Isthmian South Central 12 Nov 2024
Hanworth Villa 5
- Rayan Djouadj (25’, 39’)
- Bruno Robertson-Tingle (41’)
- Sam Merson (69’)
- Alex Body (90+8’)
Harrow Borough 3
- Jethro Odumosu (6’)
- Deago Dunbar-Bonnie (24’, 72’)
Match Report
After going two goals down within 24 minutes, it looked like Hanworth Villa were set for their third straight league defeat.
But a galvanising 17-minute first-half spell, which saw Villa score thrice at Rectory Meadow, turned the game on its head.
On Tuesday night, Simon Haughney’s men produced the rousing performance we needed in a morale-boosting 5-3 scalp of fourth-placed Harrow Borough.
More important than the three points were the fight and cohesiveness Villa showed as we deservedly beat one of the best teams in the league.
Just 72 hours ago, we were on the flight home from Guernsey after a disappointing 2-1 loss.
Haughney said: “Massive win after the Guernsey result. On the flight home, no one was happy, nothing was said. I thought our integrity, not just as footballers, but as men got pulled into question.
“We said that in the changing room before, people think we are a soft touch, but we’re not. We questioned the integrity today. The boys have dug me out.
“I’m super proud of these boys. The difference was we took our chances today and they defended like absolute trojans.”
Villa, moving up to seventh, are now within one point of fifth-placed Hayes & Yeading United who drew 2-2 at Uxbridge.
Boosted by the returns of Ali Mansaray and Ben Mulley, who both missed last weekend’s trip to Guernsey, Villa were eager to prove a point and came out flying off the blocks.
Just 10 seconds in, Villa won a free-kick from kick-off much to the delight of the 130 spectators.
Yet after a positive opening five minutes, Villa conceded from Harrow Borough’s first foray forward.
Striker Jethro Odumosu latched onto a threaded through ball and finished smartly with the outside of his right boot. There was no chance for Mark Smith as Odumosu’s effort across goal nestled into the side of the net.
Harrow Borough then doubled their lead in the 24th minute through Deago Dunbar-Bonnie.
The 21-year-old, a former Leyton Orient youth player, found space on the left and fired an unstoppable strike which ricocheted in off the post.
If Harrow Borough thought they had three points wrapped up by this point, they were about to be in for a rude awakening. Hanworth Villa never give up without a fight.
Just a minute after conceding, Villa had one back. After a terrific cross from the right flank, Rayan Djouadj popped up at the back post to slam home into the roof of the goal.
Immediately, Djouadj’s priority was to fish the ball back out of the net.
It was almost like Haughney had prophesised his impact after claiming Djouadj would “die for the ball” following last Saturday’s defeat to Guernsey.
Djouadj was not done yet. In the 39th minute, following an overhit corner, he received the ball on the edge of the box and shifted it to his weaker left foot.
The moment the ball left Djouadj’s boot, it was destined for the net.
Starting the shot’s trajectory just outside the post, Djouadj expertly curled it to finish inside the post with goalkeeper Andrew McCorkell rooted to the spot.
About Djouadj, who had primarily been a substitute this season, Haughney admitted he should have played the young defender more often.
“Maybe because of his age, being so young, I’ve probably made a couple of wrong decisions. If I look back now in hindsight he should have been playing,” said Haughney.
“I watched him in a couple of Cup games and I said to (assistant managers) Paul (Thomas) and Chris (Balchin), ‘he’s our best player’.
“After what he did against Guernsey, I promised him in front of the whole changing room he will be starting. I’m a man of my word and he has produced, hasn’t he?”
Two minutes after Villa’s equaliser, Bruno Robertson-Tingle put Villa ahead with a neat dinked finish.
Now, it was time for the players to celebrate as they all bolted for the corner flag in jubilation.
Starting the second half strongly, Villa never took their foot off the gas.
On the hour mark, tension started to build as the game crescendoed into a fiery contest.
When Sam Mead dove into a crunching but fair tackle near the spectators’ stand, the crowd, recognising the effort shown, erupted in cheers.
Nine minutes later, Villa doubled their lead. A long punt up the field by captain George Wells found Sam Merson who beat the goalkeeper with a controlled low finish into the bottom corner.
But Villa were not out of the woods yet. A defensive lapse saw Dunbar-Bonnie notch his brace from close range.
With the match hanging in the balance at 4-3, Harrow Borough had a golden chance to equalise in the 86th minute but Addison Garnett could not put his free header on target.
In the fourth minute of injury time, Garnett was sent off for a nasty late tackle on Wells which gave Villa some reprieve.
With the last attack of the match, Merson raced through on goal and calmly rounded the goalkeeper before unselfishly squaring for an unmarked Alex Body.
From two yards out, Body made no mistake even with a lone Harrow Borough defender on the goal line.
Referee Ross Murphy blew the final whistle, bringing an end to a breathless 90-minute contest.
Haughney said: “Well, I pulled my calf muscle today having a little jog. I don’t do it often but it was one of those games I was pacing up and down in that technical area like a caged lion.
“What a game for the spectators as well. I think we’ve made the club proud today.”
Next up for Villa is 14th-placed Binfield at home on Saturday (Nov 17). We played a 2-2 draw away at The Iconic Stadium earlier this season and Haughney will not be underestimating them.
He added: “Different game, they’ve made some signings and got a lot stronger. Every game in the league is a game of margins. It’s so close you have to take your chances.
“It’s going to be another tough game but this should spur us on to go put a performance in there as well.”
