and I’m pleased with the boys today. There was a lot of push and shoves and it was like a game from the 70s at times. That’s a much needed win.
“We’ve drawn two, lost one and to be honest I thought they were fair results. I didn’t even feel they were games where we’ve created more and not took chances. So yeah, it was massive today, absolutely massive.”
Haughney made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Moneyfields. Mulley and Alex Body replaced Theo Crawford and Kyen Nicholas in the starting lineup.
Debutant Mulley had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the 16th minute but directed his header from Sam Merson’s free kick narrowly wide. Villa, who had largely dominated proceedings, then suffered a scare in the 27th minute when South Park’s Bobby Mills crashed a fine volley off the crossbar.
Just two minutes later, Hanworth were forced into an early substitution when right-back Guy Ansah-Palmer picked up a knock. He was replaced by former Brentford CST player Quincy Patterson.
Villa goalkeeper Mark Smith displayed his quick reflexes to deny Finlay Johnson in the 33rd minute before Merson’s audacious attempt to chip South Park custodian Danny Bracken trickled past the wrong side of the post.
There was time just before the interval for another big Hanworth opportunity, but Body’s long-range effort could only graze the upright.
An attacking change was made by Hanworth manager Simon Haughney at the break, with Kyen Nicholas replacing Christian Jolley.
Goal: Craig McGee 51’ – Villa 0 v 1 South Park
The home side were made to pay for their missed opportunities as six minutes after the restart, McGee slotted a first-time finish into the bottom corner of the net from a Mills cutback.
Pushing for an equaliser, Hanworth were denied once more when Body’s effort was saved by Bracken. It proved to be Body’s last contribution as he was replaced by Dylan Randall on the hour mark.
In the 66th minute, Conan Torpey thought he had doubled South Park’s advantage with a pinpoint diving header but Hanworth were bailed out by the linesman’s raised flag.
Goal: Ben Mulley 84’ – Villa 1 v 1 South Park
Buoyed by the let off, Villa upped their intensity and finally broke the deadlock from an 84th-minute corner. Mulley rose highest with a thumping header into the back of the net. Into stoppage time, South Park had a golden one-on-one opportunity to retake the lead but dragged their shot wide.
Goal: Dylan Randall 95’ – Villa 2 v 1 South Park (Final Score)
With virtually the last chance of the match, Hanworth scored from a Merson long throw as substitute Randall left Bracken flailing at thin air with a perfectly-weighted looping header to seal an all-important three points.
Haughney said: “We do work on our set-pieces and we are dangerous from them. We knew that would be our strength today. Their strengths are pace, technically good players, fast players and tenacious. But we did feel we would have the upper hand at set pieces and it proved to be.”
About Mulley’s inspired debut, he said: “In typical Hanworth style, he didn’t get much of a welcoming, no honeymoon for Ben. Straight (into it) with the weight of trying to win the game on his shoulders, straight off the bat.
“Super, super player. Hopefully we’ll have him till the end of the season but the aim with Ben is to kick him higher. So let’s get some games out of him. He showed today he was very good.”
Villa will travel to seventh-placed Westfields next Saturday to take on a promotion rival.
Haughney added: “It could be a really tough game. Very together team so we’ve got to forget about this. There were things today where I thought we were caught again on unnecessary counters. I think we’re flooding forward when we haven’t got comfortable possession and let’s have it right.”
