Home | 5 September 2026
By | Ervin Ang
Four-star Villa down Whitstable to advance in FA Cup
Hanworth Villa produced a spirited comeback 4-1 victory over Whitstable Town to progress to the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Despite conceding early, a brace from Michael Harding and goals from Haydon Vaughan and Gio McGregor gave Villa a comfortable win over the visitors who play one Step below Villa in the Isthmian League South-East Division.
Manager Simon Haughney said: "I thought our performance was good in patches. Full credit towards Whitstable, they didn't come here sitting. They came here to cause us damage. I thought the first half was chances for both sides when they posed a threat.
"We knew that, so we didn't underestimate them. We knew their record last year. We knew their fast wingers. They had a good run in the FA Cup last year. We knew the players that they had all played higher. So yeah, full credit to them.
“They really pressed us in different moments of the game. If they get that second, it's a different game, I thought our performance in that second half just took the game away.”
Whitstable Town had beaten Roffey 3-1 in the Extra Preliminary Round and Newhaven 5-0 in the Preliminary Round to reach this stage.
The visitors came out hot off the blocks and were rewarded with an opener in the fifth minute.
Deep in Whitstable’s half, Brandon Curtis weaved his way past two defenders before he appeared to be tripped by a third while striding towards a shooting position.
But referee Samuel Olhausen did not blow his whistle which allowed Whitstable to hit on the counter attack in a three-versus-three situation.
The move eventually culminated in Henry Young firing into the top corner, despite Tyla Dickinson diving at full stretch.
Haughney said: “I felt there was a foul in the build-up. I'll have to look at it again, but we've left ourselves two-on-two in the back, so that's something we've got to look at as well. It was a great finish from the lad, a good goal on their behalf.”
Whitstable’s lead did not last long though, as Villa drew level just seven minutes later.
Brandon Curtis floated a perfectly weighted ball over the top towards the right flank straight into the path of Vaughan, who was deployed as a wing-back.
Vaughan’s initial effort was blocked, but he followed up with a smart left footed finish which found the back of the net.
Haughney has utilised Vaughan in multiple positions this season, including as a wide No. 10 across the front three.
Haughney said: "I think he's quite versatile. I thought he was the Man of the Match. His strongest position I don't know yet, but what I do know is he could play a few.
“I just feel at wing back it gives him an opportunity to run at the player whereas maybe in the 10 a lot of it is back to goal, but then his forwards runs are really good as well. He's also a very good 10 as well.”
Whitstable could have retaken the lead in the 18th minute, but Kweku Lucan’s powerful drive inside the penalty area was met by the strong palms of Dickinson at his near post.
Just past the half hour mark, Vaughan threatened again with another left-footed long range effort which nearly caught goalkeeper Dan Colmer off guard.
In the 36th minute, Guy Ansah-Palmer powered a header from Curtis’ corner towards the bottom corner but his effort was met by a well-positioned Colmer.
Villa upped our tempo after the interval and were finally rewarded with the go-ahead goal in the 49th minute.
Vaughan dribbled his way down to the right byline and found Harding with the perfect cutback before the Villa No. 9’s shot was deflected into the net by a Whitstable defender.
Two minutes later, Harding came close to notching a quickfire brace but his first-time volley from Billy Nutbeam’s cross rattled off the crossbar.
It was then Whitstable’s turn to find the woodwork as Lucan left his marker on the floor before curling an effort which came clanging off the upright with Dickinson rooted to his spot.
Past the hour mark, Villa added a third in the 67th minute with Vaughan and Harding combining once more. The former delivered an inch-perfect cross into the stride of the latter who completed his brace with a smart first-time finish past Colmer.
About Harding's fine start to the season, Haughney said: “He's been fantastic. We worked very hard to get him in. We knew his attributes, and nothing's a shock to us. Great lad, very humble guy, and I'm sure that he'll play higher.”
Substitute Brandon Barzey could have added another two minutes later after he was slipped through one on one by Nutbeam, but was denied by a spread-eagled Colmer.
Villa eventually put the tie to bed with a fourth goal in the 76th minute when McGregor ran onto a through ball and slipped a low finish into the net.
When asked about Villa's recent spirited second-half performances, Haughney said: "I just feel the boys we signed, they're all very young. They look after themselves impeccably away from football as well. The way we play and the way we move the ball, we will find success at the end.
"It's just about not getting bored in the process we're trying to do, which is keep the ball, make forward passes, runs in behind, and try and keep the ball. That's very physically demanding for the opposition.
“So I feel the way we play helps us at the end bit of the game where maybe there's a few tired legs.”
We will return to league action at home to Yate Town next Saturday, September 12, with kick-off at 3pm.
Haughney added: “They're a good side, and from tomorrow we'll be working on Yate. Like every team is at Step 3, every team has strengths and weaknesses like ourselves. So it's about trying to identify their weaknesses and yeah, and try and neutralise their strengths.”
