Penalty win against Harefield United

Middlesex Senior Cup, round one

Saturday 2nd December 2023

Hanworth Villa 1 (5-4 on penalties)

• Steven Gody (64′)

Harefield United 1

• Elekiel Williams (17′)

Match report

Attendance: 72

Hanworth faced Combined Counties League side Harefield United in the opening round of the Middlesex Senior Cup. The Hares came into the match bottom of the Premier Division North with just 2 points.

How we lined up

Villa made wholesale changes to our line-up. Jay Hines, Gagandeep Samra, Rayan Djouadj, Steve Gody, Ola Olajubu, Aston Nunn and Luca Cardines all coming into the starting line-up.

First half

After just two minutes, a foul on Louis Collins saw Hines hit a pass to Gody, cutting in he saw his shot just float over the bar.

Dean Wells, continuing in goal, came out well to defuse an attack by the Hares’ Lenny Farhill.

Hares strike first: 0-1

In the seventeenth minute the victors took the lead, as a cross from the right wing found Elekial Williams unmarked at the far post, his header being placed into an unguarded net.

Harefield had another chance in the 24th minute as Williams played a ball in to Farhall, but his shot blazed over the bar.

Villa come close

Three minutes later and Hanworth had the best chance of the half as Nunn played a diagonal ball across field to Gody, the winger cut into the box and let fly with a shot, unfortunately it cannoned off the crossbar and out to safety.

With 33 minutes on the clock Hines played a cross-field pass to Gody, he in turn laid the ball back to Collins, he turned and placed a shot which looped just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.

As the mist rolled in, a Hanworth free-kick on 40 minutes was awarded after a foul just outside the box on Djouadj. Collins stepped up but shot well over the bar.

As the half drew to a close, Harefield had a chance to increase their lead, as Williams’ shot flew just the wrong side of the post.

Second half

The second half commenced and Hanworth were straight on the attack forcing a corner. Djouadj saw his header rise just too high over the bar.

In the 53rd minute a ball down the right wing by Collins found Gody, he cut in to the box and managed to get a shot off, curling just wide of the far post.

Jay Hines sent off

Just a minute later, a challenge from Hines was deemed to have been led with an elbow, the referee brandished the red card without any hesitation.

Gody gets one back: 1-1

Hanworth managed to find an equaliser in the 64th minute, Gody latched onto a loose ball and ran through on goal, calmly placing the ball past the advancing Johnson.

The game turned into a ‘typical midweek county cup game’ as both sides found plenty of play in midfield, but very little in the way of goal attempts.

Samra received a late yellow card for dissent, after a coming together of players from both sides.

As the match headed to full-time, Wells had to make a double save, resulting in a corner for the visitors, Wells was once again on hand to save a point-blank shot from Harefield’s Melford Simpson.

With that the referee blew for the end of play, and for the second time this season, Hanworth headed into the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Second half ends 1-1. On to penalties

Farhill stepped up first for the visitors, to fire past Wells. Wells taking the first attempt for Hanworth shot and sent the keeper the wrong way.

Williams was next up for Harefield, and his shot hitting the hand of Wells, just crept into the goal.

Mead stepped up for Villa, but his shot was saved by Johnson to hand Harefield the advantage after two attempts each.

Jake Sobalake for Harefield and Cardines for Villa both scored their penalties. Next up for Harefield was Craig White, his shot being saved by Wells.

Olajubu for Villa scored and bring the Hanworth back on level terms after four attempts each.

Harefield’s Tyrone Pink scored, followed by a successful attempt by Gody for Hanworth. Scores were level at 4-4 after the first set of five penalties. So onto sudden-death.

Steve Green picked up the ball for Harefield and shot to the keeper’s left, but Wells was on hand to push his attempt away, and hand the advantage to the home side.

Collins stepped up, and duly sent Johnson the wrong way, to give Villa the victory, and earn an away tie at Hendon in the Second Round.

Final score: 1-1 (Hanworth win 5-4 on penalties)