Isthmian League South Central: Tuesday 10 September
Hayes and Yeading 1
- Jude Mason (71′)
Hanworth Villa 2
- Finlay Macnab (32′)
- Kyen Nicholas (55′)
On Tuesday we travelled eight or so miles to highly fancied Hayes and Yeading.
Match report
Nothing beats a non-league game on a dark, cold, wet and blustery Tuesday night. Our visit to Hayes & Yeading saw us taking on a home side with a hundred percent record so far in the league, although they like us, had been on the end of defeats in the cup competitions in the last week.
Kick off
Villa starting with a unfamiliar line up at the back and without the increasingly influential Manny Parry, coped well with a sharp looking home attack who sprinkled the area around our goal as the game begun. And for the most part there was nothing between the two sides during the opening period of the game.
As has been said before games can change on one incident and we for once were on the end of a bit of luck as a shot from Clifton was nodded behind by Douadj for an obvious corner to the home side. The ref – well positioned and looking at the incident – inexplicably gave a goal kick. This led to a change of mood in the ground as the home fans and players verbally announced their dismay.
Hayes & Yeading continued to press and Guy Ansah Palmer showed his worth with a great block that went out for a corner.
On 28’ Clifton had a good chance to take the lead but instead hit the ball way past the target – the blustery weather conditions certainly making it hard for players to judge how far a ball might travel. For parts of the game our keeper, Mark Smith, couldn’t get the ball over the half way line such was the wall of wind facing him.
On 32’ the deadlock was broken as Dylan Randall made a marauding run down the left wing, his cross-field pass was hit first time into the box by Sam Merson, whose ball was headed home from around the penalty spot by a diving Finlay Macnab. The looped over the keeper before hitting the back of the net.
Goal: Finlay Macnab 32 – H&Y 0 : 1 Villa
Hayes & Yeading pushed back. Iandolo coming closest with a shot that whistled past Smith’s post. Then Macnab shot from distance for us forcing a save and seconds later our keeper was finally called into real action as a close range header from a cross was fired near enough straight at him.
Half time: 0 : 1
The wind and rain subsided a bit in the second half and Hayes & Yeading were first out of the blocks as Iandolo attempted a shot from 30 yards that was no trouble for our keeper.
We almost doubled our score on 52’ as a Merson free kick from the left corner of the box was headed across the goal where Randall shot hitting the post. The ball bounced back into the box where Matangi threw himself to the ground spectacularly in a delayed reaction to an accidental clash of boots in the box. As a result of this incident he received a booking which did more to wind up the already discontented home crowd.
On 55 Kyen Nicholas got his goal. A terrific move that started from a clearance that found its way to Macnab who turned inside and delivered a pinpoint pass to Nicholas who – from the centre spot – turned a defender then advanced past a second, and before the covering defender let go a powerful shot that the keeper could only push away from goal. Nicholas was first to the rebound and slot powerfully home past the keeper at the near post.
Goal: Kyen Nicholas 55’ H&Y 0 : 2 Villa
Merson was substituted after the goal and on came Millo in his stead.
58’ the home side had a great opportunity to get back in it with a free kick that was central and about 30 yards out. A wasted chance as the ball went way wide much to our relief.
62’ Macnab found himself in acres of space down the left hand side driving towards the goal and only a good save from the keeper Pazio prevented us going three up. Villa had more good chances before the ref gave a free kick for a dubious hand ball outside of our box. Jude Mason lined up the shot and somehow the ball wriggled under our keeper and into the goal.
Goal: Jude Mason 71’ H&Y 1 : 2 Villa
Villa continued on the front foot and despite a couple of half chances for the home team we hung on for three points.
This was the kind of performance we’ve come to expect from a Simon Haughney team – full of desire, effort and industry (and a couple of great goals to boot).
