Isthmian South Central 9 Nov 2024
Guernsey 2
- Finlay Patterson (4’)
- Ross Allen (87’)
Hanworth Villa 1
- Sam Merson (79’)
Match Report
Hanworth Villa crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Footes Lane against a Guernsey side without nine first-team players.
The Green Lions, who remain in the relegation zone, fielded a youthful lineup with key players away on international duty against Jersey.
Sam Merson’s stunning 79th-minute free kick was not enough to salvage a point on an afternoon where Villa were simply second-best.
Villa’s second straight defeat condemned them to tenth in the league, but Villa remain four points adrift of fifth-placed Hartley Wintney.
Most players rose early, before 5am, to catch the team’s morning flight to Guernsey.
But manager Simon Haughney refused to blame the loss on fatigue.
He said: “I thought the first five minutes we were still on the plane. People make excuses when they come to Guernsey, but Guernsey do it every other week. Us and other teams we do it once a season.
“I’m not making fatigue an issue. We were not clinical, silly mistakes and the individual errors have cost us again.”
Despite the absences of Ali Mansaray, Ben Mulley and Dylan Randall through injury, Haughney fielded what he thought was one of his strongest sides.
Shane Dunne started at the base of a midfield diamond, with Theo Crawford and Sam Mead flanking him, while Christian Jolley came in at left-back.
Credit: Ervin Ang
In front of 589 spectators, the home side capitalised on a lethargic Villa start to take a shock lead just four minutes in.
Guernsey debutant Finlay Patterson calmly slotted home a cutback into the bottom right corner.
Villa responded with a wave of attacks, but Sam Merson and Finlay Macnab failed to convert half chances.
Then Guernsey nearly doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. Veteran midfielder Matt Loaring was slipped through on goal but dragged his low effort narrowly wide.
On the half hour mark, there was a brief stoppage in play. Guernsey duo Thomas Vaudin and Kieran Mahon were forced off with head injuries.
That gave Haughney time to switch from a diamond midfield to a 4-2-3-1 system with Alex Body and Sam Mead as wingers. The tactical alteration nearly paid off immediately.
Receiving the ball inside the penalty box, Body shimmied left and right before finding space to fire off a dangerous shot that bobbed across the grass.
Although his effort trickled past Guernsey goalkeeper Josh Addison’s outstretched arms, it came off the post.
After the interval, Villa hooked Body and Mead for Rayan Djouadj in midfield and Quincy Patterson out wide.
About Djouadj’s performance, Haughney said: “I put Rayan centre midfield because I know he got heart, I know he cares, I know he will die for the ball.
“Rayan’s on the least money but cares the most so he’ll start on Tuesday.”
In the 73rd minute, Merson had a goal ruled out but made amends six minutes later with a pinpoint free kick.
From 25 yards out, he curled a superb effort into the top corner which goalkeeper Addison had no chance of saving.
Yet Villa failed to take advantage of the momentum swing, and conceded again in the 87th minute.
Ross Allen, who had missed a clear cut chance three minute earlier, notched his 300th goal for the club to send the home fans into a frenzy.
He wrapped up Guernsey’s first home win of the season and snapped a seven-game winless run.
While Tony Vance’s side rose to 20th, they are four points away from safety.
Reflecting on the defeat, Haughney said: “Right now I’m quite emotional. I’ll stand up here. We lost the game, I’m the manager, it’s my fault.
“But I’m just disappointed because we’ve got really experienced players who haven’t listened.
“First five minutes, the instruction was to work into the game. It’s basic instructions they haven’t followed.
“Back in the changing room they’ve apologised, but it’s not good enough. It’s too late.”
Villa will have three days to lick their wounds before returning to Rectory Meadow on Tuesday night to face fourth-placed Harrow Borough.
